Next up a tricky visit to a proper long standing Non League name in the form of Stafford Rangers. Stafford play at Step 4 in the Northern Premier League Division 1 West after being relegated from the Premier Division at the end of the 2023/24 season.

Just 33 seconds in and Church carve out a breakthrough : Joe Willis gets on the sndof a dinked ball into the box, and his neat finish with the outside of the right foot nestles in the far corner.

Church are looking by far the more assured side in the opening minutes.

And worse for the home side on 9 minutes when tricky feet from Wakefield draws a foul in the box as he rounds his marker. Willis strokes the spot kick in.

Lots of murmuring from the home supporters in the stand who are bemused by this start given that the season starts in seven days with an FA Cup tie.

Staffords first foray on 13 minutes sees them win a free kick wide on Church's right. It's whipped in by McQuilkin and a glancing header fromWara centre goal sends it arrowing past Evans. Possibly game on after Church had had it all their own way.

Willock and Burns are both cautioned after grappling with each other in the home box ; possibly not the last word in that story?

It's a much more even contest now for a long spell, and the game becomes more bogged down in midfield and the open spaces less so.

A good opening for Wakefield on 38 minutes, created by Willocks ball juggling, but he arrows his shot wide of the angle of the goal.

Soon after a turn and shot from Willock deep in the box delivers the same outcome. Church have woken up again in the final third.

Its a scappy opening to the second period.

Ball from wide on 63 minutes volleyed just past the far post for Stafford by Sutherland in the closest either side have come to adding ro their goal tally.

A late chance for Clifford sees him spin and shoot from deep inside the Stafford box, but it arrows wide, and on the final action of the game he shoots close again but wide of the angle.

If we are honest though, after a frenetic start the game died a death a bit in the second half.