Match Reports 3 Oct 2026
A frustrating home loss for the Ladies 1's but an impressive display and away win for the Mens 1's.
Fylde 1 0-1 Timperley 1
Fylde HC women’s 1s started brightly at Mill Farm on Saturday, applying early pressure and forcing Timperley into a number of turnovers. Patient in possession, Fylde controlled the ball well and worked it around the back, but struggled to find the final connection in the D.
Timperley were reduced to nine players in the second quarter following two fouls, but Fylde were unable to capitalise on the two-player advantage. Instead, Timperley used their aerial threat to relieve the pressure before eventually breaking forward and finding the opening goal. A ball into the D was played across the Fylde defence to a waiting attacker who slotted home to make it 1–0.
Fylde responded immediately, with Jasmine Carey driving into the D and winning a penalty corner. Lisa Perry's effort was well saved to keep Timperley ahead at half time.
Fylde continued to press in the third quarter, with Nicky Kellett and Sophia Murray both creating opportunities. Perry then found Sophia Melling in the D, whose ball across the goal won another penalty corner. Kellett's resulting shot was stopped on the line by a Timperley foot, earning Fylde a penalty flick, but her effort was well saved by the goalkeeper.
The pressure continued into the final quarter, with Fylde pressing high and looking for an equaliser. Jasmine Smith found Rebecca Worthington in the D, who chipped the advancing goalkeeper, only to see the ball come back off the crossbar. Grace McGarvey also went close late on, but Timperley's defence held firm.
Despite sustained pressure and several chances, Fylde couldn't find the breakthrough, with the visitors holding on for a frustrating 1–0 victory.
Fylde 2 1-1 Clwb Hoci Eirias 1
It was a top of the table clash for Fylde 2's this week, facing the Welsh team who are leading the league by goal difference only.
Missing our very vocal captain EJ due to injury, and with a last minute reduced squad due to illness, Fylde knew this would be a tough game with only 1 sub on the bench. Fylde started out with a little hesitancy and Eirias took control of the game initially. Forcing play into Fylde's defensive half with some excellent link up play, Eirias fired a strong ball into the D which took a deflection to slot into the goal at only 8 minutes into the game.
However, Fylde quickly settled their nerves and found themselves bedding into the game, taking all of the recent weeks’ training onto the pitch and creating some lovely linked play, utilising the transfer effectively and finding space, forcing Eirias backwards. The sides were well matched, but Fylde looked very dangerous on the break and the speed and skill of the Fylde forwards proved very tricky for the Welsh team to manage. Fylde won a short corner, which was well executed with Dawn Child slotting in an equaliser at 24 minutes.
Into the second half, a second Eirias goal was rightly disallowed for a dangerous ball, and the game continued end to end for most of the second half, with both sides creating a number of chances which neither could capitalise on. Emily Byers made some brilliant saves to keep Fylde in contention, and her excellent communication at the back helped the defence to stay well organised.
With the high energy pace continuing, and Camilla struggling with injury, a straight 11 players for Fylde began to tire in the last 15 minutes. However, we managed to hold strong and the game concluded at 1-1. Every single Fylde player gave it their all and worked tirelessly throughout the match.
The final score line was a true reflection of the game, and leaves Fylde with plenty to work on and look forward to for the remainder of the season.
Fylde 3 1-0 Lancaster & District 1
This Saturday saw Fylde at home with 3 different players in the squad to last week, these changes weekly do make It harder for the new team however they try to use this to the best of their ability and build the team each week.
Fylde did well to maintain possession of the ball, in return for their efforts Fylde were awarded a short corner in the 4th minute of the game, the ball was injected out to Alice Bunday for her to have a strike, with the keeper saving the initial shot the ball landed at Sara Tomlinson who passed the back to Abbie Southern in space for her to drag it into the corner for the 3s first goal this season.
The team carried on focusing on passing the ball to each other, around the pitch to create attacking opportunities, many lead to another short corner chance which Fylde unfortunately could not take advantage of, missing the goal ever so slightly each time.
Bea Hodgkinson and Jessica Jennings held the middle of the pitch very well, using their skill to eliminate the opposition one by one to find through balls to Tilly Hodgkinson who worked well with the right hand side of the midfield line in 1/2 passing to outdo the defenders.
At times Fylde had to handle the pressure of occasional break throughs from Lancaster but they handled this extremely well which meant that Lancaster was unable to capitalise throughout the match. Lauren Mayor and Emily Finney both had great games, being moved around into different positions which can be difficult when not in your usual position but they both played a vital role. Lauren was able to conduct the middle and diffuse lots of attacking threats whilst distributing the ball out wide and Emily again used her incredible ball skills to get the defenders head down so she could get the ball further up the pitch for the forwards Aimee Jennings and Sara Tomlinson to gain an outcome up top.
On the whole, this week’s game was a real team effort, this reflected in their first win which was definitely well deserved for the girls and they hope to move forward at training sessions to keep the play improving as a whole.
This week’s player of the match was tied between Jessica Jennings, Abbie Southern and Emily Finney.
Fylde 4 5-0 Lancaster & District 2
Fylde 4s completed the home line up for the day at Mill Farm with a 4.30pm pushback. Facing Lancaster & District 2s whom had moved down from the division above, the team didn’t know what to expect but prepared to meet a strong adult side.
Fylde started with first pushback and found their form quickly. Indeed, a hurried attack resulted in Eleanor Bullough finding the backboard with a couple of minutes which set Fylde up nicely to play with confidence against this experienced side. As Lancaster fought back, the defensive structure of Amelie Horabin and Dawn Perruzza guided by Evie Bromley in the centre, meant Lancaster didn’t capitalise on their circle entries. Laura Troth in goal communicated well, ensuring players were marked and blocking any shots that made it to her pads.
Fylde worked the transfer passes well, using Sophia Taylor and Evie Green on the wings to drive the ball up to the baseline and into the circle. A defender’s foot granted a penalty corner, injected by Evie Green and received by Sadie Atkinson who slipped the ball to the far post, the deflection rebounded back towards Sadie who hit a rocket past the keeper taking Fylde 2-0 up just before half time.
Fylde reset for the second half, eager to build on the positives of the first 35 minutes. Lancaster started with the ball but this was quickly intercepted and Fylde were driving towards the circle once again. Alyssa Woodman displayed her speed and ball control carrying the ball all the way to the post before looking for the pass back and finding a foot. Fylde set up for the penalty corner, which was defended well by Lancaster. However, Fylde didn’t give their opposition an inch and another penalty corner was awarded almost straight away. Sadie sent a strong ball across the goal which was nicely deflected up past the keeper by Eleanor.
Confidence was at a high and Fylde’s young team pulled together, passing well and supporting each other by communicating. Matilda Thompson put in a shift down the left wing, picking up the ball on the move and getting her feet round the send the ball squarely into the circle. Fylde defended the middle well pushing Lancaster to attack down the lines. When Lancaster penetrated the circle, they won a penalty corner. Fylde were quick off the mark and the ball was cleared to right and threat averted. Lancaster upped their tempo giving Fylde no time to sit back. Ellie Hope took control in the circle and landed another goal to the delight of the crowd.
With the sun starting to set and giving Lancaster a further disadvantage, Fylde consistently put together solid passes, making the pitch as big as possible. Sophia Taylor drove up the right wing once again and went for the shot on goal, which deflected high up above the keeper where Emily Daniels managed an incredible volley past the keeper to score on her debut for Fylde!
The minutes wound down as Fylde won a number of penalty corners but failed to convert late on. A final corner was awarded but then the decision was overturned as the final whistle blew.
An excellent performance from an objectively young Fylde team. Already, the team has built on learnings from the previous two games and is going from strength to strength showing maturity through both the gameplay and attitude.
Leyland & Chorley 1 7-0 Fylde 5
Fylde faced a frustrating game against Leyland & Chorley 1s, with the home team taking an early lead within the first two minutes.
Fylde introduced a new formation in an attempt to hold the middle of the pitch and prevent Leyland & Chorley from creating opportunities. This resulted in a very defensive first half, with Fylde working hard to stay organised and battle through the pressure. Despite this, Fylde managed to earn two short corners, but were unable to convert either opportunity. Leyland & Chorley added two more goals before half time, leaving the score at 3-0.
Leyland & Chorley started the second half strongly, scoring almost immediately to extend their lead. Fylde continued to defend and work hard, with Cora Sweeney, our man of the match, making several excellent saves in goal to keep the team fighting.
Fylde earned another short corner during the second half and came close to getting on the scoresheet, with the effort narrowly missing the wide post. Despite their efforts, Leyland & Chorley continued to find the back of the net, taking the final score to 7-0.
Although it was a difficult and frustrating result, Fylde continued to work hard throughout the match and showed determination in a challenging game. The team will look to regroup and come back stronger next week.
Leyland & Chorley 2 3-5 Fylde 1
Fylde Men had a full squad to play last year’s promotion rivals Leyland & Chorley 2’s and were determined to finally beat them after a loss and a frustrating draw in the previous two encounters. It included 1st team debuts for father and son Charlie and Teddy Rowe.
They had a magical start and were 3-0 up after barely 10 minutes, playing beautiful passing hockey and killer instincts in front of goal.
The first goal after just 2 minutes came from Simon Holt’s cross-field diagonal pass to space on the right which Henry Brogden rang into and passed back to the centre of the D for Duke Jones to shoot into the goal.
A couple of minutes later, Duke Jones scored again after some reverse stick trickery by Oli van Rijn within the D.
Five minutes later it was Fin Odell’s turn to show off his dribbling skills with a brilliant solo effort rounding the goalkeeper.
Leyland had their own dangerous striker and left with a little too much space at the top of the D, a pass to him saw him reverse strike at pace into the goal leaving Joe O’Brien no chance of saving.
However, Fylde just responded with another goal when Fin Odell had another solo run after a neatly weighted pass from Oli van Rijn, and again was able to go past the goalkeeper.
4-1 up after 15 minutes, and then the umpires got involved and Fylde received 3 green cards and 2 yellow cards, whilst the home team received none all game.
Leyland scored with a well taken flick at a short corner so the score was 4-2 at halftime.
Fylde had a good team talk and were full of determination going into the second half, which turned out to be much closer than the first half with attacks at both ends. Leyland won an early short corner, and another flick was flying towards the edge of the goal when goalkeeper Joe O’Brien made a fantastic diving save up and to his right to parry the ball off the pitch, which earned him several nominations for man of the match later.
Midway through the half, with Leyland attacking, Fin Odell dispossessed a player in his own 22, and then went on a solo run up the pitch, dribbling past a couple of defenders at pace, and then rounding the goalkeeper to score his hat-trick, and put Fylde 5-2 up.
Leyland weren’t finished and scored from another short corner with a few minutes left, but Fylde kept their composure to end the game the 5-3 victors, and celebrated winning a tough match.
Several nominations for man of the match, and a great all-round team performance, with Fin Odell receiving most votes.
Preston 7 Development 6-3 Fylde 2 Development
The score line may say Preston won 6-3 but in reality it was 6 goals for Fylde players and 3 for Preston. As Preston only had 9 players and Fylde had a full squad including several senior players helping out, in the spirit of the development league Fylde loaned 3 of their best players to even up the game, which ultimately allowed Preston to win.
Fylde started very brightly with Evan Allday and Henry Harrison in midfield pushing forward and linking up with Josh Bywater and Ralph Baron in attack, however it was Preston who scored first from a short corner.
Fylde continued attacking and Paul Thomson came in from the right wing to look for opportunities in the D and the ball came his way for a tap-in, and his second goal for the club, which should keep him smiling for the rest of the season.
Preston scored from another short corner to be ahead 2-1 at half-time, but Fylde weren’t disillusioned. They introduced Rich Clarke, last year’s M1 captain, fresh from having a baby (not him personally but he’s sharing the lack of sleep) for his seasonal debut to roam down the left wing. He linked up with striker Alfie Smith, who was a late addition to the game, and he scored Fylde’s 2nd goal, although Preston by this point had scored another, so still ahead 3-2.
The Fylde defence was stopping many of the Preston attacks, with Hugo Simon intercepting along with Harry Barlow and the more experienced Phil Weir and Mark Smith, and Ethan Morris in goal kicking the ball away from any shots in the D. Unfortunately the occasional short corner was conceded and that’s where Preston capitalised with another two later in the game, five in total.
Alfie Smith scored a second goal and the game ended 6-3, with Fylde’s Oli van Rijn securing a hat-trick for Preston, but overall it was an even game and that’s what playing in development team matches is all about.
Alfie Smith was voted man of the match by his team mates.
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