AFC Fylde hopeful of number one Christmas wish being granted

The experienced keeper caused something of an FA Trophy crisis for the Coasters by pulling up with a calf injury on the eve of last week’s tie at Curzon Ashton.

With Fylde’s other senior keeper Max Johnson recovering from knee surgery, team boss Nick Chadwick gave youth team player Aaron Lancaster a debut in that second-round tie and he gave an accomplished display in a 4-1 win.

Fylde then recruited Burnley teenager Lewis Thomas for Saturday’s third-round trip to Boston United, which the Coasters lost on penalties, and he has since returned to Turf Moor.

Chadwick told The Gazette: “Lewis did okay for us but he has been recalled because Burnley had a bit of a crisis at Under-23 level, and we thank him for his efforts while he was here.

“But Chris will play train on Wednesday and Thursday (the Coasters will then have Christmas Day off), and we’re very hopeful he will play at Chorley on Saturday.

“He just tweaked his calf but we didn’t want to risk him last weekend.”

It’s a stage of the season when a healthy squad is most definitely beneficial and Chadwick says the news on the injury front is generally positive.

“We have Nathan Pond back too, and Jordan Hulme and Nick Haughton are not far away.

“When you lose four or five players it will hit you, whatever the strength of your squad, so it’s good we are getting one or two bodies back.

“But David Perkins had to come off after a knock at Curzon and that’s another experienced player we’re missing but it should not be long-term.”

The absences do put pressure on the squad for the forthcoming three games in eight days, with derbies against Chorley on successive Saturdays and a home clash with Southport in between.

Chadwick added: “The Saturday-Monday is the big one and it’s important to have fresh bodies for the second game.

“It means we have to manage the first game at Chorley on Boxing Day correctly and you can’t look too far ahead, but you do need to have half an eye on other games coming up.”

Unlike fast-starting Fylde, local rivals Chorley appeared to suffer a hangover after relegation and lost their first four National League North fixtures of the season.

A seven-match unbeaten run has followed, though, with Chorley’s spirits soaring since they stunned League One Peterborough United in the FA Cup to earn a third-round tie at home to Derby County next month.

Chadwick said: “They have definitely found some form and picked up some momentum, and that’s everything in this division.

“When I’ve been to watch them they looked a solid side and I’m surprised they had the start they did.

“But it was such an unusual pre-season it was difficult for everyone, and what matters now is that Chorley are playing well at the minute.

And so are his own side, despite defeat at Hereford in their last league game and the Trophy exit last weekend.

“There are pros and cons to the cup defeat because we do have a lot of games coming up,” added Chadwick, “but we are disappointed because we wanted to progress.

“But I thought we played very well. We were much better out of possession than we had been in recent games, and although we didn’t hit the heights in possession it was a solid performance against one of the top teams in our league.”

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