This new feature article divulges into the past and looks at the success that The Coasters have had since the re-branding as AFC Fylde. This feature is also in the match-day programmes for home games and is also now all set to be published here on the club website!

This week, we take a look back at our 2-0 home victory over Matlock Town from the 2013/2014 season. The game was played almost exactly a year ago today.

Matlock Town (07/09/2013)

Coasters Starting XI:

Hinchliffe, Hankin, Sumner, M. Hughes (C), Denson, C. Hughes, Dorney (Booth 70), Winter, Blinkhorn (Rainford 78), M. Barnes, Lloyd;

Subs not used:

Hare, Russell, Charnley.

AFC Fylde moved to the top of the table in early September 2013 thanks to a third consecutive win earned over a resilient Matlock Town side at Kellamergh Park.

In a game which saw few clear cut chances created for either side, Matty Blinkhorn gave The Coasters the lead four minutes before the break before Harry Winter popped up to wrap up the victory within seconds of the restart.

Fylde dominated from the off but couldn’t grab a vital early goal which would open the floodgates as in the previous two outings – in fact it was Matlock’s Danny Holland who had the first attempt of the game within seconds of kick off but he shot straight at Ben Hinchliffe in the Fylde goal, and then Michael Barnes missed an effort as Fylde raced straight up the other end for their first chance.

Some good possession around the visitor’s penalty area couldn’t be converted into chances as Barnes’ crosses and long range efforts from Danny Lloyd were constantly cleared or blocked by a solid Matlock defence but the next clear shot on goal came from Winter on 15 minutes, but he scuffed his shot well wide after being played through by Blinkhorn.

It was a stroke of luck which allowed Blinkhorn to open the scoring on 41 minutes – Matlock keeper’ Kennedy jumped up to claim a high cross into his area but collided with his defender David Haggerty and the ball fell kindly to Blinkhorn who rolled it into the open net from five yards for his fifth goal of the season.

The home side knew another goal would surely kill off a Matlock side that offered little going forward and it came just as they kicked off the second period – a low cross across the face of the goal from Barnes was turned into the net by Winter from six yards out to put The Coasters 2-0 up.

Lewis McMahon should have pulled one back for the visitors against the run of play but he could only send his shot wide of Fylde’s goal after some good movement allowed him to break into the box and shoot. Rainford was inches away from tapping in a corner at the far post, Lloyd shot just wide of the post and Rainford then fired another attempt over the bar as Fylde looked to score a third but it wasn’t to be.

Coasters boss Dave Challinor had this to say after the match;

“Matlock are a decent side and we knew they would come here and make it difficult for us. We dominated possession without really troubling them and I think we were back to making poor decisions in the final third and that obviously dictates how many opportunities you create and how many goals you score. “I said at half time that the keeper’s only really had one save to make so we needed to improve on that in the second half and we started well and got the second goal.”

Other Results this week:

14/09/2013 – Blyth Spartans 1-3 AFC Fylde

15/09/2012 – AFC Fylde 5-0 Buxton

13/09/2011 – AFC Fylde 3-1 Witton Albion

12/09/2009 – AFC Fylde 4-1 Rossendale United

13/09/2008 – AFC Fylde 6-1 Abbey Hey