Match Reports 7 Feb 2026
- Peter Latimer
- 19 minutes ago
- 8 min read
10-0 home victory for the Men and a strong 3-1 away win for the Ladies 1's amongst other good results throughout the club
Newcastle University 1 1-3 Fylde 1
Fylde Ladies First Team delivered a strong team performance to secure a well-earned 3–1 victory away against Newcastle University in a fast-paced and competitive match.
Fylde took the lead through Jessica Wharton, who converted confidently from a short corner to open the scoring. The visitors continued to apply pressure and extended their advantage when Olivia Newman Kirk finished well, following good build-up play and an assist from Nicky Kellet. Fylde’s third goal came from another short corner, with Kellet deflecting the ball home to put the result beyond doubt.
Newcastle battled hard throughout and were rewarded with a dubious penalty corner, which they converted to make it 3-1, but Fylde’s organisation, discipline, and teamwork across the pitch ensured they controlled the game and left Newcastle as worthy winners.
Golborne & Prescot 1 2-2 Fylde 2
With Golborne & Prescot sitting fourth in the table, Fylde knew this would be a tough encounter. However, after a close home fixture earlier in the season, Fylde were determined to deliver another strong performance.
G&P started the brighter side, attacking down Fylde’s right and earning several early short corners, but Fylde defended resolutely. Goalkeeper Emily Byers was outstanding, making a series of excellent saves to keep Fylde level. At the other end, Fylde found success down the left, with Jess Anderson linking well with Esther Thomson and Chelsea Atkinson.
The remainder of the first half saw end-to-end hockey with few clear chances, until great work from Issy Gut and Emily Greenwood earned Fylde their first short corner. The ball was received at the top of the D by EJ Dunkerley, who spotted the run to the right post where Issy Gut was waiting to calmly guide the ball home. Fylde went into the break 1–0 up.
The half-time message was simple: look after the ball and stay tight in midfield. However, G&P came out strongly after the restart and equalised early to make it 1–1. Fylde stayed positive, but G&P continued to press and took the lead after finding an unmarked player at the back post, leaving Emily Byers with no chance.
Despite tiring legs, Fylde pushed on in search of an equaliser. A late surge into the G&P D earned Fylde several short corners, one of which resulted in a penalty flick. Emily Greenwood stepped up and calmly fired the ball into the top left corner to level the scores at 2–2.
Both teams held firm in the closing minutes, and the match finished all square. A valuable point for Fylde, though perhaps slightly disappointed not to take all three. Another excellent team effort from the girls. 💙🏑
Fylde 3 3-0 Penrith 1
After a strong performance against Lytham last week, Fylde set out again for another 3 points back on home ground. Fylde knew that all the games in the second half of the season would be harder than the first, being everyone’s competition whilst sitting at the top of the league meaning the girls went out with even more grit and determination.
Fylde started with the ball and passed around the Penrith opposition convincingly from the very beginning, the 3s dominated the start of the match, applying pressure high up the pitch and linking well.
Sophia Melling set the standard high from the first press, chasing the ball as Penrith attempted to move the ball around the back, creating opportunities going forward early on.
5 minutes in, Penrith had a shot on goal from top D which was exceptionally saved by keeper, Michelle Longton, but resulted in a short corner. Penrith slipped the ball to top D to take another strike, their runner deflected it high but Abbie Southern heroically tapped the ball out of the goal mid air to keep the Fylde from going 1-0 down.
Megan Hartley-Smith put pressure on the Penrith player in our attacking 23 minutes in, forcing a mistake. She then counter-attacked dribbling the ball into the box and slapping it across goal to Abi Wensley waiting at the back post. Wensley smashed the ball into the top right corner, giving Fylde the lead.
In the 21st minute, incredible link up play brought the 3s second goal; Abbie Southern sent the ball to Natalie Smith from a 16 hit out which was then pushed out to Emily Finney, the ball was then sent back into the middle for Abbie Warburton to fire the ball up the pitch to Jessica Jennings, who passed the ball to Sophia Melling. Sophia took a strike from top D which was initially saved by the Penrith keeper but on rebound, Sophia slotted the ball away. 2-0!
Unfortunately, 5 minutes into the second half Penrith’s striker found herself away with the ball, she put away a quality strike to get themselves on to the score sheet.
7 minutes later, Fylde fought back with Natalie Smith driving the ball down the baseline line, shifting the ball off to Jessica Jennings who chucked the ball over to Sophia Melling for her to tap in her second goal. 3-1!
Less than 30 seconds later, Sophia showed incredible skill, taking down the ball and beating the Penrith defender, driving the ball into the D and taking another perfectly placed shot but unfortunately couldn’t find the net on this occasion.
The game finished 3-1 to Fylde 3s, a real team performance. The girls take away a lot of positives from Saturdays match but also plenty to work on over the weekend coming weeks to maintain their promotion push.
Player of the match this week was awarded to Sophia Melling for both of her well executed goals and for continuous hard work throughout the match, leading the press.
And DoD went to Megan Hartley-Smith for turning up to the match without her stick, a very crucial piece of equipment.
Chorley Phoenix 2 0-3 Fylde 4
The 4s travelled to Walton le dale this week hoping to secure another win against Chorley Phoenix, a strong adult side.
Fylde dominated early on but Chorley Phoenix had a strong midfield which meant there was no down time. Alyssa Woodman scored as we approached half time which provided some breathing room.
The second half saw more intensity from Fylde, making use of connection passes and threatening in the circle. Alyssa Woodman was fouled, resulting in a penalty stroke being awarded. She dutifully stepped up and landed her second goal, no sweat.
Shortly after, Hollie Guthrie landed a shot from the end of the circle to complete the scoring.
Another strong performance from Fylde 4s, showing fluidity between players and positions to share success.
Fylde 5 0-2 Clitheroe Blackburn Northern 3
The Ladies 5’s faced a tough match against Clitheroe Blackburn Northern 3’s, coming away with a 2–0 loss in what was a hard-fought match.
Despite the scoreline, there were still some real positives to take. Goalkeeper Faye Jackson delivered a brilliant performance between the posts, pulling off a series of saves to keep the opposition at bay. Great job Faye!
In the middle of the pitch, Sadie Atkinson put in as ever an exceptional shift. Facing physical and intense play, she showed real determination and resilience, pushing through and continuing to drive the team forward with some outstanding hockey.
Although the result was unlucky, the team still worked really hard and it still leaves the Ladies 5’s top of the table, showing just how strong the season has been so far.
Fylde 6 Development 0-3 Lancaster University 2
Fylde 6/Development opened proceedings at Mill Farm against division leaders Lancaster University 2.
The young Fylde side, with a sprinkling of adults, kept the students at bay for most of the first half. Cora Sweeney was busy in goal sporting her new kickers and stick and Fylde were unfortunate to go into the break 1-0 down.
In the second half Fylde’s twelve players started to tire and the match opened up into a less controlled game.
Jenny Strachan made her club debut on the front line but the strikers were not able to break through.
The students scored two more short corners in the second half and the 3-0 defeat was a fair result on the day.
Fylde 1 10-0 Kendal 2
After last week’s disappointing draw against the league leaders, Fylde Men were determined to beat their rivals for the second promotion place Kendal 2’s. Fylde fielded a noticeably stronger squad both in skill and numbers, whereas it turned out that Kendal only had 12 players, a stand-in goalkeeper and a mainly young team.
Kendal won a short corner in the first minute after a mistake from defender Pete Latimer, but mucked up the injection, and it came to nothing. Instead Fylde went on the attack and Charlie Oliver entered the D and passed to Jack Jones lurking at the back post for a tap-in.
Fylde doubled their lead a couple of minutes later when Oli van Rijn came down the wing with the ball, along the bye-line and pushed it to Tim Woodman who pushed the ball through the legs of the keeper for his first goal on the return to the club after university.
2-0 up after five minutes and Fylde were cruising. It took another 15 minutes for the next goal but it was only ever going to be Fylde scoring. Defender Schalk De Wet slipped the ball to Simon Holt on the right side of the D for him to place it into the back of the goal.
Five minutes later Simon Holt shot from the top of the D, beat the keeper, and Oli van Rijn managed to get the smallest deflection to claim the goal.
Just before halftime Charlie Oliver dribbled through from halfway, passed through to a sprinting Oli van Rijn around the p-spot who to deflected the ball past the charging sliding keeper.
Just a minute later and rounding off the half, Oli van Rijn returned the favour by slipping the ball from the top of the D to Charlie Oliver, who hit it into the bottom left corner, and give Fylde an unassailable 6-0 lead.
Fylde started to lose shape early in the second half with almost all of the team looking to contribute to a goal. Instead the Kendal reserve keeper was playing out of his skin by making some close range saves.
It took around ten minutes before Fylde were able to score again, Oli van Rijn slipped the ball to Josh Bywater at the back post to knock it in for his first ever goal. He later also won his first ever green card, but we’ll skip over that, it was just a minor technical offence.
It was another ten minutes until Schalk De Wet advancing from the back passed to Sam Asquith in space just inside the D and he managed to slot it past the keeper inside the near post.
With five minutes left Charlie Oliver ran to the base line, then rolled the ball back to Jack Jones at the top of the D to flick it into the back of the net.
Simon Holt finished the scoring with a tap in to make it 10-0.
A far easier game than was expected but a win’s a win and this now leaves Fylde in clear 2nd place with promotion in their own hands.
Simon Holt was voted Man of the Match for the third consecutive game.
Comments