Fylde were not hitting the heights in the league and it created a subdued atmosphere for the visit of Swansea City in the F.A Cup. Dale Alexander was given a go at left back and youngster Warren Hodge was a surprise name on the team sheet behind David Hill. Fylde doing well keeping possession and they won a free-kick on near the touchline close to the box, Johnson swung the ball in, Barrett hit it towards goal, it looked like a bit of a scramble, Jonathan Currie got the last touch to take it over the line! Fylde go in front on 14 minutes! Peter Mitchell played for the free-kick on the edge of the Fylde box and Currie played into his hands conceding it, John Jones had a crack and scored from 20 yards to level for Swansea. Fylde got done again by the set-piece. The former Fylde left back John Jones haunts his old team. Hodge found Johnson on 51 minutes, Johnson went right to stretch the play to find Preece, Preece was optimistic with his cross but he found Bellairs at the back post and he headed across the keeper to make it 2-1! Bellairs needed that for his confidence! Warren Hodge was had a good game and looked calm on the ball, he got a standing ovation from his supporters on 60 minutes when he went off for Greene. John Jones went further up the pitch for Swansea in an attempt to create more chances down the left. Greene with the cut back to Currie who went for goal with his side footed effort but it floated just over the bar. Fylde just had to see this out now and not do anything stupid. The added time was up and the fans demanded the whistle, Ngom came forward for Swansea, Sean Jordan shepherd him wide and blocked the cross into the box but conceded the corner. John Jones put a good ball in and Russell headed over and the fans are delighted. The whistle is blown and Fylde are through to the Fourth Round! What a victory! Bytheway get his first as manager and The Coasters are still in the cup!
VB: Much better tonight. We worked very hard and were always on the front foot, we hasd three men around them every time and they didn't want to know. The midfield won it for us today and young Hodge should be proud of himself, he played the game just how we like and he had the confidence with some key passing. We have to fix the league form, it's not good right now. The cup is a nice distraction but the league is our bread and butter.
Vince Bytheway was trying to tighten up the squad inside the January transfer window with a reported loan deal for Aaron Hudson who is currently not in Derek McInnes plans at Burnley. After Hodge's performance against Swansea, he kept his place in the team playing behind Hill as Thomas stayed on the bench. Jonathan Currie and Tommy Smyth formed the midfield with Johnson on the bench. Currie sucked in Muirhead and then sprinted past him through the centre, the crowds roar went up and he passed forward for Hill inside the box and he slotted into the bottom right corner on 12 minutes! Great start for Fylde! Hill had the chance to double that lead ten minutes later after a through ball from Bellairs but the keeper done well to keep it out. Coventry hit back and Wells passed to Marsden, he held off Jordan and turned him to blast it into the top corner on 23 minutes. 7 minutes later Bellairs came forward under no pressure, passed the ball into thje box, Craddock done well to hold off his man to make it 2-1! Those through balls are causing problems for Coventry. The exact same happened again 5 minutes later, Bellairs forward to Craddock and he got his second! Fylde were showing real attacking intent and five minutes after half-time, Craddock returned the favour and crossed for Bellairs to knock in the header at the back post! Marsden had something to say and had the better of Jordan and Barrett at the backm powering past them knocking the ball down in front of himself and beating Breacker to make it 4-2. Smyth passed forward to Hodge who turned beautifully, passed into the box and Bellairs shoud have done better with the finish, putting it wide. Francis Johnson came on for Currie for the last 17 minutes. Leak-Barnes hit the free-kick towards goal for Coventry with 7 minutes to go and it deflected off the wall falling into the feet of Marsden who put it into the empty net sealing his hattrick. Bytheway looked nervous on the line as Coventry were fighting for a point. Jay Preece sent in a good free-kick towards the back post, Craddock chased it down and smashed it home to surely put this game beyond doubt! A hattrick for Craddock! Warren Hodge came close to scoring his first Fylde league goal when Johnson's ball to the far post found him and he hit the post on 87 minutes. It was a game full of goals and five minutes into stoppage time, Tom Smith put his chance away to make it 5-4. What a game it has been at Mill Farm!
VB: We won but we defended badly, Marsden embarrassed our defence today and we were too nice. We need a biut more aggression at the back but in the right way. We can't concede four goals like that again.
AFC Fylde vs Rochdale
EFL Trophy Northern Section Third Round
18th January 2040
Bytheway went with a strong side, deciding to choose a strong eleven for the EFL Trophy. As stated before the game, Bytheway will take all competitive matches seriously with the aim of going as far as the team can possibly go. Ollie Bellairs came forward on 5 minutes and passed to Hill who went for goal, the keeper got a hand to it knocking it on to the bar before it was cleared by Phillips. Hodge played a great ball down the right for Craddock who crossed low towards Currie but he caught it on the bounce and put it over the bar, unlucky. Stockton got free of the Fylde defence on 21 minutes but Breacker done enough to put him off and knocked his shot away. Rochdale went with two up front for the second half as Stockton was noticeably struggling on his own. Grant Thomas came on for the last half an hour replacing Ollie Bellairs on the left. Thomas gets involved straight away running at the defence and forcing a save from the goalkeeper. Rochdale done all they could to hang on and their travelling support will be pleased to take this tie to penalties.
Rochdale win the toss and choose to kick first....
25 year old Hudson has not been part of Derek McInnes plans at Burnley this season as they battle relegation from the Premier League. Hudson has made four appearances but states he wants more first team football to reignite his stagnating career. Hudson's speed could be useful to Fylde down the right side and he has also shown good leadership skills when we was at Bristol City in The Championship. He made a £3M signing to Burnley in 2038 and has played 15 times for The Clarets. Bytheway believes he can be the player to help Fylde up the table in the second half of the season.
25 year old Hudson has not been part of Derek McInnes plans at Burnley this season as they battle relegation from the Premier League. Hudson has made four appearances but states he wants more first team football to reignite his stagnating career. Hudson's speed could be useful to Fylde down the right side and he has also shown good leadership skills when we was at Bristol City in The Championship. He made a £3M signing to Burnley in 2038 and has played 15 times for The Clarets. Bytheway believes he can be the player to help Fylde up the table in the second half of the season.
AFC Fylde vs Birmigham City
F.A Cup Fourth Round
21st January 2040
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Mill Farm loves a cup clash and the fans were all out with their cut-outs and banners ahead of the game against League One opponents Birmingham City. Neil Hakeem came back into the fold at left back, Greene was named in the team playing behind Grant Thomas. It was a very drab first half and too much of a cold afternoon for most supporters who were doing their best to sit through this performance. Fylde were doing well defensively, Matos and Cunningham were struggling for space in the final third but Fylde were not getting the ball forward. As the game went on it looked like Fylde were never going to create a decent chance, Smyth was brought on for the last 15 minutes replacing Stuart Greene. What a very drab match that was. It finishes 0-0 and there will be a replay at St Andrews.
PLAYER RATINGS
Luton Town vs AFC Fylde
25th January 2040
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A night in Luton to salvage their failing season, it was a 4-3-3 formation that we haven't seen under Bytheway with a midfield trio of Currie, Johnson and Smyth and a front three of Bellairs, Hill and Craddock. New signing Hudson was not in the team and was still getting up to speed following a ankle ligament injury. Fylde came close with the corner on 20 minutes, Bellair finding Craddock at the front post and his glancing header went just over. Fylde were done down the right side and Baker crossed in for Wright who beat Preece to make it 1-0 on the stroke of half-time. Grant Thomas came on for the last 30 minutes and Smyth pushed up behind. With just 5 minutes to go Fylde had a chance from the free-kick deep inside the opponents half, Johnson played the ball towards the far post and it was headed up in the air, took a while to come down but Bellairs controlled it nicely and put it away for his 11th of the season and to grab the equaliser! The match ended with neither side pushing for the winner, it's not a great result for Fylde but one they would take.
VB: It was a good result, we came to a tough ground and stole a point. We can do certain things better but we have to work on keeping it tight at the back.
PLAYER RATINGS
AFC Fylde vs Rotherham United
28th January 2040
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With only two wins all season, Rotherham looked doomed and were likely to be relegated to League Two but Fylde were not at their best either so a routine home win wasn't predictable. Warren Hodge came back in and played in attack behind Grant Thomas. Bytheway would need the win today or the supporters will begin to worry. On 7 minutes Hodge passed to Craddock and he threaded the ball through to Thomas but he was fouled and won his side an early penalty! Thomas took it calmly waiting for the keeper to dive and he put it down the middle! 1-0! Ten minutes later Preece lobbed the ball into the box rather hopefully and Craddock won the header but he never got much on it but it was enough to beat the keeper and hit the roof of the net, 2-0! On 23 minutes Tommy Smyth was struggling with a knee injury and was replaced by Jonathan Currrie. It was a good first half for Fylde, the ball was zipping around in the final third and they looked energised and dangerous. Something we haven't yet seen under Bytheway's strict regime. The second half got off to a different start and on 56 minutes Steven Clark hit a fantastic volley from the long ball from Bennett to beat Breacker to pull a goal back. Rotherham's corner was cleared by Craddock and Bellairs picked up the ball and charged forward, he had Hodge moving to his left and Craddock bombing down the right, Craddock took the pass and crossed at the byline into the box for the run of Jonathan Currie who met it with his head powering the ball past the keeper make it 3-1! Currie timed his run to perfection! Johnson was replaced for Milby and with 15 minutes left Warren Hodge had to come off with an ankle injury, Vince Bytheway got himself ready and came on to the delight of the supporters! Rotherham tried for one last attack but Barrett was quick to get back and remove the danger, great game for him today and Neil Hakeem in defence. The Coasters get that much needed win!
VB: It's likely Smyth and Hodge will miss the Cup replay against Birmingham mid-week but should be back and ready for Cheltenham.
PLAYER RATINGS
09:00 We are live outside Mill Farm, aside from the loan deal for Aaron Hudson, there is not much to talk about for incomings. Nick Kennerdale could be leaving the club today.
