Being branded by some as the game of the season for Staveley Miners Welfare, Saturday saw them welcome Wakefield to Inkersall Road as fourth hosted fifth in the NCEL First Division.
Hoping to return back to the NCEL Premier Division at the first time of asking, Staveley sat just a point ahead of Wakefield with the visitors holding two games in hand, meaning the Trojans youthful squad needed to pull out all the stops to further their advantage.
The game started as a great advert for NCEL football, a patient style of play being implemented to perfection from both sides.
It were the hosts who struck first. Will Wraith's threaded ball through to Sam Kay inside the area who calmly placed the ball past Henry Kendrick to make it 1-0 inside the opening five minutes.
Chances kept coming in a half of football dominated by Staveley, Archie White dribbled the ball past multiple defenders before his effort hit the inside of the post before rolling out and away from goal.
Both sides were forced into injury related changes, Wraith was replaced by Daniel Ramsey for Staveley and Haydan Henry was replaced by Jake Morrison.
Even after these changes, the Trojans continued in the ascendancy and continued to put pressure on Wakefield's defense, Josh Pickering with the best chance from 8-yards out. But he placed his effort just wide of the goal.
The second half started with a complete opposite of how the first half ended. Wakefield held control of the ball and created the better of the chances.
But it was a chance from absolutely nothing that found that made the game all level. Kieron Ceesay's effort was deflected over Addison Bliss by Jack Allerton and despite his best efforts, Jack Dolman could only hit the ball into the roof of his own goal to make it 1-1.
From this moment there were only one side in the game and Lewis Stephens had an excellent opportunity to give his side the lead as he latched onto a long ball froward by Robbie Millar, but Bliss was on hand to save his side from falling behind.
The Trojans continued to create chances of their own in the second half, the best was Freddie Tracey beating the offside trap and running through on goal, but with only the keeper to beat from 20 yards out, he dragged this wide of the goal.
This were the spark that Staveley needed, with minutes to go on an entertaining encounter, substitutes Jack Deakin and Max Rhodes combined with the latter trying to take the ball around the keeper when he was brought down by Kendrick in teh Wakefield goal.
Archie White stood up to take the penalty and sent the keeper the wrong way with his spot kick to put the hosts 2-1 heading into the dying embers of the game.
This is how it would end with a vital three points going to Staveley, with this, they strengthened their position inside the play-offs. Wakefield, now outside of a play off position, sit four points behind Staveley with two games in hand.
Up next for Staveley is a trip to 19th placed Athersley Recreation, by this point both Horbury Town and Wakefield will have played one of their two games in hand.
Line-up; Bliss, Greaves, Dolman, Whittaker, Allerton, Hooper, Pickering (Ross), Kay (Deakin), Tracey (Rhodes), Wraith (Ramsey), White.
Sub not used; Lindley.
Player of the Match: Archie White.