LIVERSEDGE'S hopes of progressing in the West Riding County Cup were dashed in Tuesday's quarter-final on an icy pitch at College Grove, home of UniBond side Wakefield FC.
The visitors were rocked by a five-goal first half blast from the hosts. However, Liversedge pulled a goal back which set a platform for a second-half rally when they were often the better side and were able to give respectability to the score in what was only their second match in seven weeks.
Liversedge goalkeeper Stuart Wilkinson was in the spotlight for most of the first half as his side came under almost constant pressure. In the opening minutes he had to save with his knees when Mark Wilson went one-on-one before Wakefield unpicked the Liversedge defence allowing Delroy Ferguson to find captain Chris Howarth who fired home.
The visitors were stifled in midfield and Scott Ryan was effectively frozen out in the first 20 minutes. The only hope came from Jamie Wasley – scorer of two goals in the previous round against Ossett Albion – as he tried to get his side going forward but with little final threat.
Wilkinson saved his side again when he held a powerful header by 6ft 7ins Huddersfield Town loanee Tom Denton but he could do nothing to stop Wakefield adding two further goals in 10 minutes. For the first in the 17th minute Wilkinson claimed he was being impeded when defending a corner as Craig Laight scored.
Liversedge were then caught on the break when nippy winger Ferguson accelerate to the byline and pulled the ball for the on-rushing Danny South to place beyond Wilkinson and give Wakefield a 3-0 lead within half an hour.
Wakefield were making it look easy and it was vital Liversedge respond quickly. Scott Ryan finally got the ball and was able to beat a couple of defenders on a mazy run. His crossfield pass found Wasley who looked up and picked his spot beating goalkeeper Jan Zolna.
Liversedge were quickly on the back foot though when Wakefield packed the area. Wilkinson parried a shot and another came off a knee before the rangy Denton rose to head home the fourth goal.
Jake Lawler broke out of midfield for Liversedge but his final effort was easily saved and Wakefield turned defence into attack again. Three minutes before half-time the a late lunge at Wakefield's Andy McManus by Brook Newton in the area led to a penalty scored by Howarth into the bottom corner.
Wasley saw a shot scrambled off the line by Henson while after the break it was a matter of pride for Liversedge, and apart from one corking volley into the top right corner by Denton, Liversedge were the better side.
Manager Sean Regan pushed Newton forward with Elliott Williams and Stuart Lunn coming on up front and making their mark.
It did the trick and Liversedge were far more effective going forward and showed good skills even as the temperature dropped. Wasley and Brooke twisted and tormented Wakefield with their precise breaks. It paid dividends as Newton's fine effort was deflected home for Liversedge's second.
Late on Newton was on target again after terrific build-up play by Ryan Haigh and Scott Ryan.
Wakefield FC: Zolna, Henson, Morris, McManus, Roberts, C Laight, Denton, Wilson, South, Howarth, Ferguson. Subs: Burgin, Noteman, Glavin, Dowell.
Liversedge: Wilkinson, Haigh, Oddy, Springer, Larkin, Newton, Wasley, Lawler, Sherman, L Ryan, S Ryan. Subs: Lunn, Cavanagh, Halliwell, Williams, Khan.