AFC Fylde vs Kidderminster Harriers

FA Cup
vs
Sat 4th November 2017
Score: 4 - 2

Match Report

AFC Fylde booked their place in the second round of the FA Cup for the first time after blowing away rivals Kidderminster Harriers.

The Coasters, who pipped Kidderminster to National League North glory last season, raced into a four-goal lead at Mill Farm and despite conceding twice late on, held on for a place in the hat.

Dave Challinor stuck with the same side that picked up six points from six in the National League last week.

The first real opening of the match fell to the hosts when both Jordan Tunnicliffe and George Edmundson went after Danny Rowe’s flicked header, however the flag was up before either could force the ball home.   

The Coasters went closer still moments later when Jack Muldoon founds himself one-on-one with Brandon Hall, but his left-footed strike across goal was marginally wide of the post. 

Fylde soon profited from their early pressure and took a deserved lead. Rowe expertly brought down Muldoon’s cross and scrambled the ball past his marker before powering his strike past the helpless Hall.

Top scorer Rowe was proving a menace from the off and almost found a second when he burst down the right and fizzed an effort wide of the far post.

The hosts were almost made to pay for their missed chance when Joe Ironside’s header across goal was an inch out of the reach of James O’Connor who threw himself at the ball with the goal gaping.

The match ebbed and flowed without either side really threatening, until Rowe found himself toe-to-toe with O’Connor and although he tricked his way past the centre-half, his touch let him down and Kidderminster took their chance to clear.

The Harriers went agonisingly close to dragging themselves back into the tie on the stoke of half time when first James Pearson nodded narrowly wide before seeing his low header claimed by Jay Lynch at the second time of asking. 

Dangerman Rowe picked up where he left off after the break and forced Hall into a smart save, but would soon get the better of the Kidderminster custodian to double the Coasters’ lead.

Just three minutes after the restart, Finley’s cross fell to Smith who poked the ball towards Rowe and the frontman lashed home from five yards. 

The difference in class was clear to see as the game progressed and the hosts piled misery on their counterparts with a third goal. Smith raced from his own half down the left, cut in side and curled a beauty in off the far post.

Kidderminster almost pulled one back on the hour mark when consecutive corners caused problems, the third of which was headed against the Fylde bar by O’Connor. 

Finley was proving instrumental in the centre and fired narrowly over the bar after a cute one-two with Muldoon. 

The home side were simply rubbing salt in the wounds as they slotted home a fourth. Smith broke away down the left before squaring for Finley on the edge of the box and the midfielder made no mistake with a placed finish into the bottom corner. 

There was still life in the Harriers attack and Ironside really should have done better when Pearson flashed an inviting ball across the goalline.

With the Coasters looking comfortable, Kidderminster nicked one out of the blue. Full-back Joel Taylor was allowed far too much space in the Fylde box and curled a fine strike into the top corner.

Ironside thought he had given the visitors hope inside the final ten minutes when he turned home at the back post, however his celebrations were cut short by the linesman.

The frontman was determined to get himself on the scoresheet and was desperately unlucky not to do so when his header at the back post clipped the woodwork.

Muldoon should have put the icing on the cake in the final moments when he was put in the clear by Andy Bond, however his tame attempt was straight at Hall.

Kidderminster made for a nervy ending when Andre Brown controlled a cross from the right and volleyed home from close range, but it was too little too late for the visitors.

AFC Fylde: Lynch, Burke (Ezewele 46), Tunnicliffe, Edmundson, Francis-Angol, J. Taylor, Bond, Finley (Montrose 79), Smith (Grand 84), Muldoon, Rowe.

Subs not used: Taylor, Blinkhorn, Tasdemir, Stott. 

Kidderminster: Hall, Pearson, Taylor, Croasdale, O’Connor, Horsfall, McQuilkin, Ngwatala, Sonupe (Weeks 70), Wright (Brown 60), Ironside.

Subs not used: Finch, Truelove, Williams, Austin, Danko.

Att: 1,480

Ref: Daniel Middleton