AFC Fylde boss seven wins from heaven

Over the New Year, Coasters’ manager Dave Challinor worked out that it could take 10 wins to take the team up.

Now that figure has been trimmed to seven going into tomorrow’s visit by the Lambs, who are managed by former Blackpool FC striker Andy Morrell.

Challinor said: “We only have 12 matches left now and we have set a target of winning at least seven, to see where that will take us.

“We are 10 points clear, but Kidderminster have two matches in hand on us.

“But as it showed last week (when Kidderminster Harriers lost to Chorley 2-1) it is not always easy to get points from matches in hand.”

Tamworth have been on an indifferent run in recent matches, which has dented their hopes of reaching a place in the end-of-season play-offs.

The Lambs have secured 11 points out of a possible 30 in their last 10 fixtures, losing 1-0 in their latest match away to AFC Telford.

Tamworth were the first side to beat the Coasters this season, Danny Newton’s strike separating the two.

The Coasters’ manager said: “Tamworth have been on a bit of bad run, but they were certainly doing OK at the start of the season.

“They beat the top five sides in consecutive games, including ourselves, and we have to regard it as being a tough game for us and another one that we need to chalk off.”

Like a lot of football teams, the strong winds blown in by Storm Doris meant that training on Thursday had to move indoors for the Coasters’ players.

With full-scale training outdoors out of the question, Challinor had his men preparing at the Play Football centre at Tulketh, Preston.

The race for promotion is starting to approach the business, with rivals Kidderminster (third) at home to Stockport County tomorrow.

Chorley (fourth) are at home to Alfreton Town, while second-placed Salford City host AFC Telford United.

James Hardy and Josh Langley are expected to be ruled out of action again tomorrow through injury, as Challinor continues to monitor his squad.

Having moved into the loan market to bolster his defence, his next priority is to look for a player to boost the side’s creativity, though no new personnel is expected to be added prior to the meeting with Tamworth.

Laurence Maguire, on loan from Chesterfield, is expected to start at the heart of the Fylde defence, with boss Challinor hopeful that it could be extended, possibly to the end of the season.