AFC Fylde boss Nick Chadwick hails league's best strikers after 'outstanding away performance'

Fylde’s fixture away to the Minstermen has been postponed for a second time following positive Covid tests in the York camp.

The announcement came as no surprise after York pulled out of Saturday’s trip to Boston United, though it is frustrating nonetheless for Fylde as they looked to continue their excellent start to 2021.

Saturday’s 2-0 win in Shropshire made it two wins out of two for Chadwick’s side since the turn of the year, with six goals scored and none conceded.

The victory at New Bucks Head Stadium was also Fylde’s first on the road in National League North since their first away game of the season three months ago.

It was sealed by goals from strikers Jordan Hulme and Jack Sampson, and deputy manager Chadwick said: “Delighted with the performance and the goals from the strikers. That’s what we had been missing away from home – the way we defended, stuck together and pressed, with the backline coming up. I thought that was an absolutely outstanding away performance.

“The 10 minutes after half-time was the one part of the game I was slightly disappointed with. But Gavin (Cowan, Telford boss) has a good team who pass it around.

“It was important we maintained pressure on the ball. We did that for the majority of the game but came off that for a 10-minute spell and it was then that they hurt us.”

Indeed, the outcome could have been different had not Dom McHale struck a post when offered a chance to equalise from the penalty spot.

Instead, Sampson’s first goal for the club sealed the points and Chadwick added: “We didn’t need to dive in in that wider area when we conceded the penalty, but we recovered well and I thought that’s as good as we have been away from home.

“It was a brilliant finish from Jack, who has made a hell of a difference in terms of his work rate and endeavour to do well.

“ He’s brought a different dimension, and he and Jordan worked their socks off for us. I’m really pleased for them both to score. They are two of the best strikers in this league, make no mistake.”

York have confirmed that all players and staff have embarked on a period of self-isolation.

It is the third time this season that the club has been hit by Covid and the second time their match against Fylde has been called off.

Tonight’s game was scheduled to be York’s last at their 88-year-old Bootham Crescent home before moving to the new LNER Stadium in the city.

A revised date for the York fixture will be announced in due course. The Coasters are next due in action at home to Blyth Spartans on Saturday.

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