Doncaster 1 1-0 Fylde 1
On Saturday, Fylde Ladies 1s made another away trip, this time to Doncaster. With a few new faces in the first team, Fylde lined up to face an experienced Doncaster first team. The girls soon settled in and Fylde had much of the possession with the occasional counter from Doncaster.
During the first half, the Doncaster forward intercepted a ball from a hit out and drove into the circle. They went for a strike at the edge of the circle with a challenge from the Fylde defender. The forward went down after missing the ball and a penalty flick was awarded and Doncaster went 1-0 up.
Fylde continued into the second half with some lovely passing moves and some great drives from our youngsters, some of which were making their national league debut. Unfortunately, Fylde could not convert their hard work and great play into a goal and the game finished 1-0 to Doncaster.
A great team performance with every single player putting their all into the game for each other. Well done to Amelia Hatton with a well deserved MOM for her pace and skill. Special thanks to everyone who stepped up to play for the 1s. So many positives to take into next week’s home game.
Fylde 2 0-1 Didsbury Greys 1
Bright start to the match by both teams, with good work up the line by Olivia Merrick and Jess Addy. Although Fylde struggled to get clear chances in the D. It was clear DG were very up for this match after the last match between them saw Fylde dominate.
Some nice link play by DG and they had chances to get the ball into dangerous areas but excellent screen play be Jayne Wilson and Lucy Wane soon stopped their progress. Jayne and Lucy pushed forward to support Laura Knowles and Hannah Callagher who was creating great spaces as usual!
Fylde had a couple of half chances to score but with numbers behind the ball DG were able to clear each time. Nearing the end of the first half DG won a couple of short corners and somehow managed to convert one.
The second half saw DG grow in confidence as their movement and link play continued to create chances for them to get in the D but no real threat to Katie Barker.
With some better switching of the ball and better pace to their play Fylde managed more good chances on goal but unfortunately couldn’t convert. Dawn Child and the midfield pushed hard on the D with good pressure from Olivia John-Haslam winning more short corners, unfortunately they weren’t working at all today.
It was clear Fylde didn’t quite have what it took to win today but a great effort by all as expected, bring on next week.
Pendle Forest 2 1-2 Fylde 3
Due to a club wide lack of availability this weekend, many players helped by filling in, for which we are very grateful.
After a long journey for us all we were eager to get out onto the pitch and win the match. As the game began, it soon was evident victory wasn’t going to be as easy as previously anticipated. In the second minute Pendle were awarded a penalty short, because of fabulous keeping by Daniella Howarth which echoed throughout the match, they couldn’t change the scoreline.
For the first 25 minutes of the match, despite high intensity, Fylde were not at the top of their game. Though they were dominating us, we didn’t lose hope, we were faster, fitter and attacked every ball at every opportunity.
Growing tired of the endless attacks and counterattacks, Fylde stepped up their game. With only 1 minute left in the first half, Natalie Smith crossed a beautiful ball to Lali Atherton who shot, which resulted in a rebound which was chipped over the keeper for the first goal of the match.
As we entered the second half, Fylde knew the match had not yet been won, we continued to keep our pace and skill high, whilst adjusting to the new team. At the beginning we played as 11 individual units, but by this point we had created a much better team atmosphere. There were many opportunities for a goal from both sides, fortunately and unfortunately these did not result in a goal, yet we kept striving for more.
Pendle were awarded 4 short corners within 6 minutes of the match, which kept us on the edge. Just as we could feel the pressure getting to us Kirtika Saravanan brought us up to 2:0. The game remained tense for the last 15 minutes of the match, with Pendle scoring in the last 5 minutes, the pressure intensified, despite their relentless efforts they were unable to outplay us.
Final score 2:1
Player of the match goes to Daniella Howarth who saved countless goals, single-handedly winning us the match.
Preston 3 3-2 Fylde 5
Fylde Ladies 5th team were away at Preston this week. Keen to repeat the results of the previous game against Preston and get a win. Sadly Preston fielded a very different team and Fylde had a very frustrating match. With the weekend being at the start of the school holidays Fylde had an almost all adult team with Melissa Johnson Parker being the baby, and helping to reduce the average age a little with 7 out of the 14 players over 40, 5 of them over 50, 2 grannies and Fran Loffler Thompson nimble and agile in goal despite being old enough to draw her pension. We were thankful to have the back up from Nikki Richmond, Heather Appleyard and Kayt Raynor who had their fixture cancelled at the last minute.
Fylde went out confident but quickly recognised that they were going to have to battle to win when Preston got an early goal. Fylde seemed to concede a lot of penalty corners but Tiana Mosley, Debbie McClelland, Dawn Perruzza and Claire Bennett under the guidance of Fran perfected the defences and held firm. Sadly captain Debbie McClelland seemed virtually unable to inject, push or hit a ball for the duration of her time on the pitch which sadly wasted some opportunities for Fylde.
Louise Eastham, Liz Johnson, Nikki Richmond and Aimee Peruzza developed some good attacks on the D from the left and middle but most of the successful play came down the right. Lauren Perkins took well to midfield and worked the ball out to Melissa Johnson Parker, Soraya Rigby and Kayt Raynor on the wing. Kayt was able to put 2 goals in the back of the net. Sadly this just wasn’t enough because Preston were able to get another scrappy goal past Fran and Preston's first team goalie who was playing outfield showed her skill and lifted a cross high to score their winning goal.
Disappointing result for Fylde who played well but felt deflated after the match. As always we win as a team lose as a team (occasionally draw as a team).
Final score Preston 3 - 2 Fylde.
Fylde 1 7-2 South Lakes 1
After a week of selection headaches and missing players, Fylde welcomed South Lakes to Mill Farm for a huge 6-point bottom of the table clash. Unfortunately, the mild weather meant that the pitch wasn’t playing to our liking. This meant that Danny Taylor had to use double the amount of furniture polish than normal when padding up to make sure he got the required slide velocity on the slow and sticky pitch.
Looking to find some much needed points and to build on previous performances since the turn of the year, Fylde started the better team, battling well and setting the tone early with a high press. They were soon to be rewarded after Steve Whitley found the net early on. Fylde kept up the tempo and allowed Martin Hayes to do what he does best by lurking around the goalmouth to quickly add two more goals from 5 yards out.
Fylde continued to squeeze the play, with Harry Marsh getting stuck in and battling for every ball and hassling South Lakes into playing backwards. The double act of Jack Boniface and Sam Goldy in midfield recycled the play and allowed Fylde to go again.
The back line of Taylor, Atherton, Mortimer and Brandwood kept South Lakes largely at bay, who resorted to hopeful long balls on the counter. However, with Fylde stunned that they found themselves 3-0 up before half time, South Lakes did manage to score a goal on the stroke of half time from a deflected penalty corner. 3-1 the game finished at the break.
South Lakes were gifted another lifeline just after the restart when Alex Brandwood got caught on the ball and played a suicide pass straight to their striker who tucked home.
Fylde needed to regroup and instantly did so. Spurred on by the threat of throwing away the lead, up stepped “Snakehips” Jay Currey to dance around two defenders and rocket a reverse strike into the back of the net, much to the delight of the capacity crowd (4) in the stand.
South Lakes heads then dropped as the barrage of attacks kept on coming from Fylde. Martin Hayes bagged another two goals, including a volley and of course another goal line tap-in. Phil Hope was also unlucky not to get himself on the scoresheet, having a goal disallowed after a mix up at the top of the D from a penalty corner.
The icing on the cake came from Harry Marsh who got a goal to cap off a brilliant display and secure an almost unanimous Man of the Match vote among the team. Making amends for his questionable footwear during the warm up and missing last week’s game due to “Rugby”.
The game finished 7-2 to Fylde and the players can be proud of a huge team performance and getting back to winning ways as they face high flying Wigton 1’s at Mill Farm on Saturday.
MoM – Harry Marsh
Busy Fool – Alex Brandwood – For dithering and wearing Crocs.
*This reporter cannot actually remember any of the goals as he got a bit carried away with the result and celebrated the win in style on Saturday night.
Kirkby Lonsdale 2 1-4 Fylde 2
Fylde Men's 2s set off for Kirkby Lonsdale with only 10 players but still hopeful of a win having previously beaten them 3-1 early in the season.
Play started strong and apprehension about lacking numbers soon settled with Fylde having solid possession with textbook passing around the opposition.
The only dedicated forward, Bertie Jones, ran round the D, put the ball onto one of the oppositions foot. Whilst everyone else stopped, the umpires didn't whistle and he had a free shot on goal putting the team one goal up.
Soon after the ball came in to edge of opposition. Their Keeper came out to try and beat Bertie Jones to it. Bertie managed to flick it round him and James Smith slotted it in.
Towards the end of the first half, maybe due too the high pace workload, a lack of concentration in the Fylde half allowed Kirkby to snatch possession and managed to bring themselves back into the game at 1-2.
In the second half a short corner was awarded to Fylde. Injected by Andy Lund, Bertie’s goal bound shot from a short corner was saved by the keeper. However he booted it straight to Andy, who'd made the uncharacteristic manoeuvre of moving closer after the injection, and returned it to the back of the goal.
Following a disallowed goal by Bertie (the debate is still ongoing), one the next try he was under pressure and dropped it back to Chris Dunkerley just inside the top of the D. A strike to the right side of goal and a defender deflected it in.
The match ended 1-4 to Fylde beating our Home victory by an extra goal despite less players! The was in part due to returning player Alan Simpson who was nominated Man of the Match. Hopefully see him back more often. A great game by all players.