The Penalty Box Dancer
Player Valuation: £35m
AFC Wimbledon vs AFC Fylde
25th August 2040
Both sides escaped relegation last season and met at Plough Lane for the first fixture this season. Ferguson stuck with the same side that drew with Barnsley in mid-week. Fylde looked lively from the kick-off, Craddock took the pass from Patterson and crossed early into the box, Bala shrugged his way into the box and slotted on 13 seconds! That has to be a League One Record! Bala for Fylde once again! It was all Fylde in the first 30 minutes but they were unable to double their lead. Craddock had a great chance after taking it down on the chest and hitting a half volley from outside the box which was almost fumbled by the keeper. Stuart Greene came on for John Hutchinson with 30 minutes to go but Fylde couldn't be sure that 1-0 would be enough here. With ten minutes to go, Westwood played a great ball over to the right for Craddock who skipped past Kimmins, he went for goal but it went wide, kept in by Bala who put it back into the box and Craddock hit a low shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-0! Fylde getting the job done! Ferguson made two changes, Richardson and Williams came on replacing Chatziaros and Bala. A minute later, Wimbledon had a corner which was whipped into the box, Sibanda had space for the shot which took a wild deflection off Richardso, hit the underside of the bar and went in, 2-1. The board went up for 4 minutes and the Wimbledon supporters urged their team on. Kimmins sent the ball into the box with a minute to go and Sibanda brought down Westwood, Fylde can take their time with the free-kick. It's all over at Plough Lane and Fylde get the victory but it was tight towards the end.
PLAYER RATINGS
Portsmouth vs AFC Fylde
League Cup Second Round
28th August 2040
A trip South for Fylde just a few days after returning from London so fatigue could be a factor in their cup tie against Portsmouth. Dale Alexander and Elliott Richardson came in at rhe back and Anthony Anderson returned from injury. John Armah started on the right and Grant Thomas was selected in attack. Tommy Smyth took the corner on 4 minutes but it was overhit, Thomas chased it down, looked up and played it into the box where Smyth was in space and he hit an extraordinary shot firt time on his right foot that swerved into the top right corner leaving the keeper with no chance! Smyth just stood there, hands on hips as his teammates rushed over to congratulate him. An absolute quality strike! Pep Guardiola will be smiling at that one! The game settled down a bit after a fast start, Porter was doing a good job shackling Bala who was having a quiet evening so far. A minute later Jay Preece took the pass from Armah and sent a great cross into the box, Bala was there to volley into the back of the net to make it 2-0! You can't keep him quiet! 6th of the season for Bala! Hutchinson passed to Anderson who found Armah, he took a touch away from his marker and on the edge of the box hit a left footed shot that rolled into the bottom corner, 3-0 to Fylde! John Armah with his first of the season! Portsmouth grabbed one back when Carr played a free-kick into the box and Mark Henry headed past Breacker reducing the defecit to two. Portsmouth smelt blood and Mark Henry came down the left and crossed into the box but John Hutchinson was there to head away, it wasn't enough and Abrahams curled in his first of the season grabbing another goal back and making it 3-2 with 13 minutes still to go. Less than a minute later John Armah provided a great ball into the path of Bala inside the area and he tricked the keeper slotting into the bottom corner to make it 4-2! Cool as you like! Stewart Milby came on for John Hutchinson with 12 minutes to go. The goal from Bala took the wind out of Portsmouth's sails and Fylde secured another victory advancing to the League Cup Third Round!
DF: We kept our heads at 3-2 and Bala wrapped it up for us by restoring a cushion and I think at that point it restored our own confidence and we were able to relax a little. I'm pleased to get through to the next round but we know it's going to get harder but we await the challenge.
PLAYER RATINGS
AUGUST PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Emeka Bala has picked up his first award this season claiming the Player of The Month Award for August. Bala has been wowing fans with his dazzling performances in the opening six games and duly deserves the award.
DF: Emeka has really hit the ground running, he offers something that we have lacked at the club and has the fans on the edge of their seats. Such a talented a player and we are delighted with what we have seen so far.
AFC Fylde vs Plymouth Argyle
1st September 2040
It was a good opening month for Fylde, still unbeaten in their first 6 games. League One Player of the Month Emeka Bala was living up to the hype and was a feature in this month's Kirkham Post about his career to date. Nick Kennerdale was named in attack for Plymouth making his return to Mill Farm but Fylde would take some beating with a strong side named for the visit of Morgan Gibbs-White's side. Breacker had his palms stung from close range when Gamble was unmarked inside the box but done well to put behind for the corner. It just wasn't clicking for Fylde in the first 30 minutes, Craddock found Bala over on the left but his header down for Lyons-Mayman wasn't enough. Tommy Smyth put in a great tackle on McElhatton, from behind but he took the ball. Hutchinson threaded the ball through for Bala, who had Lyons-Mayman in support. He went for goal but his shot was blocked, tough start for Fylde and Plymouth doing well oto frustrate the home side. Craddock put ina good tackle on Gamble and ran down the right, he tried the ball into the box but it was intercepted. the home fans starting to show their frustration on the verge of half-time. A typical Ferguson team-talk is required here. A change in tactic was needed and with 30 minutes to go, we saw the introduction of Grant Thomas for John Hutchinson with Fylde going two Strikers. Robinson came forward and was teeing up the shot, he took it from the edge of the box and it looked to be creeping into the bottom corner but Breacker got over with his fingertips to tip it wide. Gamble took the ball down the right and looped the ball into the box, Nick Kennerdale beat Westwood in the air and make it 1-0, against his former club! And he danced in front of the home supporters! A double change for Fylde followed, Smyth and Craddock went off and Milby and Armah came on. Preece played it forward to Thomas who turned, came forward and tried a shot but it went wide. His teammates are livid with him and Ferguson is throwing his water bottle in the dugout! Ritchie-Smith crossed into the box on 89 minutes and Breacker pulled off a great save to deny Williams with the header but Kennerdale was sniffing and he grabbed his second! Game, set and match. Fylde showing glimpses of themselves from last season.
DF: We lacked our cutting edge today and didn't deserve anything playing like that. Kennerdale came back to haunt us and he punished us. It was too easy for them at times. Defeats happen, home or away, we can't allow it to dictate our season but we move on.
PLAYER RATINGS
LEAGUE TABLE
25th August 2040
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Both sides escaped relegation last season and met at Plough Lane for the first fixture this season. Ferguson stuck with the same side that drew with Barnsley in mid-week. Fylde looked lively from the kick-off, Craddock took the pass from Patterson and crossed early into the box, Bala shrugged his way into the box and slotted on 13 seconds! That has to be a League One Record! Bala for Fylde once again! It was all Fylde in the first 30 minutes but they were unable to double their lead. Craddock had a great chance after taking it down on the chest and hitting a half volley from outside the box which was almost fumbled by the keeper. Stuart Greene came on for John Hutchinson with 30 minutes to go but Fylde couldn't be sure that 1-0 would be enough here. With ten minutes to go, Westwood played a great ball over to the right for Craddock who skipped past Kimmins, he went for goal but it went wide, kept in by Bala who put it back into the box and Craddock hit a low shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-0! Fylde getting the job done! Ferguson made two changes, Richardson and Williams came on replacing Chatziaros and Bala. A minute later, Wimbledon had a corner which was whipped into the box, Sibanda had space for the shot which took a wild deflection off Richardso, hit the underside of the bar and went in, 2-1. The board went up for 4 minutes and the Wimbledon supporters urged their team on. Kimmins sent the ball into the box with a minute to go and Sibanda brought down Westwood, Fylde can take their time with the free-kick. It's all over at Plough Lane and Fylde get the victory but it was tight towards the end.
PLAYER RATINGS
Portsmouth vs AFC Fylde
League Cup Second Round
28th August 2040
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A trip South for Fylde just a few days after returning from London so fatigue could be a factor in their cup tie against Portsmouth. Dale Alexander and Elliott Richardson came in at rhe back and Anthony Anderson returned from injury. John Armah started on the right and Grant Thomas was selected in attack. Tommy Smyth took the corner on 4 minutes but it was overhit, Thomas chased it down, looked up and played it into the box where Smyth was in space and he hit an extraordinary shot firt time on his right foot that swerved into the top right corner leaving the keeper with no chance! Smyth just stood there, hands on hips as his teammates rushed over to congratulate him. An absolute quality strike! Pep Guardiola will be smiling at that one! The game settled down a bit after a fast start, Porter was doing a good job shackling Bala who was having a quiet evening so far. A minute later Jay Preece took the pass from Armah and sent a great cross into the box, Bala was there to volley into the back of the net to make it 2-0! You can't keep him quiet! 6th of the season for Bala! Hutchinson passed to Anderson who found Armah, he took a touch away from his marker and on the edge of the box hit a left footed shot that rolled into the bottom corner, 3-0 to Fylde! John Armah with his first of the season! Portsmouth grabbed one back when Carr played a free-kick into the box and Mark Henry headed past Breacker reducing the defecit to two. Portsmouth smelt blood and Mark Henry came down the left and crossed into the box but John Hutchinson was there to head away, it wasn't enough and Abrahams curled in his first of the season grabbing another goal back and making it 3-2 with 13 minutes still to go. Less than a minute later John Armah provided a great ball into the path of Bala inside the area and he tricked the keeper slotting into the bottom corner to make it 4-2! Cool as you like! Stewart Milby came on for John Hutchinson with 12 minutes to go. The goal from Bala took the wind out of Portsmouth's sails and Fylde secured another victory advancing to the League Cup Third Round!
DF: We kept our heads at 3-2 and Bala wrapped it up for us by restoring a cushion and I think at that point it restored our own confidence and we were able to relax a little. I'm pleased to get through to the next round but we know it's going to get harder but we await the challenge.
PLAYER RATINGS
AUGUST PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Emeka Bala has picked up his first award this season claiming the Player of The Month Award for August. Bala has been wowing fans with his dazzling performances in the opening six games and duly deserves the award.
DF: Emeka has really hit the ground running, he offers something that we have lacked at the club and has the fans on the edge of their seats. Such a talented a player and we are delighted with what we have seen so far.
AFC Fylde vs Plymouth Argyle
1st September 2040
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It was a good opening month for Fylde, still unbeaten in their first 6 games. League One Player of the Month Emeka Bala was living up to the hype and was a feature in this month's Kirkham Post about his career to date. Nick Kennerdale was named in attack for Plymouth making his return to Mill Farm but Fylde would take some beating with a strong side named for the visit of Morgan Gibbs-White's side. Breacker had his palms stung from close range when Gamble was unmarked inside the box but done well to put behind for the corner. It just wasn't clicking for Fylde in the first 30 minutes, Craddock found Bala over on the left but his header down for Lyons-Mayman wasn't enough. Tommy Smyth put in a great tackle on McElhatton, from behind but he took the ball. Hutchinson threaded the ball through for Bala, who had Lyons-Mayman in support. He went for goal but his shot was blocked, tough start for Fylde and Plymouth doing well oto frustrate the home side. Craddock put ina good tackle on Gamble and ran down the right, he tried the ball into the box but it was intercepted. the home fans starting to show their frustration on the verge of half-time. A typical Ferguson team-talk is required here. A change in tactic was needed and with 30 minutes to go, we saw the introduction of Grant Thomas for John Hutchinson with Fylde going two Strikers. Robinson came forward and was teeing up the shot, he took it from the edge of the box and it looked to be creeping into the bottom corner but Breacker got over with his fingertips to tip it wide. Gamble took the ball down the right and looped the ball into the box, Nick Kennerdale beat Westwood in the air and make it 1-0, against his former club! And he danced in front of the home supporters! A double change for Fylde followed, Smyth and Craddock went off and Milby and Armah came on. Preece played it forward to Thomas who turned, came forward and tried a shot but it went wide. His teammates are livid with him and Ferguson is throwing his water bottle in the dugout! Ritchie-Smith crossed into the box on 89 minutes and Breacker pulled off a great save to deny Williams with the header but Kennerdale was sniffing and he grabbed his second! Game, set and match. Fylde showing glimpses of themselves from last season.
DF: We lacked our cutting edge today and didn't deserve anything playing like that. Kennerdale came back to haunt us and he punished us. It was too easy for them at times. Defeats happen, home or away, we can't allow it to dictate our season but we move on.
PLAYER RATINGS
LEAGUE TABLE
