An 82nd minute goal got Woodley back to winning ways to keep up their hopes of a play off place, but Wakefield will look to take heart from a battling performance that very nearly gave them a rare reward.
Times are tough for Wakefield, financial problems have gutted their squad this season and left them in a relegation place. This was their seventh defeat in a row, and made it 19 games in a row since they last won in the league back in August.
But early on in the match Wakefield kept possession well and put in a number of dangerous crosses, one of which was headed wide of the left post. Woodley responded in the sixth minute with a through ball putting Joey Holt one on one with the keeper, the keeper managing to get enough on the shot to deflect it wide. And in the tenth minute, after a dangerous cross was cleared over the bar, a shot from the resulting corner went just wide of the left post.
Wakefield closed their gaps for a while after this as Woodley struggled to create further chances. Then, for a five minute spell as the game hit the half hour mark, Woodley had another flurry of opportunities, including another Joey Holt close range shot on the left side of the penalty area, this time the ball went wide to the right of the goal. Before that a shot from the right side of the penalty area curled wide of the top right hand corner.
And then, just as a Woodley goal was looking imminent, Wakefield had a rare attack, and as their player dribbled the ball in the penalty area, Aaron Chalmers clumsily slid in and took him down. Just like that Wakefield had a penalty, which was perfectly slotted into the bottom left corner by Josh Grant, giving them a surprise 36th minute lead and only their 2nd goal in the last 7 games.
Chalmers tried to make immediate amends for Woodley with a low shot on the edge of the penalty area that went just wide of the left post. Near the end of the half Joey Holt once again was put through for a big chance, but his close range shot from wide left crashed into the side netting, and half time followed soon after.
Wakefield would have been eager to do what they could to hold on to their lead as the teams came out for the second half, but those hopes lasted only one minute. Joey Holt yet again was put through on the left side of the penalty area, and this time he opted to square the ball to Bradley Maylett, who tapped in from close range to make it 1-1 in the 46th minute.
There was almost an immediate response to this, as Wakefield charged forward, and a powerful shot cannoned off the left post. Woodley also hit the woodwork just over 5 minutes after this, a shot pretty much on the penalty spot itself was scooped up and hit the bar when a goal looked easier.
Wakefield were presented another chance after a poor defensive giveaway, leading to a close range effort that the keeper was nowhere near, but a backtracking defender was able to hack clear as the ball approached the goal line.
After this end to end spell Woodley mainly took over as Wakefield began to focus on holding on to a draw. For Woodley a blast from the right edge of the penalty area was parried by the Wakefield keeper, and the keeper also pushed a free kick wide around the 80th minute. From the resulting corner another effort hit the bar and went over.
A minute after this Woodley continued this spell of pressure, and yet again Joey Holt was put through on the left side of the penalty area. The fifth time he was released for a major opportunity in this match, and this time he took the opportunity, slotting the ball underneath the keeper's dive and into the net to put his side 2-1 ahead in the 82nd minute.
Wakefield were unable to create anything else after this point, the battling performance taking its toll energy-wise, but they did stop Woodley creating any further big chances. Woodley were clearly relieved at full time, this win bringing a 3 match losing run in the league to an end as they registered their first points of 2012. Meanwhile Wakefield's gloom continues, but they can take positives from a spirited performance at a ground that brings little reward for most visitors. In 14 home games on their 3g artificial pitch Woodley have won 10 and drawn 2, currently more points at home than any team in their division.
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