Stalybridge Celtic vs AFC Fylde

Saturday 20th February, 2016, k/o 3pm

Bower Fold

Vanarama National League North

AFC Fylde will be looking to avenge the midweek defeat to Lowestoft Town on Saturday against Stalybridge Celtic.

The Coasters slipped back into fourth position in the league following the disappointment at Crown Meadow on Tuesday evening and will be keen to get the promotion push back up and running.

Dave Challinor’s side fell a goal behind early on against Lowestoft, but drew level through Danny Rowe’s 27th goal of the season. However, the Trawler Boys took charge in the second-half and ran out 3-1 winners.

To rub salt in the wounds, midfielder Sam Finley was dismissed during protests following the award of Lowestoft’s penalty and will now serve a two-match suspension. However, this won’t kick in until March 1st.

Stalybridge Celtic currently sit in 13th place in the league with 36 points. Jack Higgins leads the goalscoring charts with nine league goals to his name and 10 in all competitions, whilst Steve Tames also has 10 goals, but only seven of those are in the NLN.

After a disappointing start to the new year, Celtic’s form has picked up and they have won three of their last four matches including a 3-0 victory over promotion hopefuls Boston United. Their only defeat in their last five matches in all competitions was a narrow 1-0 home reverse against second-placed Harrogate Town.

Coincidently, only Harrogate have a better away record than Fylde in the NLN. The Coasters have won nine and drawn one of the 14 away games so far ahead of the match at Bower Fold.

Challinor’s side missed the chance to make up ground on league leaders Solihull Moors this week and the gap remains at seven points. Harrogate leapfrogged ourselves and North Ferriby United – who also suffered midweek defeat – to climb into second place in the table.

On a positive note, the Coasters will have Josh Langley to call upon this weekend after he completed his three match suspension and he is likely to come straight back into the starting line-up. Caspar Hughes is the only injury concern after missing Tuesday night’s game.

Fylde ran out 5-0 winners in the last meeting between the two sides back in October to bring an outstanding run to nine victories in a row.

Goals from Matty Hughes, Dion Charles, Danny Rowe (2) and Danny Lloyd secured the points and ensured the Coasters remained top of the table at the time.

NLN fixtures:

Alfreton Town v Corby Town
Brackley Town v Stockport County
Gainsborough Trinity v Solihull Moors
Gloucester City v Tamworth
Harrogate Town v FC United of Manchester
Hednesford Town v Chorley
Lowestoft Town v Bradford Park Avenue
North Ferriby United v Curzon Ashton
Nuneaton Town v Worcester City

Directions:

Click here for directions to Bower Fold.