October 7, 2023
Preamble
Although it is only early October, following the mid-week results in the National League, today saw a proverbial relegation 6 pointer with a meeting of 22nd vs 24th . Oxford City lost 0-2 at Southend for their 4 consecutive defeat, whilst Fylde lost at Barnet, their 8th loss in 11 games.
Like Oxford City, AFC Fylde were newly promoted to the National League after finishing two points ahead of King’s Lynn to become 2022/23 National League North champions.
A high scoring game could be expected with 52 goals in Fylde’s 14 league games this season and 47 in Oxford City’s, plus with the two sides having the two worst defensive records in the division.
AFC Fylde Background
Fylde won National League North in 2016/17, and reached the National League play-offs in next two season, losing the 2018/19 final 0-3 to Salford City. However, they won the FA Trophy in 2018/19 by beating Leyton Orient at Wembley.
Fylde were relegated after the covid interrupted 2019/20 season and spent three seasons back in National League North before returning to the National League.
The clubs also won the FA Vase in 2008, and currently are the only team to have won both trophies.
Fylde are also known as the Coasters, and home is the 6,000 capacity Mill Farm
Fylde had registered just two wins so far this season, 2-1 at home to Kidderminster and 2-1 at Southend, the two other sides in the bottom 4 at the start of the day. Fylde had also managed three draws though, at Maidenhead, and at home to Altrincham and Boreham Wood. The point against Altrincham remained the only point won against a side in the top 16 of the division.
AFC Fylde Key Players
Nigerian/Swiss striker Gold Omotayo and ex-Fleetwood midfielder Nick Haughton were Fylde’s joint top scorers with three goals each. Centre-back Sam Graham has played for Rochdale, Notts County and Central Coast Mariners and fellow centre-back Harry Davis has made over 300 football league appearances, with at Crewe, Grimsby, Morecambe and Scunthorpe as well as having a spell at St Mirren.
Danny Philliskirk is the son of Sheffield United and Bolton Wanderers stalwart Tony Philliskirk and Taelor O’Kane is the son of ex-Manchester Utd and Everton midfielder John O’Kane.
Previous Meetings
They two sides have played each other twice before, when they were both in National League North in 2014/15. Fylde won both encounters, with an incredible 8-1 victory at Marsh Lane, but the return was much closer, with Fylde edging to a 2-1 home win.
Matchday Information
Fylde’s supporters faced a trip of over 200 miles by road to Oxford, a 4 hour journey by car, with their supporters’ coach setting off at 09.15 am.
Bet365 made Fylde 23/20 favourites, with Oxford City at 8/5 and the draw at 14/5.
The weather was sunny at the 15.00 kick-off time, with temperatures around 21 degrees.
It was clear that the home side were not expecting a large crowd today as the burger van was absent, the overflow car park was not in operation, and the outside drinking area not in view of the pitch had been removed.
Fylde made three changes from their side that started at Barnet, with two new loan signings from Bolton Wanderers, Max Conway and Nelson Khumbeni coming into the side, and Nick Haughton returning. Kay, O’Kane and Omaotayo were the players dropping out
Oxford City also gave debuts to two new players, with midfielder Rafferty Pedder joining on loan from QPR and left-back Mitchell Roberts joining after being released by Birmingham City, adding strength to their squad with Nya Kirby, Josh Ashby and Aaron Williams-Bushell all out with injuries.
Fylde took to the field in a fetching kit of blue and purple stripes, with white shorts and socks, whilst Oxford City were in their traditional blue and white hoops. Strangely, one Fylde player started without a number on his back, which after close inspection turned out to be debutant Max Conway. After seven minutes he was given a different shirt to change into, which whilst having the correct number of 21, had the name Nelson on the back !
Match Report
The home side made a lively start, and with 4 minutes played their new signings Pedder and Roberts combined on the left to play in Potter, who was crowded out by the Fylde defence. A minute later a long ball out of defence found McEachran in space in the left-hand side of the Fylde area, and although the midfielder cut-back inside, he trod on the ball and fell over and the chance was gone.
The visitors first serious foray into the Hoops half saw a long-range shot by Whitehead blocked by Carroll, then a long ball put Charman clear but his fierce shot found the side netting.
The first yellow card of the afternoon was shown in the 12th minute when Khumbeni dived in feet up for a nasty foul on Burley, and was fortunate the referee was in a lenient mood.
A minute later Carroll was guilty of playing a terrible ball straight to Charman, who ran at the defence and played in Haughton, but the left footed effort from 18 yards went well over the bar when it should have been better.
Potter won the first corner of the game for the home side in the 13th minute and Smith’s delivery found McEachran on the edge of the area, but the volley was mis-hit, and although the ball found Burley, the Hoops defender was off-side.
A long ball out of the City defence found Parker, but good defending from Obi meant the Antiguan international could only flick weakly to the Fylde keeper.
The Coasters’ response was for Conway to make a strong run and feed Charman, but his cross was blocked at the expense of a first corner for Fylde. The set piece was delivered beyond the far post to Conway but his attempt on goal was stopped by a brave block by Carroll.
With 20 minutes on the clock, a great cross-field ball by Parker was just kept in play by McEachran but the first time cross was cleared by Graham.
Fylde won a free-kick 30 yards out from the City goal, but Haughton’s low attempt was met with a good diving save from Haigh, who also held onto the ball. The visitors were enjoying a good spell and another effort from Whitehead hit a home defender and went off for another corner, which was drilled across the face of the goal where Obi headed just over from beyond the back post.
After 29 minutes Fleet played in Pedder just inside the Fylde area, and as the on-loan midfielder turned past Philliskirk he was brought down by a clumsy challenge, and the referee pointed to the spot. Although keeper Metcalfe went the right way, he was unable to get anywhere near the spot-kick from Josh Parker as Oxford City took the lead. 1-0
Fylde’s response was a 25-yard volley from Whitehead, but City keeper made a slow-motion dive to make the save.
A poor throw-in by Conway then put Graham under pressure, and he could only handball whilst trying to control the ball. Smith’s free-kick from a promising position on the right was well defended.
With 33 minutes plaedy Carroll’s long ball to the right-hand corner flag enabled Potter to win another corner, and again Smith’s delivery found McEachran just inside the 18 yard line but this time the half-volley was sent out of the stadium.
Five minutes later Fylde keeper Metcalfe was fortunate when his attempted clearance was blocked by Potter, but the keeper was able to catch the rebound.
With 5 minutes remaining to half-time, Haughton brought down McEachran on the edge of the penalty area, and Parker sent the free-kick over the wall and onto the top of the bar and over.
The visitors though ended the half well, and a nice passing move set-up Haughton, but the left-footed attempt form the edge of the area produced a good block from Harrison at the expense of a corner, but Obi’s header at the far post went just wide.
The last action of the half saw a cynical pull-back by Gordon to prevent McEachran from running at the exposed Fylde back-line, but again the referee kept his cards in his pocket.
At the interval Oxford City probably just about deserved to be ahead, and Fylde coach Adam Murray made two changes at the start of the second half, bringing on Turkish winger Jonathan Ustabasi and Omotayo, with Obi and Whitehead being yanked, as they moved to three at the back. The changes appeared to have an immediate short-term affect.
Charman ran past two defenders but the third brought him down for a free-kick in a similar position to the one Parker had in the first half, but Haughton’s attempt sailed several feet over the bar.
Oxford City responded with a penetrating run by McEachran who played in the marauding Burley, but the defender’s left-footed shot was partially blocked and easily saved.
The impressive Haughton made another run at the Hoops backline but this time his 25-yard low shot needed to be pushed around the post by the diving Haigh. The corner was sent towards the far post but was just too high for Omotayo.
With 56 minutes played the home side created another good chance. Potter won the ball near half-way and after interplay with Parker chipped towards the back post where the arriving Pedder dived for a free-header but could only head wide.
After Potter was shown a yellow card for a trip on Conway near half-way, the free-kick reached Omotayo beyond the far post and his header back to Graham was poorly hit, and Charman couldn’t connect with the bouncing ball and Haigh made the save.
Fleet played in Pedder for a shot curled just over the bar, before a remarkable attempt from Haughton for Fylde from inside his own half forced Haigh to scamper back towards his goal-line to tip over the bar, and then crash into the goal-post to require some lengthy treatment. It could have been a contender for the goal of the season had it gone in.
Smith then clattered in Khumbeni and it looked bad, but the referee awarded only a free-kick. The free-kick was messed up and passed straight to a Hoops player, but with a 3 on 1, McEachran’s pass was intercepted by the lone defender.
A minute later a good move for the home side involving Pedder and McEachran ended with McEachran’s 25 yarder going a couple for feet wide.
After 67 minutes, not for the first time, Pedder ignored the over-lapping Roberts and cut-back inside onto his right foot, but his shot-cum-cross drifted harmlessly across the face of the goal.
A minute later, another 20-yard goalward attempt from Haughton curled just wide, then at the other end Harrison and McEachran exchanged passes for Harrison’s shot from a tight angle to be saved low down at his near post by Metcalfe.
Delightful play between Pedder and McEachran saw the QPR man burst into the Fylde area, and although he could have shot, he chose to continue his ran and hit the floor, but the referee rightly said play-on.
With 18 minutes remaining, Carroll produced a great tackle reminiscent of Bobby Moore on Jairzinho to stop Haughton, then two minutes later a flowing move featuring McEachran, Fleet, Burley and Parker led to Smith being teed up, but the effort from the edge of the area sailed over the clubhouse.
Fylde continued to search for an equaliser, but some last ditch defending kept them at bay. Oxford City made their first change after 77 minutes, with Sanderson replacing Parker.
With 10 minutes left to play McEachran robbed Haughton near half-way but again the final ball, to Sanderson was intercepted.
However, a minute later The Hoops doubled their lead with a marvellously worked goal. Sanderson won the ball near the half-way line and spread the ball wide to Burley to run down the right wing. His ball into the Coasters’ area was dummied by McEachran for the on-rushing Sanderson to meet and side foot past Metcalfe from near the penalty spot. 2-0
The 84th minute saw a collectors’ item as a foul throw was awarded against Gordon, and from City’s throw the ball found it’s way to Smith, whose 25-yard attempt was parried by keeper Metcalfe. Unfortunately for the Fylde keeper, Sanderson was the quickest to react and poked the ball into the net. Frankly, both the keeper and the Fylde back three could have done better. 3-0
Fylde nearly claimed a consolation after Smith gave away possession on the edge of his own area but Khumbeni was fouled before he could take advantage. Play-maker Haughton could only send the free-kick into the defensive wall after which a crunching tackle from Carroll cleared the danger.
Fylde’s afternoon was summed up in the 6 minutes added time when Rowley twice fired high and wide.
After the final whistle, Oxford City’s third win of the season took them out of the bottom 4 places in the table, and whilst overall they deserved the three points, the final score probably flattered them a little. They would be pleased though to have kept a clean sheet, thanks to some determined defending and some wayward finishing from Fylde, for whom Haughton looked to be a class act.
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeekiwfvlCI
Oxford City : Haigh – Burley, Carroll, Harrison, Roberts – Potter, Fleet, McEachran ( Coyle ), Smith, Pedder ( Fonkeu ) – Parker ( Sanderson )
AFC Fylde : Metcalfe – Gordon, Davis, Obi ( Ustabasi ), Graham - Philliskirk, Haughton, Khumbeni, Conway – Whitehead ( Omotayo ) – Charman ( Rowley )
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