Wakefield & District Sunday Football League (Division 1)

Nightingale ------------------------------ 2
Wakefield Athletic ----------------------- 3

Wakefield Athletic recovered from a two goals deficit to secure a fight-back victory over Nightingale thanks to a brace from striker Sikander Ibrahim and a late winning strike from player-manager Iso Budimir in this Division One return fixture.

Both sides got off the blocks in an attacking mode with the home sides strikers making early in-roads but found the visiting central defensive duo of Gavin Bell and Shazad Fiaz in solid form.

Wakefield went close through Luke Crossley and Craig Smith but it was the host who took a 1-0 lead through midfielder Alan Gilbert who ran 20 yards before firing home with a fine well-placed low shot.

The visitors retaliated and saw David Bartholomew head narrowly over the bar before forcing the home keeper into a fine one-handed save from a set-piece.  At the other end, visiting keeper Anthony Whiteside came to his sides rescue with a solid save to keep Wakefield in the game. 

The second period saw Wakefield force the home side on the back foot with chances to draw level but Sikander Ibrahim was foiled twice before a counter-break saw Nightingale surge into a 2-0 lead on the hour with striker Paul Preston slotting home with a clinical finish.

Wakefield introduced the experienced Mike Bell and Iso Budimir into the frey and adopted a different playing pattern with positional changes which was rewarded with a comeback victory.  A surging run on the right by Luke Crossley ended with a pin-point cross which was headed home by Sikander Ibrahim to reduce the arrears.

Mark Tallant and Danny Barnes worked solidly in the middle of the park as Wakefield piled on the pressure and saw the visitors haul themselves level when a long-throw found Ibrahim who beat two players before steering the ball past the keeper to male it 2-2.

Both sides attacked end to end for the winning goal.  Three minutes from time a link-up move between David Bartholomew and Ibrahim ended with the latter being brought down in the box and saw Iso Budimir step up to hit the winner from the spot-kick for a hard fought victory.

Alan Gilbert and Paul Preston excelled for Nightingale while the West Yorkshire Sports & Social Club's man-of-the match for Wakefield Athletic was shared by Sikander Ibrahim, Gavin Bell and Mark Tallant.