AFC Fylde boss Jim Bentley aims to avoid FA Cup slip-up at Hyde as season begins

The Coasters travel to Northern Premier League top-flight outfit Hyde United in the cup’s second qualifying round.

It marks the club’s return to competitive football, almost seven months after their last game and the subsequent curtailment of the season.

Their return to action sees the club finding itself in a lower division than was the case previously and opening the FA Cup campaign with a journey to a Hyde team one level below them in the pyramid.

Hyde will be playing their fifth game of the season, and although they are yet to win any of their three league games thus far, Bentley has seen enough to warn against any complacency.

“They are a good side,” he warned. “We had them watched on Saturday against South Shields (0-0 draw), when they put on a good performance.

“I watched them on Tuesday against FC United of Manchester (2-2 draw) and what impressed me the most was the energy and desire in the team.

“They have some good players but they all work extremely hard, typified by the captain (Tom Pratt), and they are a dangerous outfit.

“They have had a couple of competitive games and it will be a tough game – but the FA Cup is massive to us.

“We took the club to round three last year, which was pleasing, as well as the financial benefits which came with it and the exposure the club got – it all helps and it’s all positive.”

As Bentley alluded to, a second qualifying round tie is a world away from Fylde’s last FA Cup outing.

That came in January when the club’s reward for reaching round three was a trip to Sheffield United.

Before they can think about any repeat of that, there is the small matter of tomorrow’s match and a different playing surface to deal with.

Bentley explained: “They have opened their league campaign and have some competitive football under their belt.

“The other advantage they have got is that they play on an artificial pitch.

“That’s a bit different for us, though there will be a couple of teams in our division who also play on them.

“That goes in their favour but there is plenty going for us as well.

“We are a full-time side, playing in a higher league, and we have some good players, so it has all the makings of a good cup-tie.”

However, the match will be played in front of Hyde fans only given the latest guidance on spectator attendance.

The Tigers’ place at step three of the non-league pyramid means they are classed as a ‘non-elite’ club.

Presently, if those sides are drawn at home to ‘elite’ clubs – those in the National League, as well as the North and South – then matches must be played with only home fans in attendance.

Playing without their supporters isn’t ideal but the Coasters have a twin incentive to progress – a place in the next round and £3,375 in prize money.

Bentley said: “I was there on Tuesday night and the fans got right behind them.

“It’s always better to have fans watching football but, at the end of the day, their motivation is to beat a team from a higher division, one of the fancied teams in a higher division.

“They will be doing all they can to get into the next round and the FA Cup is massive for non-league clubs.

“Getting to the first round is great, never mind getting to round three and drawing a Premier League side, so I’m sure they will be champing at the bit to turn us over.”

Should the tie end in a draw after 90 minutes, the match will go straight to a penalty shootout.