AFC Fylde travel to Solihull Moors tomorrow (Saturday) for their first National League North game of the 2015-16 season (3pm kick off).

The Coasters had a fine pre-season, winning four and drawing three of their eight pre-season fixtures against Rochdale, Fleetwood Town, Bamber Bridge and more recently, a 5-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night. Goals from Josh Wilson, Dion Charles, Joe Whittington and a Danny Rowe brace saw off Blackburn as The Coasters ended their pre-season in style.

Fylde took four points against Solihull last season, notably a 1-0 win away from home in January earlier this year thanks to a last minute Caspar Hughes goal – his only goal so far in his Coasters career. The return fixture last season at Kellamergh Park ended in a 2-2 draw in April as an Omar Bogle penalty in added time at the end of the game ensured Solihull snatched a point. Danny Rowe, who got 31 goals last season, and Richie Allen scored for The Coasters after Darryl Knights gave Solihull the lead and Bogle’s equalizer.

In terms of The Coasters league form towards the back end of last season, they lost both of their play-off semi-final games to Guiseley, who won promotion via the play-offs. Before those two games though, Fylde had won their last three league games and hadn’t lost since early March, a 2-0 defeat to Hednesford Town. Fylde picked up 22 points out of the final 30 points on offer last season but ultimately missed out on promotion after finishing second in the league table on 85 points.

Solihull on the other hand lost 13 games in the second half of last season, although they picked up six points from a possible 15 at the end of the last campaign. The Moors finished in 12th last season on 55 points from 42 games and they will be hoping to build on that this season despite the sale of top goalscorer for Solihull and the entire Conference North last season, Omar Bogle. Solihull have invested in their squad, bringing in a number of players from the formerly named Conference National. They won eight of their nine pre-season games against the likes of Swindon Town, Mansfield and most recently, 4-1 at home against Oxford City last Saturday.

TEAM NEWS

Summer signing Matty Hughes faces a fitness test after a toe injury sustained at Nantwich Town, although he didn’t make any further appearances during the latter stages of pre-season. Caspar Hughes made his comeback against Blackburn after having a routine nose operation last week. Richie Baker missed the final pre-season game against Blackburn but could return for the first game of the new season. Richie Allen and Danny Lloyd will be hoping to impress, whilst summer signing Dom Collins will be looking to start the game after his move from Southport at the beginning of the summer.

Boss Dave Challinor should more or less have full squad to choose from and he’ll have more than one dilemma as to who to pick for his first starting 11 of the National North season.

ADMISSION

Adults: £10

Concessions (65+, Students): £5

Junior (12-15 years): £5

Under 12’s: FREE (when accompanied by a paying adult)

SOLIHULL MOORS ADDRESS

The address for Solihull Moors’ Autotech Stadium is: Solihull Moors FC, The Automated Technology Group Stadium, Damson Parkway, Solihull, West Midlands, B91 2PP.

 Your support last season was fantastic and we’d love to see it continue this season, starting on Saturday by coming along to support the lads against Solihull Moors in our first game of the season. 

SEE YOU THERE!

If you can’t get to the game, then you can follow live updates via the club’s official social media sites which will keep you up to date while every ball is kicked.
Minute by minute updates will be available up to the second on Twitter, while Facebook will have key updates and events plus you can interact with your fellow #Coasters fans.
Video previews and post-match interviews are available on You Tube and images will be also be added to our Instagram page so there is no excuse to miss out on the action, wherever you or we are!

Search for AFC Fylde on any of the above and you will find our official club accounts. Following the game the club website will bring you the full match report and reaction to the action.