AFC Fylde Women return to league duties on Sunday with a trip to the North East to take on Durham Cestria.
This away fixture takes place at the Graham Sports Centre in Durham on Sunday 10th November, with kick-off at 2.00 pm.
Earlier this week, AFC Fylde Women were delighted to announce the appointment of Marc Joyce as their new Head Coach. Joyce has a wealth of experience working in both the men’s and women’s game and joins the Club after a successful spell at Liverpool Feds in the third tier of the women’s football pyramid.
This Sunday's fixture will be Joyce's first game in charge as his new team make the long journey across the country to visit Durham Cestria.
The Coasters will be looking to bounce back from the bitter disappointment of exiting the Adobe Women’s FA Cup last time out. Fylde travelled to the Ground Up Solutions Stadium for a tricky tie away to Cheadle Town Stingers in the First Round Proper.
On that occasion, the Coasters acquitted themselves well and were unlucky not to take a lead into the break. The Stingers were much-improved in the second period and edged ahead when Imogen Porteous-Williams nodded in the opener just past the hour mark.
This cagey affair was settled inside the final ten minutes when Porteous-Williams doubled her tally with another headed goal to help the Stingers secure a 2-0 win.
Looking forward, the Coasters can now focus on improving their league position as they prepare for another tough test on the road. Durham Cestria sit eighth in the division, just one place above Fylde with both sides level on seven points after eight games played. It is safe to say that it could be a tight contest this Sunday.
Michael Third's outfit head into the game in high spirits after a 4-0 success against Norton & Stockton Ancients in the Adobe Women's FA Cup last time out. Goals from Daisy Clarke, Nicki Gears and Erin Nicholson (x2) helped the Blues on their way to a resounding home victory over their North-East rivals.
Although Fylde did not compete in the same division as Durham Cestria last season, the two sides actually met twice in two different competitions last autumn.
In late October 2023, Fylde hosted Durham Cestria in the second round of the FAWNL Cup. The Coasters raced into a 3-0 lead through Beth Strutton and two goals from Ginny Lackey.
The visitors reduced the deficit in the second period courtesy of a brace from Alisha Mainwaring. However, Fylde added a fourth when Lackey completed her hat-trick to make it 4-2. The Coasters thus booked their place in the quarter final of the competition.
In mid-November 2023, the Coasters welcomed Durham Cestria back for the First Round Proper of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup. An early goal by Cestria’s Faye Dale proved to be the difference between the two sides as Fylde could not find an equaliser in another competitive tie at Kellamergh Park.
If those previous meetings are anything to go by, the Coasters know they are in for another stern test when they travel to the North East this Sunday afternoon.
Words by Scott Jones
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