Title rivals have made AFC Fylde’s head coach a better boss
Craig Mahon has paid tribute to AFC Fylde’s National League North title rivals as they reach the penultimate weekend of the season.
The Coasters host Southport this afternoon, having seen South Shields leapfrog them into top spot in midweek.
A 4-1 win over Macclesfield saw the Mariners go level on points with Mahon’s players, but with a goal difference two better.
South Shields welcome Bedford Town, with the top two knowing wins in both of their final two games would take them into three figures.
Fylde’s head coach told the club’s media team: “It’s been brilliant. Both clubs and both sets of fans, I’m sure, will be proud of their teams regardless of the outcome.
“We’ve been neck and neck for the majority of the season and if you take a step back and look at it from my perspective, I actually think South Shields made us a better footballing team.
“They made me a better manager because I couldn’t take my foot off the gas, I couldn’t let my standards drop.
“I had to make sure I’ve done everything I physically could, on and off the field, and I’m sure South Shields are saying the same thing.
“We’ve probably got the best out of each other and we’ve driven each other’s standards to a level that probably would have won the league in the last few years.
“It’s a great advertisement for the National League North; the two teams going at it, two games to go, there’s not much between us, but – for me – it’s brilliant this group of lads have been able to maintain that standard all year.”