Crunch home clashes in Fylde title quest

Title-chasing AFC Fylde face a defining few days in their fight to win the Vanarama National League title with back-to-back games against promotion rivals.
Macauley Wilson's season could be overMacauley Wilson's season could be over
Macauley Wilson's season could be over

Tomorrow they are at home to Kidderminster Harriers, followed by a fixture at Mill Farm on Tuesday against a Stockport County side with designs on getting into the play-off picture.

It is not exactly make-or-break when Kidderminster come to Mill Farm tomorrow, but with AFC Fylde already 11 points clear of the Harriers, it would be a massive boost to the Coasters, while having the polar opposite effect on Kiddie.

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Coasters manager Dave Challinor said: “Though nothing will be decided one way or another, it is an important game for both teams.

“Kidderminster need to beat us to close the gap.

“But if we can win and follow it up against Stockport then we will be a lot closer to where we want to be by the end of the season.”

The two sides have already met once and the pair fought out an entertaining 3-3 draw at Aggborough in October.

And Challinor expects a similar kind of encounter against a side who made it all the way through to the first round of the FA Cup earlier in the season when they lost to Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

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“Kidderminster are probably the best side we have faced this season in terms of footballing ability,” he said.

“They are a very expansive team and it should be really good game of football; both teams like to pass the ball and play in an attractive style.

“All the spectators are in for an entertaining game,

We know it will be tough, but it will also be huge for us if we win.

AFC Fylde have concluded a deal to sign former player Josh Kay on loan from Barnsley for the rest of the season.

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Kay, who has played one Championship match for Barnsley, is regarded as a valuable acquisition by the Coasters boss.

Challinor said: “It is a good fit. Josh has played for us - he knows us and we know him.”

Full-back Macauley Wilson, on loan at AFC Fylde from Blackpool, could miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

The teenager was injured during the first half of the 2-1 victory at Gainsborough Trinity.

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David Morgan suffered a knee injury in the same match which is likely to rule him out of the Kidderminster clash.

On the plus side midfielder James Hardy is closing in on a return following injury.

It is unlikely he would be pitched straight back in against Kidderminster, but there is a chance he could be on the bench.