The Penalty Box Dancer
Player Valuation: £35m
Swansea City vs AFC Fylde
F.A Cup Third Round
31st December 2039
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The last game of this decade and the first for new manager Vince Bytheway. Bytheway stood there in his black suit with his yellow tie as the players walked out at the Liberty Stadium. The away fans applauded their playing legend although some believe Fylde deserve a manager with a better C.V. Bytheway went with a familiar lineup, Stuart Greene was in behind Grant Thomas and Bytheway named himself as a substitute. Fylde were dominating possession, after 20 minutes with 78% of the ball. Jonathan Currie had a shot on 37 minutes but it went over the bar, so far a good display from Fylde. Stuart Greene gave the ball away on 59 minutes and luckily for him the chance for Swansea came to nothing. Bytheway was livid with him on the touchline and asked Tommy Smyth to warm up. Fylde made a double change with just over 20 minutes to go, David Hill replaced Grant Thomas and Tommy Smyth came on for Stuart Greene. Smyth passed to Currie who found Bellairs, he got the ball into the box and Craddock went for goal from the right side and it was pushed behind at the near post. Currie lost possession on 82 minutes and Ngom received the long ball, he only had Breacker to beat and he hit the bar, that should have been 1-0 to Swansea, the defence was cut open too easily. With 5 minutes to go Bytheway made the decision to bring himself on! He came on the right for Craddock, it's something we don't see in the modern game anymore! Swansea had a last minute corner which was cleared by Barrett and the referee called time on a bit of a cagey affair. There will be a replay at Mill Farm which Fylde will hope to take advantage of.
VB: That was a good performance, I know these players and I know their strengths, they put in a good shift and we've got a replay out of it. We have to be better in the league from the off, we need wins and I know these lads have it in them to strive for every point. I want the supporters to make it known they are there in the replay, we can cause damage with the fans on our side.
PLAYER RATINGS
Brentford vs AFC Fylde
3rd January 2040
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The first league match of the Bytheway era and it was the same side that drew with Swansea a few days earlier. Justin Brooks' loan deal came to an end and he returned to Motherwell. It was too early to say whether a permanent deal would be secured. Fylde were on their guard early on as Brentford hit them with early pressure but great work from Hakeem and Barrett at the back. Moran passed forward to Hughes who waltzed past Johnson and put the ball into the roof of the net on 20 minutes, 1-0 to the Bees. It's total domination from Brentford in the first 45 and it should be about 3-0 but Breacker and the defence have done a good job so far. Brentford had a free-kick on the corner of the box, Liam Clancy fancied it and buried it for his 12th of the season. Bytheway made the change and brought on David Hill for Stuart Greene. Bytheway urged his players to go more direct and Barrett played the long ball forward for Hill who got goal side and his shot was saved. Smyth was on for Currie and he was involved right away getting the ball forward to Hill who wasn't afraid to have a go but he put his shot over the bar. Brentford moved the ball quickly on 89 minutes and played it long to March who kept it in and cut it back to O'Donnell to slide in and make it 3-0. A terrible day for Bytheway and Fylde. It's a big win for Brentford but that win only keeps them in 11th whilst Fylde drop down to 14th.
VB: It doesn't come as a surprise, we are picking up the pieces of the mess we found ourselves in when Henderson left. It's a tough job to come into and try to change instantly. We need to work to figure out where it's going wrong and then put a stop to it before it does a U-turn. It's my job to fix and one that isn't going to be easy.
PLAYER RATINGS
AFC Fylde vs Crewe Alexandra
7th January 2040
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Vince Bytheway's first home game in charge and the fans were delighted to see him step out before kick-off to greet them. Bytheway named himself in the starting lineup so was ready in his kit to get out on the pitch. Stuart Greene was missing with a shin injury and Smyth lined up behind David Hill who was the sole Striker. The game got off to a fiery start, Bellairs intercepted the pass to Swaine just after the kick-off and he came up behind and left his mark on him, the referee told him to calm down and kept his cards in his pocket. Fylde in possession, Currie plays it wide to Bytheway, Preece overlaps and takes the pass into the box but Hakeem can't get there. Jordan passes to Smyth who switches it to Bytheway on the right, he gets the cross in and Bellairs knocks it back to Hill but the keeper saves the shot. It was a great start for Fylde but they needed that goal, Crewe got a free-kick from a dangerous position on 29 minutes and Jay O'Reilly went for goal clearing the wall and beating Breacker from 20 yards. Preece down the right played a one-two with Bytheway, cut it back to the edge of the box for Smyth and his shot was just wide. He's still waiting for his first goal. A minute to go until half-time Smyth loses the ball to Fleming and he pings it forward to Gill and Breacker does enough to save it. Bytheway is furious here with Smyth who keeps his head down and walks away. It's the one change at half-time and Bytheway is changed into his tracksuit and on the touchline, Craddock his replacement. Fleming got the ball forward for Crewe on 63 minutes and Breacker came out to meet it heading it outside his box but it fell to Gill who hit it on the bounce and lobbed Breacker to make it 2-0 to Crewe. Grant Thomas came on for David Hill. Fylde can't even do the basics, it's not looking good. The boos ring out at full-time and it's not good enough by Fylde's standards. Another defeat which sees them drop further down the table and they are sleeping into relegation.
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