Wakefield & District Sunday Football League (Division 1)

Altofts ............................................ 0
Wakefield Athletic ............................. 6
 
Wakefield Athletic hit the goal trail with a well-worked victory over Altofts thanks to a hat-trick of braces from David Bartholomew, Scott Everett and Danny Barnes in this Division One game at Lock Lane, Altofts.
 
Both sides set up a high tempo in the opening exchanges but it was Wakefield who got the breakthrough in the 13th minute.  Debutant Ben Palmer won possession in his own half which triggered off a flowing move between Lee Everett, Mark Tallant and Bartholomew which ended with recalled striker Scott Everett swiftly glide the ball home.
 
Wakefield made it 2-0 when a long-throw from Shazad Fiaz was flicked on by Sikander Ibrahim with the rebound off the crossbar smashed on target by Bartholomew from close range.
 
Altofts fought back and were twice foiled by visiting keeper Anthony Whiteside who produced two excellent point-blank saves.  Bartholomew got his brace with a goal poachers effort before Wakefield made it 4-0 minutes before half-time with midfielder Mark Tallant carving out an opportunity which saw skipper Danny Barnes finish with aplomb.
 
The second period proved to be a tight affair with Altofts forcing the rearguard of Gavin Bell, Fiaz, Palmer and Lee Everett to work overtime before Wakefield re-grouped to score twice more. 
 
Ben Palmer set up Danny Barnes who beat two players before slotting past the keeper for his brace and Ibrahim replicated the same move to set up Scott Everett who forced the ball home for his brace.
 
The Express man-of-the match for Wakefield Athletic was shared by Craig Smith, Ben Palmer and Gavin Bell.