AFC Fylde won't be taking Saturday's visitors for granted

Blyth are propping up the rest of National League North with just one win to show for their season so far.

Since that solitary success at Curzon Ashton in early November, the Northumberland club have managed just two points from eight games.

Yet to play in 2021, they leaked six goals against Darlington last time out.

By contrast, Fylde have put an indifferent December behind them to climb to third with back-to-back wins since the turn of the year, scoring six without reply.

Despite the frustration of seeing Tuesday’s trip to York City postponed as Covid again hit the Minstermen, Fylde have enjoyed a buoyant week as a virtually fully-fit squad look to maintain their form against the basement club.

Coasters’ boss Nick Chadwick told The Gazette: “Ideally we’d have liked the York game to have been on but at least we knew early that they had cases.

“We spoke after the weekend about all the positives that came out of the win at Telford on Saturday. Our defensive record has been good recently and we looked a real threat going forward, with both our strikers scoring.

“Last month we were going into games missing four or five and that had an impact. Apart from Max (Johnstone, keeper) all the injured players are back and that’s good.”

Improved discipline has also been a factor and will be against Blyth, Jim Bentley’s deputy explained.

“When we’ve had a slip it’s tended to be when we’ve not had 11 on the pitch, so discipline is important. Yes, we want to be competitive but we also need to keep everyone on the field.

“We feel it’s about us tomorrow. Whoever we play, if our performance is good and our discipline is good, we feel the results will take care of themselves.

“We respect every team. Blyth won’t just hand over the three points and, like every team in this league, they will find a way to challenge us.”

Among Chadwick’s many reasons to be cheerful at Telford was Jack Sampson’s first Fylde goal, and with fellow frontman Jordan Hulme also on target, the Fylde attack has a fruitful focal point of attack.

He added: “We think they are as good as any front two in the league.

“When we were looking at the available strikers ahead of the season, they were the top two on our list.

“Jordan had a groin problem, and Jack had issues with isolation and a sending-off, but now they are making an impact and looking a real threat.”

Fylde’s weekend win at Telford was one of only two games to survive in their league and next Tuesday’s visit of Brackley Town has already been called off.

Chadwick admits it is impossible to predict how the season will pan out.

He added: “It’s a reflection of what’s going on in wider society with the resurgence of the virus.

“We are fortunate to have been able to continue but we just have to be vigilant, level-headed and carry out all the correct procedures.

“We know games may have to be postponed but we just have to be adaptable and ready for anything. There’s not much else we can do.”

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