Ground: The Slazenger Sports Club (500 capacity) Location: Horbury, England Ticket price: £5 adult £3 concession. You will need to pay by cash in order to attend.
Horbury is best accessible via the bus station in Wakefield (the 126 to Dewsbury will take you through Horbury). If you get off at Cluntergate it's a 10 minute walk down a street and then a long dirt road.
This game had all the makings of a tier 10 classic. Horbury were pushing for the final playoff place after a downturn in form had derailed their efforts. Wakefield on the other hand had already secured their playoff place but were on the losing side when the two faced each other at the Millennium Stadium earlier on in the season. The stakes were high for Horbury, but Wakefield were smelling blood.
The Slazenger Sports Club is a small but cosy venue with one sit down area and various places to stand around the pitch. Horbury and Wakefield fans were congregating in the same spaces, discussing each teams and exchanging friendly discourse. A loudspeaker booming "Come on you reds!" echoed around the stand amidst electro-pop music. A strange combination.
It was announced prior to the game that AFC Wakefield had signed a new player - Romario Viera, the brother of current Torino player Ronaldo. The Guinea Bissau international had been signed on a free transfer having last played for Tadcaster Albion and there was an air of intrigue as to how the new man would perform as it was confirmed that he was to make his debut that night.
The game started off and the quality of play was poor considering the talent on show at the Slazenger. Long ball after long ball where, at times, the ball was launched so high it could clear a skyscraper. It was Horbury who were having the better opportunities, but these were half chances and all breezing harmlessly away from goalkeeper Gladding's sticks. Wakefield's game relied on set pieces and long balls to match the pitch conditions, however these were inaccurate and led to a game where the ball was out of play more than in field. The first-half ended 0-0. Horbury the better side but lacked that cutting edge. Wakefield needed a regroup.
At half time, I decided to try one of the £2.50 Cornish Pasties they had on offer, which was delicious, delicately cooked and made with care. You can't really ask for much better can you?
The second half started and a confident Wakefield side strutted onto the pitch alongside the reds of Horbury who looked pleased with their first half display. However, Wakefield were right to look confident. A ball was played to full back Mason Rubie who found himself in the box and coolly slotted it past the keeper. 1-0 to Wakefield in the 48th minute but Horbury didn't look perturbed as they kept knocking on the door but no one seemed to answer. The closest they came was when goalkeeper Gladding misread a pass and allowed the ball to loop over his head, however the angle was too narrow for the striker to score and the ball floated harmlessly over the bar. Towards the end of the game, a Wakefield player fell down injured with the Whites putting the ball out of play to allow him to receive treatment. The reds of Horbury however refused to play fair much to the chagrin of the referee who halted their efforts on two occasions before they were forced to sportingly throw the ball back to Wakefield for the goal kick. As a Wakefield fan, I didn't agree with this decision as, whilst I support fair play, this is not an enforced rule and Horbury were well within their rights to conjure up an attack considering that they were in a threatening position and their playoff chances were on the line. The referee had lost his head and the players trust and blew the whistle shortly after to end everyone's misery. Wakefield came away with the three points, but in truth, they were lucky to do so.
As the fans left the stadium, both sets of fans were wishing the other well for the rest of the season and it was clear that, despite the rivalry, relations between both clubs remained amicable; echoed as such by the announcer who wished Wakefield well in their playoff campaign. The city may be white this time, but the debate as to who the best team is in Wakefield remains an unanswered question.
Horbury Town 0-1 Wakefield AFC 29/03/23
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