AFC Fylde freshened up and ready to go says new number two Nick Chadwick

Goalscorer Kurt Willoughby in action for AFC Fylde against Altrincham

Honours even in Fylde's final pre-season fixture

Fylde’s season looks set to start as scheduled with an FA Cup second qualifying round tie at Hyde United on Saturday followed by the National League North opener against Darlington at Mill Farm next Tuesday.

League matches are set to get under way behind closed doors as the National League holds talks with the government over a financial support package for its clubs.

But whatever happens, Chadwick insists the Coasters are ready and he told the club website: “We played well on Saturday and it was a really good exercise against high-quality opposition.

“I was really happy with the first half. I thought we went flat for a 10-15 minute spell in the second half but we finished the game strongly. It was a great final preparation game.

“I’ve been happy with the lads. They’ve applied themselves to what we’ve been trying to do for the last six weeks.

“It has been a little stop-start with what’s been going on,but what we saw against Altrincham confirms what we’ve seen day to day on the grass.

“I’ve loved working with the players. They have been really positive and receptive. We’ve got some good ideas into the team and freshened up ideas from last season.”

Those ideas include pressing higher and Fylde were rewarded with a Kurt Willoughby penalty and a Nick Haughton strike against Altrincham.

Chadwick was pleased for his front two, adding: “We’ve spoken a lot about the attacking players, making sure they give us the end-product and contribute to the system with goals.

“I’m really pleased for Haughty and Kurt. It will do their confidence a world of good and we had good support play from behind them, moving the ball really quickly.

“I thought we were a threat for the majority of the game. I was really pleased with how we approached the game.

“We’ve tried to get the players pressing a little higher up the pitch and that will take greater work rate.

“It’s going to be a big ask to do that for 90 minutes, but the way they’ve gone about that has been excellent and it’s nice to get rewards for that today.