VNL#22 vs. AFC Fylde (match-thread)

[Andy K]

Best performance for a number of weeks. Youth lad did great and happy he got his first goal from his first start. Side were playing as a team, as predicted. Mom for me was Aswad again. Some of the tackles he did today were almost as has dropping as Bobby Moore v Brazil in 1970. But to be frank every player out there played their part in a great team performance and an entertaining game. As Jr said to me after the match "We're back" and it really felt that way.

[timall]

Miserable weather but a great day, and despite not ever having our noses in front we could have nicked it at the end. "Hanging on" was how someone described Fylde as we approached the 90. Josh with a half chance at the end that led to nothing ultimately but certainly got us all excited about a potential penalty.

Brandon was full of energy and purpose, and shows what we have been missing with Tommy absent. Pearce was solid and certainly a good prospect, and certainly rubbishes the opinion of someone on the Braintree match thread that suggested we didn't have a defender on the bench. But Motm for me, and others have picked him out already, was Aswad. Is there a better left back in this league?

Not sure the exact wages being paid for Danny Rowe, but I'm sure they would cover a fair number of our lads, and yet again he goes away from a game with us not just goalless, but pretty peripheral to the game too. We can't be one of his favourite teams that's for sure.

First trip to Fylde for me and whilst the ground is impressive, it was a pretty soulless place even at kick-off with hardly more home support atmosphere than at 2pm when I arrived. I often think we are a quiet set of home fans, barring the odd pocket of vocal singing, but a home gate of just 1401, on an admittedly miserable day weather wise, who were mute in the main throughout, gave little impression of this club being more than a vanity project of a rich businessman with a chip on his shoulder about one or both of Preston and Blackpool.

I think I prefer a club with a rich history than a rich set of shareholders. That said I wish them well on their journey into league football, and whilst they weren't a bad team I doubt they will be successful in their ambitions this season on what I saw from them yesterday.

[markf]

What turned into a very long day for your south coast correspondent (more later) but a satisfying tip to the impressive Mill Farm and a point - one better than last season.
Having drawn 2-2 at struggling Braintree this was a totally different match played on an immaculate surface despite the constant rain that blew towards the open end on the strong wind that certainly had an affect on the direction of play. For the 70 odd U's fans, was there really that many(?) the away end provided sufficient shelter from the elements as U's attacked towards us in the first half.

Fylde, with Naughton outstanding for them posed a number of questions but Jamie B, who had a brilliant match made a number of very good saves, especially one brave intervention before he was finally beaten. The opportunity arose from a poor short pass to skip who had to pull out of a challenge to avoid a likely red card and while Jamie B saved the initial effort, Bond steered in on the follow-up. Naughton hit the cross bar with another thunderous effort while Sutton, playing some neat football, got behind the home defence a couple of times but found a covering defender in the way. The best effort was Craig E's free-kick that was diverted over the bar by a defensive header.

Second half, U's were more lively in attack and Wayne B and Craig E both tested Lynch before young Bradley P capped a fine full debut by striking a low shot into the corner following a corner. Challinor sent on Toure and while his first action was what appeared to be a piece of unnecessary show-boating he was a lively threat. Once again a poor pass sent the home side away but still with a fair bit to do, Toure cut in and curled a wonderful effort into the far top corner.

Fylde broke again but once more found Jamie B a formidable barrier as he made another superb stop.

U's kept pushing though and if this team has faults it certainly isn't their "never say die" approach and a long ball fell to KC who hammered into the same area of the net that Bradley P had found 15 minutes earlier. Josh T lost his footing when looking to round Lynch and Cloughie met a cross well but saw his attempt bounce off the turf and over. But a fine point secured.

As someone else has pointed out, Danny Rowe who is probably on a fair bit of wonger, was just a bit part. The much celebrated forward with the stats to back it up has never impressed me against U's nor when i saw him in a live tv cup match last season. Lazy and on the periphery his main contribution was a stinging free-kick that Aswad felt the full power off and not to the U's defender's best advantage. So, that's one gifted goal against U's in four matches and tbh, nothing else.

For Sutton, this was a fine team performance. The NLP gave Jamie B Motm which you probably wouldn't argue with but for the brilliant, energetic effort from Aswad and a mature, controlled and near perfect goal scoring full debut from young Bradley P. We may have a find there but not going to start all the hype and put pressure on young shoulders just yet. In the final analysis, Fylde, like last season, scored their goals from a couple of errors but I would have taken a point before the match.

I even had a couple of beers in the fantastic Bradleys Sports Bar after to celebrate. After all, it was Bradley's day.

Ref got a nine from the nlp and I reckon he was worth just about that. No complaints here, except their fella at the back got away with a lot of holding.

As for the home crowd, so quiet were they I am sure I heard a church mouse squeak at one point, either that or KBB had another of his bilious attacks. They had a drummer but he must have lost his sticks early on and that popular standing area was more an assembly of cardboard cut outs than real people. I suppose, AFC F is a young club and perhaps there is a lack of passion as a result.

An uneventful journey back to London and very early into Euston; the early Littlehampton train beckoned but on arriving on the concourse at 21.30 it became apparent there was a serious problem. The Littlehampton advertised service I eventually got on with a fair smattering of tired but happy B&HA fans ended up being changed to a Brighton train and to cut a long story short I eventually got home at 01.30 via a taxi from Barnham. Four hours to do 60 odd miles from London when 250 from mid-Lancs had taken less than three. Christ that cup of tea went down well.

On to Solihull who have somehow got their midweek fixture postponed and what will be another hard match against a side playing with confidence under Tim Flowers.

[markf]

One thing I would add was Challinor's post match comments. Smacks of arrogance. Has he seen our record against the other top ten clubs in the current NL this season?

[jr]

I thought it was a wonderful performance in tough conditions and perhaps could have won. After KC equalised he had another goalbound shot blocked. We dominated the second half with Fylde only looking dangerous on the break.

I’ve felt that in recent matches we were quite slow to react and a little off the pace but this wasn’t the case on Sat is were quicker to react than Fylde and so a draw was the least we deserved. An outstanding team performance with Aswad and Bradley quite brilliant. Looks like Danny Rowe’s only contribution was to break Aswad’s Hand from a thunderous free kick.

Had a good chat with colin woodthorpe of Fylde afterwards. Nice chap.

My second time there but it still surprises me with all the money spent they can’t get WiFi. We missed countless cabs as there was no reception so they turned round and went back into Blackpool. We eventually left the bat at 8pm!

[davethegrave]

Nov 29, 2018 11:36:19 GMT Andy K said:

Nov 29, 2018 11:31:27 GMT Del said:

Didn't we draw with them at home Andy,earlier in the season.

Forgot about that. Yes we did! Makes that stat even better!

Administrator? You just can't get the staff!

[davethegrave]

Dec 1, 2018 17:48:32 GMT Amber Aleman said:

FT: 2-2. Improved performance from Sutton, twice equalising against one of the division's stronger sides. There was an assured performance at the back from young Brad Pearce, who crowned that display with our first goal. And yes, Cloughie played up front again.

That's three victories and five draws (two v Fylde) against the seven clubs above us in the table.

So the boy done well?