13-09-22. Match report Vs AFC Fylde

Harriers and Coasters cancel each other out

Report: Dan Harper

The Harriers and AFC Fylde cancelled each other out under the lights on a Tuesday which saw Aggborough’s first ever pre-match light show ahead of kick-off.

Both sides named unchanged starting lineups ahead of kick-off as Harriers prepared for arguably their toughest test of the season so far as they played the fellow title favourites. The Harriers had the best of the chances within the first ten minutes when Nathan Lowe had an effort blocked by Danny Philliskirk early on before Yusifu Ceesay managed to get past a Fylde man before letting fly on goal, however Chris Neal was well behind it to gather.

As time was ticking by in the first period the away side started to grow into the affair and things started to become a lot more cagey as Tom Walker saw an effort saved by the home side ‘keeper Tom Palmer. Danny Rowe also saw an effort sneak wide of the post.

Fylde slowly began to take a foothold in the game but it was to no avail as the home side stood resolute to any Fylde pressure and even saw golden chances of their own when Keziah Martin saw an effort just fly past the post of Neal and an excellent run down the right was met by Ashley Hemmings only for him to blaze it over the bar from two yards out. A chance that the Harriers would rue by the end of the game.

HT: 0 – 0

In the early stages of the second half it was the home side that would have the better of the chances which included a run from Hemmings when he picked up a loose ball before turning and forcing Neal into making a fingertip save to deny the hosts from opening the scoreline.

The Harriers then had a freekick which was delivered sweetly into the box and Ethan Freemantle met it and flicked it on towards the bottom corner only for once again Neal to gather. It would be the away side however that would come closest so far when Nick Haughton saw an effort just miss the far corner before Danny Rowe’s follow-up cannoned of the underside of the crossbar. Not that it would of mattered due to the offside flag going up.

Both sides would have their flurry of half chances but it was AFC Fylde who had the last two notable talking points as, first, a Haughton effort just flew over the top of Palmer’s goal before Philliskirk would get past his man to flash a ball across goal.

The Harriers support willed on the team for one last chance but it wasn’t to be as both sides had to settle for a point shared that they wouldn’t be too unhappy with leaving, ultimately, the highlight of the night being the debut of the Aggborough lights show.

The Harriers next test will come on Saturday as they return to FA cup action to host Tamworth in the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round. Going back to this game, however, it was a bit harder than normal to award a MOTM but I have decided to go with Ethan Freemantle as, although he didn’t bag a goal, he was a nuisance for the opposition defence and chased every loose ball including one especially in the first half which looked dead certain to be going out of play only for Ethan’s effort to keep the attack alive.

FT: 0 – 0

The Harriers Online MotM is: Ethan Freemantle

Talk about the game here

Latest table and stats here

Harriers	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Palmer
Foulkes
Richards
Knight-Percival
Pearce
Byrne
Martin
Lowe			55
Freemantle			80
Hemmings
Ceesay
Subs:
Leak
Morgan-Smith			80
Brown			55
Margetson
Rogers
AFC Fylde	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Neal
Morrison
Cranston
Weston
Walker			78
Whitmore
Barratt
Philliskirk
Rowe			74
Haughton
Bird			46
Subs:
Obi
Conlan			46
Patten
Hatfield			78
Rowley			74
Referee:
Mr Dale Wootton
Cheltenham