10-04-23. Match report Vs AFC Fylde

Harriers cause an upset and could head for the play-offs

Report: Phil Lench

The Harriers added another three points to their recent results with this third win in a row. Even better it came at a club we never get much joy from, AFC Fylde, and the win also makes it the second time for us this season up there. The first one, in the FA Trophy, was on penalties so some would say it doesn’t count. This one did though.

Although the result doesn’t move us up the table it does now give us an outside chance of scraping into the play-offs. With three winnable games to come: home to AFC Telford Utd next Saturday, at Southport the following week and then the season finale (maybe) at home to Kettering Town – all three clubs struggling for results – we look to have a decent run in and one to take full advantage of.

Today that rare win at Fylde was all thanks to a battling team effort and to Amari Morgan-Smith grabbing both goals. Superb performances from all involved but especially Joe Leesley, Shane Byrne and Christian Dibble who all played a massive part.

At the start of play Fylde were at the top of the table just a point in front of Kings Lynn Town but in recent weeks they’ve been dropping points with a home defeat to almost relegated Blyth Spartans and on Good Friday a 2-1 loss away at Spennymoor Town. They were ripe for the picking.

There were a couple of enforced changes to the line-up with Kyle Morrison not allowed to play by his parent club so Nathaniel Knight-Percival returned from suspension in his place. Kai Lissimore reported in sick so Zak Brown took his place. On the bench was Keziah Martin for the first time in ages but no Tom Owen-Evans.

As in last weeks home game against Buxton FC we took the lead early on. Not in under a minute this time but in under three.

A ball into the area from Leesley was cleared away by a Fylde defender but only as far as Brown who, possibly un-intentionally, blocked the ball and it went back into the area for AMS to avoid the challenge from Emeka Obi and drive home from close range.

The game was all Harriers and the home side were rarely getting a look in at all. We were dominating the game and Leesley was the next to try his luck with a powerful shot that hit the keeper, Chris Neal, and bounced into the path of Brown but his attempt to score took a slight deflection and went well over the bar.

Our next chance on goal resulted in another goal, in the thirty fourth minute, just as Fylde were beginning to see more of the ball. After a couple of corners Leesley finally got the measure right and this time found the head of AMS for him to nod the ball home from close range much to the relief of the travelling supporters.

It could have been three to the good for us when, just before the break, Ashley Hemmings, had a chance to score but a little lack of composure ended with the ball going over the bar.

HT: 0 – 2

As expected at the start of the second half the former Harrier, and now Fylde manager, Adam Murray made changes to get them back into the game. On came Luke Charman and Danny Whitehead in place of Alex Whitmore and Bartosz Cybulski and with that change they looked far more dangerous but we coped well with the change.

Charman did get a shot off in the early minutes when he fired in a fierce shot which Dibble got down to well and parried away. Apart from that effort he was shackled well by the Harriers defenders. 

It wasn’t all going the home teams way. Ten minutes in and Hemmings tried his luck from the edge of the area and his shot had no real power but surprisingly Neal fumbled the ball and had to save twice with the ball just inches from the goal line.

We came close again with a lovely bit of play to set up Krystian Pearce, on the edge of the area, with a hopeful chip over the keeper but the inrushing Obi saved faces with a superb challenge to knock the ball out for a corner.

Back came Fylde and this time a reckless challenge from Knight-Percival resulted in a free kick dead in front of goal some fifteen yards out. Nick Haughton took it but it went well over the bar to a round of jeers from the Harriers fans. We came back again and this time it was Caleb Richards trying his luck but his shot was a defenders shot and the ball veered wide of goal.

With ten minutes to go the hosts upped their game with two more chances for Haughton and Charman but both went off target and then came possibly the best chance of the half for us when a loose ball was pounced on by Hemmings who, with all the space and time in the world, took it towards Neal but then fluffed his lines and the crucial point and Neal collected the ball without any bother.

Russ Penn then made some time killing substitutions taking off Leesley and Hemmings to bring on Keziah Martin and Jack Bearne and wind the clock down. The whistle was finally sounded by the excellent referee, William Davis, and everyone went home happy. Apart from the Fylde fans that is.

We now face our relegated neighbours Telford next Saturday for a, hopefully, short parting of company and hopefully another three points in the bag. 

FT: 0 – 2

Goals for Harriers: Morgan-Smith 3, 34

The Harriers Online MotM is: Joe Leesley

Talk about the game here

Latest table and stats here

AFC Fylde	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Neal
Conlan
Barrett
Davis
Obi
Whitmore			46
Rowley
Philliskirk
Cybulski			61
Haughton
Hatfield			46
Subs:
Pike
Whitehead			46
Walker
Charman			46
Delfouneso			61
Harriers	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Dibble
Foulkes
Richards
Knight-Percival
Pearce
Penny
Leesley			90
Brown
Morgan-Smith
Hemmings			93
Byrne
Subs:
Palmer
Leak
Martin			90
Bearne			93
Hall
Referee:
Mr William Davis
Stockport