Nightingale inflicted a second defeat of the season on Wakefield Athletic in a good spirited and hard fought Division 1 fixture.

 

The visitors were quick off in the mark and caught Athletic napping when an in-swinging corner found Ryan Ogley unmarked and he headed home from 7 yards out.

 

The goal seemed to wake-up Athletic who looked dangerous in every attack but the woodwork denied both Simon Bentley and Simon Newey before the Gale goalkeeper produced a stunning save from Lee Everett’s 25 yard drive.

 

With half time beckoning Kevin Guy was brought down just outside the box, his resulting free-kick cleared the wall and found the top corner of the net to draw his side level. Within a minute, Athletic were in front as Guy found Bentley who beat his marker only to be denied by the keeper but Newey reacted quickly to steer the ball home.

 

The 2nd half saw both sides attacking but it was Gale who scored first to drew level when Daniel Harrison rose to power a header past Tom Salter. Both sides continued to press with Salter pulling off some good saves for Athletic, whilst Bentley was denied yet again by the post.

 

With the game finely balanced Athletic were again caught napping at a corner when an unmarked Jack Sowerby headed his side into the lead. The home side’s response was to pile forward in numbers with Guy striking the bar and Mike Moore finding the net only to be adjudged offside.

 

The tactic of all out attack left the Athletic defence exposed and Adam Ives broke through in the 90th minute and slotted the ball past Salter to seal the visitors victory. Athletic did grab an injury time response when Sam Murphy’s good run and pass found Guy unmarked inside the box, but his goal was too late to affect the outcome.

 

A decent all around team performance deserved more with the PREEENS Man of the Match award shared by Gavin Heppinstall, Simon Bentley and Simon Newey.

 

Next week Athletic host league leaders Bingley, in a game which could define what direction their season now takes.