Match report: Wrexham 0 AFC Fylde 0

The Coasters maintained their good start to their National League season with a hard- fought goalless draw in North Wales.
James Hardy goes close for Fylde   Picture: Steve McLellanJames Hardy goes close for Fylde   Picture: Steve McLellan
James Hardy goes close for Fylde Picture: Steve McLellan

The Coasters maintained their good start to their National League season with a hard- fought goalless draw in North Wales.

Manager Dave Challinor stuck with the same team that had seen off Bromley at Mill Farm on the opening day, with Danny Rowe leading the line either side of Joe Cardle and James Hardy.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It was a fairly quiet opening, with chances at a premium, the Coasters’ only early chance coming from two deflected efforts from the two Dannys, Philliskirk and Rowe.

There was cause for concern after a quarter of an hour as centre-back Jordan Tunnicliffe was forced off with an injury and was replaced by Arlen Birch, who held his own on debut at right-back, with Luke Burke slotting in at centre half.

On 21 minutes Fylde had arguably the best chance of the game as Ryan Croasdale was played in one on one by Hardy inside the box but the summer signing from Kidderminster saw his 12-yard effort well saved by Wrexham stopper Rob Lainton.

The hosts grew into the game as the half wore on and striker Mike Fondop headed just over the bar after 26 minutes, and then on half time Brighton loanee Jordan Maguire Drew struck a fierce effort from 20 yards which flashed just over the bar.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Wrexham were quicker out of the blocks after the break and had the ball in the back of the net on 54 minutes.

A cross from the left from Maguire Drew found the head of Luke Summerfield, who flicked the ball past keeper Jay Lynch. However, the flag came to the rescue of the Coasters, with Summerfield at least a yard offside.

Fylde should have made the break through on the hour mark. A low cross from the left from Zaine Francis-Angol was met at the back post by Philliskirk, who somehow saw his effort blocked on the line by Lainton and cleared before Rowe or Hardy could let fly.

Luke Young tried his luck from range for the hosts and his 30-yard effort flew just wide of Lynch’s near left post.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Youngster Serhat Tasdemir replaced Joe Cardle and later Hardy made way for the powerful Gime Toure, who made a nuisance of himself in the final few minutes of the game.

The final chance aw Rowe fire an ambitious 30-yard effort at goal which Lainton parried wide. The final whistle blew to confirm a hard earned point on the road for the Coasters, who now have four points from their opening two games – the tally they needed five games to reach last season.

Fylde are back in action on Saturday afternoon, when they travel down to Hampshire to face new boys Havant and Waterlooville.

Fylde: Lynch, Burke, Byrne, Tunnicliffe (Birch 16), Francis-Angol, Croasdale, Bond, Hardy (Toure 80), Cardle (Tasdemir 64), Philliskirk, Rowe

Wrexham: Lainton, Roberts, Jennings, Smith, Pearson, Summerfield, Young, Fondop (Beavon 59), Rutherford, Maguire-Drew (Pyke 86), Wright

Referee: M Edwards

Att: 5,777 (140 away)