16-12-22. FA Trophy 3rd round. Match preview Vs AFC Fylde

Preview: Phil Lench

Stop press: This game will now be played on Tuesday the 20th in the evening. This preview is still valid and as an added bonus if we get through this then an away tie at Dorking Wanderers awaits.

This FA Trophy game at AFC Fylde must be in doubt considering the freezing temperatures that are currently covering 99% of the country and have been doing so for the last seven days. In their latest tweet, posted just as I was writing this, they have announced that there will be a 9.00am pitch inspection tomorrow morning and to help those travelling North the game will now kick off at 4.00pm.

By that time the ground will begin to freeze again so why not just call it off now? This is Fylde being Fylde basically. 

So in full expectation of the game not going ahead anyway – any re-arranged tie will be this coming Tuesday btw – I’ll make this short.

Following the postponement of our two previous league game, against Blyth Spartans and away at Curzon Ashton, we have now had plenty of time to get some players back fit and to get something done about our poor form.

Our last game was against Chester FC just under two weeks ago and that one was lost 2-0 with not much to shout about our end. Hardly a shot on target from us again begs the question where this ‘ample firepower’ has got to. A stunning Declan Weeks goal gave them an early lead then comical antics in the dying moments of the game from our on loan keeper, Tom Billson, let them double that. Toms loan has now come to an end as has Paddy McLaughlins too.

On the injury front we should have Shane Byrne back along with Ethan Freemantle who got injured at Alfreton Town. Joe Foulkes should be over his illness as should Krystian Pearce. Zak Brown took a bad knock against Chester but it’s not known what the outcome of that was. The returns of Alex Penny and Nathaniel Knight-Percival are still some way off.

Fylde are beginning to get a little too over familiar with us having played us three times already this season. Once at home in the league when we drew 0-0 and then soon after that game we drew them in the FA Cup too and drew that 2-2 at Aggborough only to lose the replay at Mill Farm 2-0. Safe to say that we have never beaten Fylde and probably never will.

As usual with them there is no team news but they still keep bringing in new players. The latest is Modou Faal who played for AFC Telford Utd against us in our last win a few weeks ago and I thought he was probably their best player. He’s on loan from West Bromwich Albion and in his first game for Fylde at Gloucester City he came on twenty five minutes from the end to score twice and give them the 2-1 win after being behind. That’s the kind of firepower we need.

Fylde also appointed a new manager recently and that was non other than Adam Murray who played for us under Jan Molby back in 2004 before leaving for Mansfield Town where he later became their manager too.

So there we have it. I hope I’ve not wasted my time.

Teams:

Harriers from:

Palmer, Emery, Penny, Richards, Knight-Percival, Foulkes, McNally, Pearce, Margetson, Leak, Byrne, Brown, Lissimore, Owen-Evans, Leesley, Rogers, Martin, Freemantle, Bearne, Hemmings, Morgan-Smith.

AFC Fylde from:

Neal, Burke, Cranston, Weston, Obi, Whitmore, Rowley, Philliskirk, Cullen, Conlan, Morrison, Gregson, Barratt, Haughton, Piggott, Walker, Whitehead, Rowe, Ligendza, Hatfield, J Byrne, Davis, Patten, Bird, Holmes, Faal, Charman.

Referee: Mr David McNamara. Preston

Talk about the game here

Links to AFC Fylde websites here

Find Pubs around Kidderminster here