Sunday 10th November 2024
FA Women’s National League Division One North
AFC Fylde Women endured a difficult day on the road on Sunday after a 4-0 defeat to Durham Cestria at Maiden Castle.
Fylde visited the Graham Sports Centre in Durham to take on Michael Third’s Cestria side in a clash between eighth and ninth in the division. Heading into the fixture level on points and goal difference, the Coasters were seeking to leapfrog their opponents and climb up the table.
As it transpired, however, the Blues proved to be too strong as they opened up a three-goal lead at the break, before adding a fourth in the closing minutes to seal all three points.
Earlier in the week, the Coasters were delighted to announce the appointment of Marc Joyce as their new Head Coach, and this trip to Durham was his first game at the helm.
Ahead of kick-off, both teams came together to observe a minute’s silence as they paid their respects on Remembrance Sunday.
Joyce made one change to the starting eleven that faced Cheadle last time out as Grace Osvath was included in midfield, while Ylenia Carabott was named among the substitutes.
Fylde looked to get on the front foot as Iszy Binks made an early foray down the right, but her cross just evaded Osvath and the ball was eventually cleared.
The Blues then wrestled control of the game when they scored twice in a chaotic five-minute spell. From a short corner routine, Anya Prested’s cross picked out Lucy Noble, who headed home from six yards out to give Cestria the lead with only nine minutes on the clock.
It soon got worse for Fylde as the Blues doubled their advantage five minutes later. Nicki Gears slid the ball through to Daisy Clarke, who confidently finished into the bottom corner. Although there was a suspicion that Clarke had strayed offside, the assistant’s flag stayed down, and the goal was allowed to stand.
The Coasters reacted positively to the setback as they settled into a passing rhythm. Imogen Borrowdale forced Cestria goalkeeper Brooke Mackain into a hurried clearance, which presented Holly Kelsh-Ridge with a half chance, but her attempt was comfortably saved.
With momentum in their favour, the Coasters almost pulled a goal back in the 40th minute when Binks’ pinpoint delivery found Kelsh-Ridge in space, but the Fylde skipper could not direct her header inside the far post.
Moments later, Fylde threatened again when Millie Tindall’s corner dropped to Karri Chan, who lashed a shot narrowly over the bar.
In first-half stoppage time, the tide turned in Cestria’s favour as they were awarded a penalty with the last action of the half. The referee deemed Minnie Rogers’ challenge to have taken place inside the penalty area, and Grace Collinson duly converted the spot-kick. Although Skye Kirkham guessed the right way and got a glove to the shot, she could not keep the ball out.
Half-Time: Durham Cestria 3-0 AFC Fylde Women
At the start of the second period, Fylde made a double change as Alex Sanchez and Teal Dunion were introduced to the action.
In the 51st minute, the Coasters applied the pressure from a corner kick when Binks whipped the ball into a packed six-yard box, but Mackain did well to gather under pressure.
The Coasters continued to knock on the door in search of a route back into the contest. In the 72nd minute, Karri Chan’s long-range strike drew a smart save from Mackain, who reacted well to palm the ball away.
After a lapse in concentration by the Cestria defence, Mackain was called upon again when she raced out to deny the striker a clear sight on goal. For all their endeavours, Fylde’s frontline could not find a way through.
Their frustration was compounded when the Blues bagged a fourth in the 82nd minute from a well-worked set play. Alex Gatt’s corner found the head of Mia Gibbon, but Kirkham showed sharp reflexes to parry Gibbon’s header. The rebound fell invitingly to Noble, who made no mistake from close range to register her second of the afternoon.
There was still time for more late drama as Cestria substitute Alisha Mainwaring looked destined to score after she fired past Kirkham, only to see her effort blocked on the line by Ella Holt. Moments later, Mainwaring tried her luck from the edge of the box, but Kirkham was equal to it.
Within minutes after coming off the bench, Carabott almost netted a consolation when she darted past several defenders and unleashed a fierce strike that Mackain had to tip over the bar. And with that, the hosts somehow kept their clean sheet intact.
Full-Time: Durham Cestria 4-0 AFC Fylde Women
Next up, the Coasters will look to bounce back when they host Cheadle Town Stingers at Kellamergh Park. Only a fortnight after their meeting in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, the Coasters will renew their acquaintance with the Stingers in a league encounter on Sunday 17th November, with kick-off at 2.00 pm.
Durham Cestria: Mackain, Mackie, Elliott (43’ Collinson), Winter, Gears (60’ Hutchinson), Brown, Noble, Clarke (73’ Mainwaring), Gibbon, Nicholson (68’ Gatt), Prested
Unused substitute: LeForestier
AFC Fylde Women: Kirkham, Binks, Holt, Rogers (46’ Sanchez), Tindall, Hyland, Kelsh-Ridge, Osvath (46’ Dunion), Borrowdale (85’ Carabott), Bowers Folan, Chan (86’ Duffell)
Report by Scott Jones
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