Fylde 1 (F) 2 - 1 Pendle Forest 1 (F)
Vitality Women's Conference North
Saturday saw Fylde hosting Pendle Forrest in their first home game this side of the season. Fylde were back to full strength after last week's availability issues, and looking for a win after last week's disappointing result.
With Fylde and Pendle being local rivals, it always proves to be a fiesty, competitive game, and this one did not disappoint! Fylde dominated in the first quarter but unfortunately couldn't capitalise on their chances, and the second quarter carried on in a similar vain.
Pendle came out pressing more aggressively in the second half and this resulted in more possession for the away side. They got a questionable penalty corner which was converted into a goal with a fantastic drag flick into the top left corner.
Fylde went into the last quarter 1-0 down but were not disheartened knowing they were more than capable of turning the game around. It didn't take long for this to happen, with Flor Zappulla demonstrating some silky skills in the opposition's circle which resulted in a penalty corner. Izzie Milbourn converted with a low hard drag flick.
Tempers were flaring both on the pitch from the Pendle girls and in the stands, but Fylde continued to push for another goal. Hattie Madden played a fantastic ball into the circle from the right side line, to find Pru Lindsey unmarked at the top. She controlled the ball and produced an excellent finish to beat the onrushing keeper, putting Fylde 2-1 up with the last touch of the game.
A great team performance from the Fylde girls and a deserved 3 points, with Pru Lindsey taking player of the game.
Didsbury Greys 1 (F) 1 - 1 Fylde 2 (F)
North West Women's Division 1
The weather was poor on this day,
We went afar to Manchester to play,
Some great passing around to each one,
Hoping to get 3 points and have lots of fun.
Some fast play from Mia, Sally, Emily and EJ round the back,
Didsbury tried to follow and track,
Met the ball and moved with pace,
Olivia M, Chelsea and Layla got into space.
A great pass from Dawn C,
Into the D,
A striking finish from Olivia John-Haslam,
We started again to go again at them!
Shorts were given,
From many a wrong decision,
KB cleared so many with power,
Didsbury found a way through just before the hour.
A strong battle towards the end,
Trying to keep to our winning trend,
We moved the ball well together as one,
Here’s to winning the next game and most importantly having fun.
Fylde 3 (F) 1 - 1 Lancaster & Morecambe 1 (F)
North West Women's Division 2 North Fylde hosted Lancaster & Morecambe at a wet and windy Mill Farm, with captain Georgie Hampson injured and on the sidelines, Becky Evans stepped up to captain the side; with only two adults on the team sheet and two players stepping up from the 4th IX the youthful team (an average age of 16) set out with determination. Lancaster & Morecambe started with the ball but Fylde quickly gained and then retained possession for long periods of time. Despite several short corners and good passing play the Ladies 3s could not find the net, with good crossing from Lauren Appleyard, Keira Tomes and Katie Tinsley the Lancaster & Morecambe keeper was kept busy but many of the shots on goal went straight to the keeper's pads. Unlike Fylde’s tactic of maintaining possession, Lancaster & Morecambe kept a high target player throughout the match hoping for a break in play, this tactic did put Fylde under pressure and at times left the defence scrambling to get back into position. Half time score 0-0. In the second half, Fylde came out determined and pinned Lancaster & Morecambe into their defensive D for even longer periods of time. Again, multiple shots on goal and penalty corners could not find success but Fylde persevered with good passing between Lucy Bridges, Laura Knowles and Valarie Versterre up to the forward line.
With 10 minutes to go Fylde finally found the back of the net courtesy of a brilliant shot from Valarie. Now buoyed up by the goal, Fylde continued to surge forward looking for a second goal, the forwards and midfield became more brazen and made attacking runs up the pitch with the ball. Unfortunately, one period of play saw Fylde over commit to the attack and Lancaster & Morecambe made a break. Scrambling to defend Fylde did not cover all the opposition players and allowed a free man on the post to easily tuck the ball into the net with less than two minutes to go. Unfortunately there was not enough time for Fylde to secure another goal and the game finished 1-1.
MOM: Keira Tomes, Goal scorer: Valarie Versterre.
Fylde 4 (F) 3 - 2 Clitheroe Blackburn Northern 2 (F)
North West Women's Division 3 North (Central)
The last match of the day at Mill Farm saw the Fylde Ladies 4th team take on Clitheroe and Blackburn Northern 2nd team in a mid table clash.
The home side went down a goal early in the first half, however this was pulled back following the conversion of a penalty corner. An injection from Kirtika Saravanan, stick stop from Lucy Wane and calm powerful strike from Beth Wolstenholme.
Again the opposition went ahead but the Fylde team worked hard for a second equaliser scored by Hannah Metcalf, her first one for the club. A cross from the right into the D allowed Grace Tomlinson to put the ball across the line for the winning goal.
An industrious team effort resulted in another win (3-2) for the developing side and should see the side now safe from relegation.
Fylde 5 (F) 1 - 4 Leyland & Chorley 1 (F)
North West Women's Division 4 North (Central)
This week the Ladies 5th Xl played top of the table Leyland and Chorley 1 Xl at their home ground at Mill Farm.
Fylde came out strong and played their own game, ten minutes into the match Fylde won a short corner. The ladies knew what they needed to do and set up around the D quickly, Georgia Nicholls injected the ball out to Jess Egan who received the ball and passed it back to Georgia who was well positioned at the post. She pushed the ball to the back of the board resulting in the first goal of the match.
Spirits were lifted for Fylde as they took the lead but this also fuelled the opposition. Leyland and Chorley came back fighting and quickly scored a goal from a short corner. Fylde continued to stick to the game plan setting the press well, fighting for the ball and defending very well. Leyland and Chorley however found a gap in the defence playing quickly and finding the back of the net to take the lead 1-2 at half time.
Fylde came back with fire in their bellies and improved attacking possession with increased play from the right and some brilliant hits from wide into the D but unfortunately Fylde were unable to pick these up and secure any more goals. Leyland and Chorley stayed strong and unfortunately secured two more goals. Final score Fylde 5th 1-4 Leyland and Chorley 1.
Fylde were happy with that result with a debut match for Katie Sloane and were thankful for reinforcements from our 6th team from Heather Appleyard, Liddy Eccles, Megan Eccles. Win as a team lose a team.
Didsbury Northern 2 (M) 5 - 3 Fylde (M)
North West Men's Division 1 This week the Men’s 1s made the journey to Didsbury Northern to take on their Men’s 2s. The previous fixture at Mill Farm ended in frustration for the travelling side as Didsbury snatched a late goal from a Penalty Corner after the final whistle to share the points. Fylde started as what now seems to be the norm for them these days, slow. Didsbury taking advantage from a quick break and finding themselves 1-on-1 with Danny Taylor, the ball being slotted in the bottom corner, 1-0 to the home team inside 5 minutes.
Fylde restarted the game and quickly settled after the poor start, a few good spells of keeping the ball and exposing the gaps around the back of the defence soon led to Fylde’s first penalty corner. The ball finding its way in to the bottom left over the diving keepers leg pads from Gaz Sym's drag flick, Fylde back in the game.
Fylde, now playing with confidence and winning the 50/50’s in midfield, started to outplay the home side, with more attacks coming, another penalty corner won and an opportunity to go ahead. This time the ball flying just wide of the home team's right post and a great opportunity missed. Fylde found more opportunities to score and leading goal scorer Jamie Oakes managing to find the goal on 2 occasions in the half to take Fylde’s tally to 3. Didsbury finding a way back in to the game before half-time making the game 3-2.
Didsbury playing some good hockey through the first half but finding themselves come up against some solid defending, Fylde managing to keep the ball out of the net from several good Didsbury attacks during the half.
Second half and the home side had changed tactics, pressing hard and fast, putting the Fylde defence under immense pressure. The home side winning a penalty corner which was fired in and hitting a Fylde defender on the line, penalty flick awarded and put away, narrowly beating Danny who went the right way, 3-3 Didsbury with their new found confidence, now in control of the game, continued to attack the Fylde goal.
With a small squad and an injury, Fylde now down to a bare 11 couldn’t cope with the fitness and additional 3 subs Didsbury had brought to the game, overloading the defence meant Didsbury had finally managed to break down the solid defending and snatched 2 late goal to take home all 3 points.
5-3 final score but lots of positives to take away from the game, new coach John had worked hard with the squad in the previous week and the work was showing in the game, positive signs as Fylde now head in to a 1 week break to continue to work with John and the new formations.
Fylde 2 (M) 0 - 8 Kirkby Lonsdale 1 (M)
North West Men's Division 3 North
After a series of double digit defeats for the Fylde Mens 2nd team, Saturday saw them take on Kirkby Lonsdale 1's at home. Hopes were high that we could improve on the current run of form. However the team were slightly disturbed even before the match by the news that we actually had a substitute which had been a previously unknown scenario.
Despite a marked improvement in play, the visitors still managed to push the run of play resulting in an 8-0 defeat. However given the previous week's scores, this was taken as a win for the team! Hopefully the lowering scoreline will continue in the following weeks. One possible reason for the lower scoreline may have been the very vocal support from a junior Brandwood on the sidelines.
The curse of getting the ladies out of the changing room struck again but at least we didn't have hypothermia this week.
Kirkby Lonsdale 2 (M) 1 - 10 Fylde 3 (M)
North West Men's Division 4 North Fylde Men's 3's travelled to bottom of the table Kirkby Lonsdale 2's and had the rare pleasure of having more players than the opposition, with the home team only able to field 9 instead of the standard 11. Fylde took full advantage of their numerical superiority, and were able to pass the ball across the back four, and dominate possession. However it took a little while before they managed to score, with the first goal from a Simon Allen straight strike at a short corner. The second goal was a thing of beauty, the ball worked down the right hand side with Harry Marsh taking control and striking the ball across the D at pace, for James Dobson to deflect it to the back post, where Oli Adewale was waiting to push it into the net for his first ever senior goal. Phil Hope grabbed a goal with a flick following a strong run and cross from James Dobson on the left wing, and before half-time Harry Marsh scored to make it 4-0. The second half was a continuation with sustained pressure from Fylde, with runs and crosses from all angles. Harry Marsh picked up 3 more goals, to total 4 in all, and Phil Hope also completed his hat-trick with two more goals. James Dobson created several chances with runs down the right wing, and finally managed to score himself. Bertie Jones looked assured both in attack and in midfield, and was close to scoring but his debut goal will have to wait for another day. Kirkby Lonsdale never gave up, to their credit, and won a solitary short corner, from which they snatched an improbable goal, so the final score was 10-1 to Fylde. A great result, and finished up with the traditional chilli & chips, rated the best post-match tea in the North West by this reporter.
Man of the match went to Oli Adewale.
Comments