Match thread Chester FC v AFC Fylde

For all those that didn't think we played well, have a read of the match report from the Fylde website
I still feel that we are much better than last year and we will do well - not bad for our first game against a decent side that has had 90 minutes under their belt
AFC Fylde earned a solid point at Chester in their first away trip of the new National League season.

The Coasters opened the scoring moments before half-time through summer signing Jack Muldoon, however were pegged back seconds later when Lucas Dawson slide the ball home.

Both clubs had golden chances to take maximum points from the entertaining contest after the break, none more so than Sam Finley’s rasping volley that was clawed out of the top corner.

Manager Dave Challinor made two changes from the opening day 2-2 draw against Boreham Wood with Henry Jones and Saturday’s goal hero Jonny Smith coming into the starting line-up.

Fylde flew out of the blocks and almost opened the scoring in spectacular fashion inside the opening six minutes. A corner was cleared only as far as Finley 25 yards from goal and the midfield man let fly with a dipping volley that landed on the roof of the net.

The hosts were enjoying some success down their left and a delightful cross from Craig Mahon was nodded just over by the Harry White lurking on the six-yard line.

Chester frontman White was looking dangerous early on and almost bundled his way clean through on the edge of the area only to see his strike blocked at the last by Jordan Tunnicliffe.

The chances were flowing at either end and a pinpoint first-time ball into the box found Jones unmarked at the back post however he steered his glancing header wide.

White powered another header narrowly over Rhys Taylor’s crossbar as an entertaining start reached the half-hour mark.

The Blues were starting to dominate proceeding, with the visitors sitting deep, and went again close when James Akintunde nicked in front of Josh Langley to meet a low cross but flicked his effort wide of the far post.

White was becoming a real thorn in the side of the Fylde backline and Langley had Taylor to thank after the striker had out-paced the Fylde captain.

The Coasters broke away seconds later with the chance of the match so far. Muldoon flew down the left before picking out Smith in acres of space inside the area and whilst his low attempt to the far corner looked goalbound, it trickled agonisingly wide of the upright.

Fylde eventually broke Chester’s resilliance on the stroke of half-time and it was a first in Fylde colours for Muldoon. Finley was set free down the right and his ball into the near post was neatly slotted into the bottom corner by the former Lincoln man.

However, barely 60 seconds later and the hosts were level. Some neat play down the left saw the ball end up with Dawson and he stroked the ball low into the far corner from 12 yards.

Blues forward White picked up where he left off in the second-half and very nearly found the top corner with a sublime curling strike that whistled a foot wide.

Danny Rowe had his first sniff of goal ten minutes after the restart when Muldoon found him on the six-yard line but his first-time effort was blocked and cleared before Jones could follow up.

The host’s momentum was building with ball after ball into the Fylde penalty area but the Coasters were soaking up the pressure well.

The Coasters enjoyed a spell of pressure of their own as the clock wound down and Langley wasn’t far away after rising well to Zaine Francis-Angol’s left-wing cross.

Rowe was growing into the game and flashed one wide from 25 yards as the contest started to even out. Midfielder Lewis Montrose watched a fierce strike fly just over from the edge of the area with less than ten minutes remaining.

The Coasters would have won it late on had it not been for a stunning save from on loan goalkeeper Conor Mitchell. Finley snatched at the ball 18 yards from goal and hit sweetly stuck volley was acrobatically tipped around the far post by the young stopper.



Chester: Mitchell, Halls, Rowe-Turner, James, McCombe, Astles, Mahon (Chapell 80), Turnbull, White (Bell 72), Dawson, Akintunde (Hannah 65).

Subs not used: Lynch, Davies, Chapell.

AFC Fylde: Taylor, Bond, Langley, Tunnicliffe, Francis-Angol, Montrose, Finley, Jones, Muldoon, Smith, Rowe (Hardy 80).

Subs not used: Lynch, Grand, Ezewele, Blinkhorn.

Att: 2,223

Ref: Daniel Middleton.

Ah, I knew the old "team prep rocked by Saturday's postponement" excuse would appear but in actual fact, according to the manager himself in an interview with the Chronicle yesterday...

“There is also the fact that the players have had that little bit extra time to get themselves right and everybody is fit and has trained and after the weekend and we’re ready to get going now.”

Ironically in the same interview he alludes to the dreadful second half of th season and doing things over the summer to rectify that yet he persisted in that second half with the same old rubbish tactics of sitting deep and inviting pressure. We were fortunate not to get beat in the end.

I think the majority of this thread is fine to be honest. I felt a bit down after last night as I felt it was alarmingly similar to the traits that were prominent last season. A point itself is not the end of the world, but we don't take the game to teams anymore at home and whilst the way we are set up will win us points on the road, it's obvious that we are tactically unbalanced at home.

It was excellent.

Really enjoyed the match - very absorbing against a decent side - and it was enhanced by the atmosphere.

Keep up the good work!

One thing to remember from last night was that this was a new team for us. The only consistent starter from last season in that team was Astles.

I know we've played friendlies, but it takes time for a team to gel and to get to know each others game.

Yes, some of last season's frailty and limitations started to appear as the game went on, but there were positives too.

The lack of wide options could become a real issue. Dawson playing there should help the midfield a lot though. We are expecting the wide players to drop in and defend, but also get forward to support the strikers. Mahon really struggled all game to close their right side down. With our full backs tucking in to cover the centre halves we will give space out wide, allowing crosses to come in.

This is compensated by having 4 strikers this season.

It will be interesting to see how Fylde do this season. I suspect they may change quite a bit over the course of the season, given the money they have available. They looked slick with the ball, but open without it. They may feel they need to tighten up, especially away from home. That may reduce their effectiveness with the ball.

Good game. Really enjoyed most of it. If only all games in this league were that open and entertaining. That would keep the crowds up.

Not sure why there is all this negativity on here as I thought we did alright last night against a very good Fylde team. Going forward we seem a lot more potent than last season and we've got more bite and ability in midfield.
Yes, the last 15 minutes were a bit nail biting as we hung on for the draw but I think the players were a bit over-anxious to get something from the game. Last season we would have comfortably lost that game, so there is a clear improvement.

One thing I did notice last night was that there was nothing coming from the technical area. McCarthy and Shaw stood 5 feet apart with their hands in their pockets and occasionally spoke to each other. I would have liked to have seen more energy and encouragement coming from them.

What is Iwelumo's role now? I heard attacking coach but it's only night games?

Would agree that the work rate was top notch and we went carrying any passengers in that respect. I just want us to be more positive at home and take the game to teams. We did get in some good areas in the first half and played some nice stuff, but we have to be braver in that second half and ask more questions.

I personally think Astles was MOM He was class

I read Alan's comments on twitter bemoaning the super negative DCII and i have to say i'm really unimpressed by that. 

Take out every comment made by the eternal WUM that is Mancot (Sychdyn) Blue everything said is fair reflection of what everyone was saying post match: i.e a great first half but we wilted away. Now that varies between for the whole second half to the last 10-20 mins but i know i sat there nervously waiting for the final whistle because WE WERE BEING DOMINATED. Simple as that really. 

We did have chances through Hannah and how Chappell managed to tackle himself when pretty much clean through following a defensive mistake i don't know, but in general we were hanging on a bit. 

The only thing I would like to rein in is the criticism of McCarthy in that. I heard him and Shaw from the other end of the ground screaming at the lads to get out, dont go so deep etc. However, (and i'll accept this may be a more viable line of criticism) we looked goosed - and what do goosed players do? they sit off and hit long. 

Andy Halls your prime example, was so knackered chasing after the non-league theo walcott (raw pace no skill) that he was the worst culprit and drew the most criticism from his fellow players and the management staff.


We're too quick to criticise the manager at times - i understand that people won't like the front to back style but in pre-season this is what they worked on with Iwelumo and it's never been hidden. Someone said Harry White reminds them of Jon Walters, surely you remember the number of lost causes he had to chase under Wright? It's a tactic, people need to (as someone has already stated) make peace with it because its what you're getting.


Fylde could have lost last night playing around the back if Chapple wasn't afraid of his own shadow, McCarthy wants to play football in the opponents half. This is nothing new, we've seen it from the Premiership down to Sunday League. The difference this season is having battlers like White and Aki (with hannah) and a midfield that after a few games I expect will be right on those second balls.


Play all the friendlies and train as early as you want, nothing counts more that proper matches for sharpness.


As I said, i'm p***ed off people are slagging this forum when the chat has been nothing than reflective on what was a hard-fought point which we could have lost because those on the pitch, not off it, we're looked ragged in the last 15. We were far better in the first half, and i expect to see 80-90 minute performances of that nature 6 games in.  

Surely he should be vocal with the players rather than the officials.

Fylde probably had more pace than any other side I've seen since our return to the Conference. OK, sometimes their final ball let them down, but they had plenty of pace. In the first half, even though we were on the front foot, they looked dangerous on the break. In the second half, although it felt like they were the dominant side, they didn't create as much apart from range.

I think they'll be dangerous away from home this season and might find it harder to break sides down at home. I think as our legs tired we sat back and let them come at us. I know it's frustrating as I want to see us go hell for leather for the win at home, but I think circumstances just meant that McCarthy wanted to batten down the hatches and minimise the space in behind. I know that a lot on this forum bemoan his tactical nous, but in my opinion, it probably earned us a point last night.

We have to remember that as good as Fylde looked tonight they struggled themselves in their first game with a unconvincing draw against Boringwood, it just takes a little time to get up to speed as long as we improve we will have no problems this season.