Another tough game for Fylde in their bid for survival against a Swindon side unbeaten in six. The Robins had practically secured their play-off place with two games to go but it's Fylde who need the three points to stay in League One. If they win and results go their way, they will be safe. Ferguson made a change and brought John Hutchinson into the side playing behind Hill. Things started badly for Fylde and they were hit early on when Phillips got the ball over to the far post and Tomlinson-Wilmot tucked it away to give the home side an early lead. A devastating blow to Fylde's hopes. Fylde had to fight and Currie passed to Hutchinson on ten minutes who gave it to Craddock on the edge of the box, there wasn't much on and he tried a low curling shot which found it's way in off the palm of the keeper! Just what they needed! Fylde were in control and the football was swift in the opposition half and they were fighting for that second goal. This is brilliant from Fylde, Swindon can't get out of their half and the desire to win the ball back is superb. Bellairs knocked it down the left for Hakeem who crossed for Hill but he lost the header, Johnson went for goal first time and put it just over the bar on 40 minutes. Craddock done well to intercept the pass but Preece was not switched on and the ball came into the box for Swindon but Sean Jordan done enough and put it behind. Fylde's first change came on 65 minutes, Currie was on a booking so he was replaced by 19 year old Tommy Smyth. Fylde were defending well, Jordan putting his body on the line to block shots and he chased down every loose ball. Fylde were on top but needed the second goal, it was time for the introduction of Grant Thomas for David Hill with 15 minutes to go. Hakeem blocked Molesworth's cross on 87 minutes and the corner was cleared to Craddock who had Thomas in support, it was two against two, Craddock got it into the box with a delightful chip for Thomas and he hit it first time into the bottom right corner! That has to be it! Grant Thomas to the rescue! The board went up for 4 minutes, Fylde just had to hang on. Swindon pushed for the equaliser but Fylde were clever with the offside trap and slowing the game down with the restart. Breacker went long and Smyth got on the ball, he slowed it down in the middle, he passed to Hutchinson who played a one-two with Hakeem and there was the whistle! Fylde are safe! What a performance from The Coasters! 1-0 down inside 3 minutes but they fought hard and battled for every second of the game to earn a vital win and retain their status in League One! Wrexham were held by Wimbledon and MK Dons were beaten by Gillingham!
DF: I'm delighted with the level of performance, from the goal we battled and stayed in the game, got an equaliser and from then on we were in total control. We played with confidence in the final third and with grit in the defensive third. We worked hard and the lads got out everything they put in. We are staying up! This side is going to come back stronger, there is a decent team here and it's getting the best out of these players that is the main task. What a display, I'm delighted!
Another tough game for Fylde in their bid for survival against a Swindon side unbeaten in six. The Robins had practically secured their play-off place with two games to go but it's Fylde who need the three points to stay in League One. If they win and results go their way, they will be safe. Ferguson made a change and brought John Hutchinson into the side playing behind Hill. Things started badly for Fylde and they were hit early on when Phillips got the ball over to the far post and Tomlinson-Wilmot tucked it away to give the home side an early lead. A devastating blow to Fylde's hopes. Fylde had to fight and Currie passed to Hutchinson on ten minutes who gave it to Craddock on the edge of the box, there wasn't much on and he tried a low curling shot which found it's way in off the palm of the keeper! Just what they needed! Fylde were in control and the football was swift in the opposition half and they were fighting for that second goal. This is brilliant from Fylde, Swindon can't get out of their half and the desire to win the ball back is superb. Bellairs knocked it down the left for Hakeem who crossed for Hill but he lost the header, Johnson went for goal first time and put it just over the bar on 40 minutes. Craddock done well to intercept the pass but Preece was not switched on and the ball came into the box for Swindon but Sean Jordan done enough and put it behind. Fylde's first change came on 65 minutes, Currie was on a booking so he was replaced by 19 year old Tommy Smyth. Fylde were defending well, Jordan putting his body on the line to block shots and he chased down every loose ball. Fylde were on top but needed the second goal, it was time for the introduction of Grant Thomas for David Hill with 15 minutes to go. Hakeem blocked Molesworth's cross on 87 minutes and the corner was cleared to Craddock who had Thomas in support, it was two against two, Craddock got it into the box with a delightful chip for Thomas and he hit it first time into the bottom right corner! That has to be it! Grant Thomas to the rescue! The board went up for 4 minutes, Fylde just had to hang on. Swindon pushed for the equaliser but Fylde were clever with the offside trap and slowing the game down with the restart. Breacker went long and Smyth got on the ball, he slowed it down in the middle, he passed to Hutchinson who played a one-two with Hakeem and there was the whistle! Fylde are safe! What a performance from The Coasters! 1-0 down inside 3 minutes but they fought hard and battled for every second of the game to earn a vital win and retain their status in League One! Wrexham were held by Wimbledon and MK Dons were beaten by Gillingham!
DF: I'm delighted with the level of performance, from the goal we battled and stayed in the game, got an equaliser and from then on we were in total control. We played with confidence in the final third and with grit in the defensive third. We worked hard and the lads got out everything they put in. We are staying up! This side is going to come back stronger, there is a decent team here and it's getting the best out of these players that is the main task. What a display, I'm delighted!
It was the last day of the season and relief for Fylde after securing their league status last week against Swindon Town. Ferguson gave Dale Alexander a start at Left Back and Tommy Smyth a start behind David Hill. It's going to be the last appearance for Francis Johnson, Jonathan Currie, Anthony Barrett and David Hill. It will also be the last appearance for 34 year old veteran Vince Bytheway who is on the bench. There will be a great send off for Vince who has made 486 league appearances for Fylde and holds the most assists in a season with 18. Vince has scored a total of 85 league goals for Fylde and to see him play for the club just one last time would be sad to see. Fylde had a great chance on 14 minutes when Johnson chased down the ball before it went out of play and whipped it back in, Currie headed towards goal and he clipped the top of the bar. Dale Alexander intercepted the cross on the edge of the box and sent a long ball forward to David Hill who held it up and waited for support, he sent the ball into the box and Bellairs knocked it in to give Fylde the lead on 26 minutes! Currie won the ball back two minutes later and Jordan played a ball forward to Bellairs who took it past his marker, passed to Craddock who put it on a plate for Hill in the six yard box to make it 2-0! The first half was a breeze for Fylde, the fans have been waiting for a performance like this all season. Two minutes into the second half, Alexander tried to clear the ball at the back but it deflected off Martin and Hessenthaler was in to slot, a freak goal but they all count, 2-1. It was 52 minutes when Vince Bytheway was stripped and ready to come on, the cheers went up in the stands as Craddock applauded the Coasters as he made his way to the bench. Tommy Smyth went down with a thigh injury on 63 minutes and he couldn't continue, John Hutchinson came on for the youngster. It's been a good season for Tommy Smyth but could you imagine what Ferguson would get out of him? Dale Alexander was getting in sone crossed and one fell to Johnson but his shot was blocked and it allowed Gillingham to counter, Mike Coleman sent the ball towards the box for Matty Peters who had the pace to beat Jordan and put it across Breacker into the bottom left to make it 2-2 on 69 minutes. Babaloia played a ball over the top for Mike Coleman who beat Jordan to it, Breacker came out and made the save but it bounced up, hit Coleman and went in, 3-2 to Gillingham on 76 minutes, well this wasn't part of the script at Mill Farm! Fylde had a few chances late on, Bytheway with a great cross for Hutchinson but his header was saved. Gillingham killed any momentum in the game by going down whenever they could and just slowed the pace right down and they came away with all three points in a fantastic turnaround in the second half. We certainly didn't ecpect that after the champagne football in the first but it's a blow to Fylde, Bytheway and Duncan Ferguson who will bow out on a defeat. The main story is Fylde are safe. It was a poor season overall and they had all the talent to do better but it was tough with two inexperienced managers and it took the club's best manager to come back at the death to save them. It's not the result Duncan Ferguson would have wanted today but we've seen three better performances than most of the season and the supporters can focus on next season.
PLAYER RATINGS
DF: I didn't want to lose today, I don't want to lose any day but today was a special occasion and Gillingham came and ruined the party! First half we were great, looked comfortable and played some fancy football, second half we took our foot off the gas, they went two up top and it worked, well done to them on a great win. I just want to say what a great servant Vince Bytheway has been for this club. I remember taking Vince on loan from West Brom when he was 22 and he helped get us up into The Championship, I knew after that season he was going to be a Fylde player and we got him for £90k. He was incredible down that right side, he could cross, he could shoot and he could certainly find the back of the net. Him and Hendo together were a force and Tyrone O'Neill loved playing in the middle of them! We're going to miss Vince and everything he brought to this club. He was a model professional and he didn't suffer fools but when you got to know him, he was so kind hearted and really had an affinity to this football club. I wish him well in what ever he chooses to do next, he still has a few years in him playing but I know his back isn't what it used to be. Vince, you've been brilliant and I have loved every minute of it, good luck for the future, son.
Dale Potter: Ferguson can stay
If he wants the job, it's his. 12 month contract, get us back up the table again and competing with the best in the league. Full control of transfers, he can manage his way. It's his if he wants it. I've seen a huge turnaround in squad morale in the last few weeks and he knows this club better than anyone. I'm going to talk to him, he might be hard to bargain with but I can assure you he will get a good contract out of it.
Duncan Ferguson has a decision to make on whether he stays on for another season at Fylde. Chairman Dale Potter seems keen on the idea but it's whether Ferguson wants to make a return to management full-time.
NO PUNCHES PULLED WITH DANNY ROWE
Another season comes to an end and we finished four points clear of relegation. We cannot be in this same predicament next season. What happened under the current Board was disastrous and they allowed it to continue. Bytheway would have took us down if he stayed on as manager, Ferguson got a lift out of the players and got a win which secured it but he had his work cut out with this squad. If he decides to take the job, the squad needs an overhaul. We've got too many players on loan who don't care about the club, if we went down, they would have returned to their clubs without a care in the world. We've got Vince Bytheway still here at 34 and I'll be honest, I'll be glad to see him go. I appreciate everything he gave to this club but for someone who hardly played, he was taking £8k a week. Sean Jordan's legs have gone, he can't play the high line as he gets done every time. Grant Thomas got 23 goals this year, he can score goals but how many games did he just look lost? He's 22 so I will keep the faith but he has to be consistent. Ollie Bellairs and Patrick Craddock played well this season and we need to keep them. I think there's a lot more to come from Tommy Smyth, he's just come from Northern Ireland to a more competitive league so I expect a decent showing from him next season. We'll have young Elliot Richardson back next season, he played every week for Macclesfield and done his job in keeping them in the National League, let's hope he's ready because we need a decent defence. I say we keep Duncan for another season, give him full reign and let him do it his way. I've worked with him and I know what he is capable of. One full season with him at the helm and we will see a different Fylde. Up The Coasters!
I know I speak for everyone when I say that for a season with Hendo, Bytheway and Ferguson all in charge that we've had the three stooges in charge.
Woeful. Thankfully Tyrone O'Neill hasn't got his training badges yet due to being banged up for his "Bush meat" importing otherwise he'd have come in and we'd be down.
Fists and poo flying everywhere down at the training ground this morning. Rowe seen driving away chortling to himself about the ruckus his column caused.
