Match Reports 11 Oct 2025
- Peter Latimer
- Oct 14
- 11 min read
The Ladies 3's continue their 100% winning streak, and joined with wins from the Ladies 4's, 5's and 6's.
Sheffield 1 2-2 Fylde 1
The Ladies 1s travelled to Sheffield following two narrow defeats against the league’s top sides, and a postponed fixture last weekend against Newcastle.
Fylde started brightly, with Nicky Kellett firing an early warning shot just two minutes in, well-blocked by the Sheffield centre-back. Soon after, Megan Hulse combined neatly down the flank and found herself free on the baseline, but her cutback was smartly saved by the home goalkeeper. The first quarter continued in the same vein, with Fylde piling on the pressure, though the score remained goalless at the break.
The second quarter picked up where the first left off, and in the 22nd minute Jess Wharton won and converted a penalty corner to give Fylde a deserved 1–0 lead. The visitors looked firmly in control, but an unfortunate turnover in midfield allowed Sheffield’s centre forward through on goal to round one defender and finish neatly into the bottom left corner past debutant goalkeeper Sophie Slawson, who had impressed up to that point.
Half-time came with the sides level at 1–1. The second half began evenly, with both teams showing determination, but Fylde regained the lead through a clever improvised finish from Olivia Newman-Kirk — already her second goal in three games this season.
However, Sheffield hit back five minutes later when a crash ball into the circle caused chaos, eventually falling to an unmarked forward on the back post to make it 2–2.
Fylde pressed hard in the final quarter and looked the likelier to find a winner, but Sheffield defended resolutely to hold on for a point. Despite the frustration, Fylde can take plenty of positives from a dominant performance and a clear step forward from recent weeks.
Fylde 2 1-2 Golborne & Prescot 1
Fylde started the game strongly, pressing high and showing early intent. However, Golborne and Prescot proved dangerous on the break, linking well between defence and midfield to work the ball into the Fylde circle, finishing clinically to take a 1–0 lead.
Fylde regrouped and began to make inroads into the visitors’ circle, winning several short corners but unable to convert their chances. Golborne and Prescot’s defence stayed solid, limiting Fylde’s shooting opportunities. A swift counter down the right just before half-time saw the visitors double their lead with an excellent deflected finish, going into the break 2–0 ahead.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Fylde struggling to connect midfield and attack against a well-organised opposition. However, a great move down the left saw Chelsea chase a long ball into the circle and square perfectly for Megan, who slotted home to make it 2–1.
In a late push for an equaliser, Fylde removed their goalkeeper for an extra midfielder, piling on the pressure but ultimately running out of time.
Penrith 1 2-5 Fylde 3
Fylde’s 3XI travelled to Penrith this week to play an important match vs second in the league to maintain their top position. This started with 6 of our girls racing it up after school games in the morning, just making it on time saw the start of the game. Fylde knew going into the game that this would be a step up from the games they’ve played so far this season, Penrith had a similar playing style meaning the girls had to adapt and defend lot more than usual.
Despite best efforts from the whole team, Penrith managed to gain a 1-0 advantage very early on. However the 3s didn’t let this get to them, they went into every tackle with grit and determination to find an attacking advantage. The back 4 defended excellently for the rest of the first half with Laura Troth making some incredible saved throughout to ensure that Penrith didn’t increase the score line.
Half time arose where Fylde were 1-0 down, the team all contributed to what they thought was going wrong and the areas they could improve on to get back in the game in the second half.
From the second half whistle it was clear that everyone on the team was intent on coming out of this game with a win. Hermione Edwards made some great runs down the right hand side on the pitch to pick up long balls through from Liv John-Haslam, this unsettled Penrith as Fylde were starting to find a path through to the D on more occasions.
Around 15 minutes into the second half Abbie Warburton tactically worked the ball onto the Penrith defender’s foot. She then injected the ball to Abbie Southern on the left side of the D, which she then slapped across the D to Lydia Hayhurst who was positioned perfectly for a deflection over the Penrith keeper gaining her birthday goal, Fylde were back in the game!
The girls celebrated together and continued the game with the biggest smiles. 3 minutes later, Natalie Smith dribbled into the D, beating several players and eventually slotting the ball into the goal! With Fylde leading they knew they needed to manage the game as it wouldn’t take much for Penrith to level up, however Sophia Melling ensured that Fylde’s had a safety net when she found the back board to put Fylde 2 goals ahead.
Despite a period of excellent play by Fylde, Penrith managed to score another goal but in true 3s style, Fylde responded immediately with another goal which was put into the corner of the goal by Megan Hartley-Smith who thoroughly deserved a goal after her hard work each week.
Less than one minute later came Fylde’s last goal of the match when Hermione Edwards picked up the ball once again on the right hand side of the pitch and reversed it into Lucy Whiteside who slapped the ball past Penrith’s defence and into the goal!
Once again this was an incredible performance by every single player, they continue to work hard and for each other each week and are growing as a team. This performance kept Fylde 3s top of the league yet again where they will face 2nd in the league Kendal next week.
Player of the match this week was awarded to Laura Troth, who had the majority of the teams votes for her resilience in net throughout your entire match and most definitely keeping us in it within the first half!
Fylde 4 3-0 Chorley Phoenix 2
Fylde 4s earned a well-deserved 3–0 win over Chorley Phoenix 2s after a solid all-round performance that combined strong defending, composed midfield play, and clinical finishing.
Chorley started the game strongly, putting Fylde under early pressure in the opening 15 minutes. Fylde were forced to play defensively, but some excellent work at the back from Zoe Kirkham, Olivia Hartley-Smith and Evie Bromley kept Chorley at bay. Their calmness under pressure and well-timed tackles ensured Fylde were kept in the game.
Once Fylde settled, they began to find their rhythm in midfield. Isla Carter, Sara Tomlinson, and Emily Finney linked up superbly, moving the ball with pace and precision to create attacking opportunities. Camilla Wyles caused constant problems down the right-hand side, making strong runs to the baseline and firing dangerous crosses into the D.
Fylde’s pressure eventually paid off when Sara Tomlinson dribbled through the Chorley defence and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to make it 1–0. Despite further chances — including a one-on-one effort from Hollie Twose— the score remained 1–0 at half-time.
After the break, Fylde came out with renewed energy and confidence. Aimee Jennings and Nikki Richmond controlled the midfield, threading excellent passes through to Ellie Hope and Camilla Wyles, who both came close to extending the lead. Fylde’s persistence was rewarded when Sara Tomlinson once again found a way past the goalkeeper to make it 2–0, showing great composure in front of goal.
The third and final goal came from a well-executed short corner routine. Olivia received the ball on the edge of the D and fired a slider shot towards the right post, where Sophia Taylor timed her run perfectly to deflect the ball into the goal and secured the win.
It was a fantastic all-round team performance from Fylde with a well-deserved 3–0 victory that reflected the team’s hard work and determination.
Final Score: Fylde 4s 3 – 0 Chorley Phoenix 2s
Goals: Sara Tomlinson (2), Sophia Taylor (1)
Fylde 5 5-1 Preston 3
Fylde 5s had a full squad of 16 on Friday but within 24 hours, it was reduced to a straight 11 at pushback! Cue a quick pitch-side decision from coach Sharron on her 3rd game of the day, Nikki and Leah Richmond jumped in with not entirely fresh legs from their previous game which had finished just 15 minutes earlier to provide substitution options.
It’s not often you field a squad made entirely of forwards, but this weekend the 5s managed just that. With our makeshift defensive four coaxed into position, we pushed off nervously, unsure what our team of attackers would face.But within two minutes, Gabi stormed up the right wing and smashed in a spectacular early goal - neither team could believe it!
Preston hit back hard, but our new defenders stood firm, Jess Grice pulling off heart-stopping saves and Sienna Kitson cutting out every attack. Then Eleanor Bullough, cool as ever, dribbled through their defence and tucked it neatly into the keeper’s right pocket to double our lead.
A frantic first half left us shattered but buzzing, two goals up against tough opposition. After a rousing halftime speech, we went back out ready for battle.
The second half was a grind - tired legs, fast opposition- but Niamh Smith and Lola Cooper worked tirelessly in midfield to keep us in possession. Preston eventually broke through with a scrappy goal, but ten minutes later, Eleanor struck again to lift our spirits.
Birdie Singleton, full of confidence, found the net for our fourth with less than ten minutes to go. And just when we thought it was over, Eleanor, hunting her hat trick, stepped up for a short corner in the dying seconds. A blocked first shot didn’t stop her; she pounced on the rebound and buried it to seal the win.
A superb team effort, with many girls playing out of position, showing true grit, teamwork, and determination. A well-earned win that puts us top of the league. Well done, girls!
Fylde 6 Dev't 3-1 Clitheroe Blackburn Northern Dev't
Fylde 6th/Development opened proceedings at 11am at Mill Farm with a depleted team due to school commitments. A strong senior attacking line consisting of cake-baker Julie, Carrena and Clare were backed up by further seniors Farzana, Alice & player/coach Fran - happy to get a full game this week!
Young Cora was steadfast in goal whilst Captain Faith put in a strong performance alongside other youngsters, birthday girl Samira, Ruby and debutante Lily Elgendy.
Ruby Roberts opened the scoring with a well executed chip shot from the edge of the D which lobbed superbly over the keeper into the net. This was no fluke as she had tried once before in the game and this goal was worthy of any senior team!
Fylde then went 2-0 up in the second half with an extraordinary sequence of triangular passing in the D which was finished perfectly by Carrena Leverton on the left. A second goal worthy of higher acclaim!
CBN Dev, only ever fielding 9/10 players. then pulled one back, only for Julie Knowles to power through the D to score a third. It was worth seeing her celebration too!
Player of the Match had to go to new girl Lily Elgendy, just turned 13yrs, who showed deft skills, determination and confidence for such a young age!
A special mention and thanks must also go to Sharon who coached and guided the team to success in her first match on a long day at Mill Farm. It was a great start to the day with L6/Dev winning their first game of the season and no wind or rain to spoil proceedings.
Kendal 2 2-2 Fylde 1
It was an early start for the Men with a 10.30am start time up in Kendal, but everyone arrived on time and with plenty of time to warm-up, prepare and work out tactics with just one sub.
The team started very brightly winning some short corners, and only narrowly missing the goal on a couple of occasions. Kendal also showed their attacking intentions and caused some problems for Fylde’s defence, and similarly narrowly missed at a short corner.
However it was Fylde who opened the scoring from a short corner. On the first attempt, a Fylde striker had one foot just over the curve of the D, and so the umpire ordered the ball-injector Tim van Rijn to retire to the halfway line (which is a rule never seen applied by this reporter, learn something every day). Charlie Oliver took over the injector role, pushed the ball to Oli van Rijn, and freed up from watching the ball be delivered by his father, he smashed the ball straight into the corner of the goal.
Just a few minutes later, Phil Weir took a quick hit out from the back to Paul Thomson on the left who charged up to about halfway before the ball was sent off the pitch by a Kendal player. Again another quick hit back in play to captain Richard Clarke who battled in midfield and won it back passing to Charlie Oliver who went on a dribbling run to the top of the D, spun and took a shot. A misjudged block from a defender actually changed the course of the ball past the goalkeeper into the goal, but it still counts as Charlie’s goal.
2-0 up at half-time, Fylde felt in control of the game, however they didn’t anticipate the energy and desire of the Kendal team in the ten minutes following the break. They harried and hassled, reset their attacking press, and won a short corner. It was a scrappy affair, but the ball ended up back with the injector who was by the near post and after an initial scuffed shot, managed to push the ball into the goal. Then minutes later they attacked down the left wing, found some space, and with sheer force of will, managed to scramble a goal.
Back to a level game at 2-2, and Fylde resisted the next few minutes of intense pressure, and gradually managed to counter attack and put pressure back onto the home team. Before long it was all Fylde pressure with numerous chances and shots going narrowly wide from Charlie Oliver and Oli van Rijn to name just two.
There were a handful of short corners won. One of which led to the umpire signalling for a penalty flick, however after consultation with the far umpire it was downgraded to a further short corner. One of the corners had Charlie Oliver hit the ball slightly off the floor but it hit the back board of the goal so Fylde thought they had a precious goal, however the umpire deemed the ball to have been above back-board height as it crossed the goal-line, and the other umpire couldn’t dispute that claim, unfortunately there’s no VAR at this level of the hockey pyramid but the whole Fylde team believed it to be a valid goal.
Kendal resorted to playing two strikers very high up the pitch but Fylde were generally able to deal with that threat, although there was a scare at the end of the game, but a diving tackle from Pete Latimer managed to stop a shot on goal at close range.
The game ended 2-2 with Fylde frustrated at not scoring a third, and for conceding a two goal lead. More points lost, but the team is learning and will only improve, with many new juniors finding their feet at this level. Much sympathy to Joe Shepherd who hurt his wrist during the match, but subsequently was diagnosed as a fracture so will be out of action with his wrist in a cast for a while.
Charlie Oliver was overwhelmingly voted man of the match.
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