Cards aim to continue dream start to the season

AFC Fylde vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Saturday 17th August

The Cards will look to complete an unlikely trio of victories on Saturday when they make the long trip to face last season’s National League play-off finalists and FA Trophy winners, AFC Fylde.

A positive start to the season for Alan Dowson’s team became a superb one on Tuesday evening when goals from Ibrahim Meite, his first for the club, and Dave Tarpey earned Woking a 2-1 win away at Chesterfield. For the Cards, it was a third win in four league games to start the season, as well as a second consecutive success against a much-fancied northern team, having also beaten Harrogate Town three days earlier. Now, the Cards will be looking to claim another big scalp in the form of last season’s fifth-place finishers, who themselves have made an unbeaten start to the new campaign and will already have one eye on another promotion tilt. However, a third straight win could see the Cards rise to the top of the infant National League table, a great indication of the stellar work Dowse and his team have done already this season to subvert the expectations of fans, pundits and rivals alike.

The Coasters, managed by Dave Challinor, are chasing a seventh promotion in just 14 years – and a ninth since the club’s formation in 1988. They have quite the enviable record in recent years and have finished no lower than seventh place in any division since 2010 – since when they’ve won two league titles and played in seven play-off campaigns, winning once. Their team is spearheaded by arguably non-league’s most dangerous striker, Danny Rowe, who has scored 57 goals across the last two-and a-bit seasons since the club’s promotion to the National League. Despite remaining unbeaten so far this year, with two wins and two draws, it appears that Fylde haven’t quite hit top gear as yet. Their four games so far have seen a 2-1 win over Aldershot, a 0-0 draw at home to Chorley, a narrow 1-0 victory over bottom club Ebbsfleet, and a 2-2 draw at Hartlepool – although after coming from two goals down on Tuesday the momentum could be with them.

The players and management massively appreciated the support they received on Tuesday at Chesterfield which really helped us get over the line! If you are able to travel again this weekend then please do go and back up the boys and help them continue their fantastic start.

Woking Team News

Dowse has spoken about the need to be unpredictable this season and he proved just that with his team selection at Chesterfield, starting in a 4-2-3-1 formation in the absence of Moussa Diarra, who failed a late fitness test, before returning to the normally favoured 5-3-2 mid-way through the first-half. These changes saw Josh Casey slot into Diarra’s left-side centre-half role with Tyreke Johnson, making his first start, playing out wide. Further forward, Toby Edser made the first start of his second spell with the club, whilst Godfrey Poku dropped to the bench. Ibrahim Meite once again partnered Dave Tarpey up front with both players grabbing their first goal of the season.

The boss has plenty of options should he want to change things, regardless of whether or not Diarra and Max Kretzschmar are passed fit, with the likes of Poku, Paul Hodges and Jake Hyde waiting for an opportunity. The Cards have also confirmed the signing of Joe Felix on non-contract terms who provides another option.

AFC Fylde Team News

Against Hartlepool, Fylde lined up with James Montgomery, formerly of Gateshead and Forest Green Rovers, in goal; the defence was made up of Scott Duxbury, another ex-Gateshead man in Neill Byrne, Luke Burke, who has played in the Championship for Wigan Athletic, and Alex Whitmore, who signed for the club this summer from Grimsby Town.

In midfield they had double goalscorer Ryan Croasdale, James Craigen, another summer arrival, this time from Dunfermline Athletic, Nick Haughton, who was previously with Salford City, and Jordan Williams who was a regular in the Rochdale team last season. The duo up front were the aforementioned Danny Rowe supported by ex-Oldham Athletic and Blackpool forward Danny Philliskirk. Another player to look out for, potentially from the bench, is the vastly experienced Mark Yeates who spent the last two seasons at Eastleigh.

On the Day (information provided by AFC Fylde)

Mill Farm Stadium is situated in Wesham, Lancashire, and is a fifteen-minute walk from Kirkham & Wesham train station. The train station is well linked, with Blackpool and Preston both short train journeys apart. For those coming by car, there is free onsite parking available, but limited. Once the free parking is full, the overflow carpark is available at £5 per car.

AFC Fylde use an electronic ticket system that allows travelling supporters to purchase tickets in advance. Courtesy of the new ticketing system, away supporters can now buy tickets online, print off at home and go straight to the turnstile on the day. To purchase tickets please visit tickets.afcfylde.co.uk click on the game, and follow the simple process. Tickets can also be purchased on the day from the Ticket Office, although it is advised to buy in advance to prevent any potential delays/queuing.

For fans visiting Mill Farm, there is the state-of-the-art Bradleys Sports Bar - which is the go-to spot before the game. Food and drinks are very competitively priced, with the products sourced from quality local suppliers. If you fancy a different setting, the fantastic new Fylde Sport and Education Centre (100 yards up the road) is perfect for a drink, with the fully stocked bar and the sun-soaked terrace. For any enquiries please call AFC Fylde on 01772 598855 and ask for the ticket office.

Next Up

The Cards have back-to-back games over the August Bank Holiday weekend, starting at home against current league leaders Solihull Moors on Saturday, followed by a trip to Dover Athletic on Monday.