With the regular season done and dusted, attention now turns to the first playoff game which is the Vanarama Eliminator against Harrogate.
The defeat against Halifax Town will be one to forget for the Coasters after Dave Challinor made nine changes from the previous game for the visit of the Shaymen.
Again, wholesale changes are likely to be made with players coming back into the squad for the game, including Golden Boot Winner and Vanarama National League Player of the Season, Danny Rowe and Fylde’s player of the year, Jay Lynch.
The Opposition
Name: Harrogate Town
Form: WLLWL
Nickname: The Sulphurites
Ground: Wetherby Road
League Position: 6th
After promotion to the National League in the 2017/18 season, this year has also been one to enjoy in their first season in the top non-league division.
The Sulphurites finished in sixth position in the league after winning 21 games drawing 11 and losing only 14, which in their first season in the league is good going.
Harrogate went professional at the end of the 2016/17 season, and since then, the club has only been on the up – gaining promotion last season and a playoff place finish this season.
Managing the club through this period and this season is Simon Weaver, who is completing his tenth season in charge.
He has overseen Town since 2009 and after guiding the side to many promotions over the years, he will be hoping he can go all the way in the National League playoffs and gain promotion to the Football League.
One To Watch
Mark Beck
This week’s one to watch is forward Mark Beck.
Beck has featured for Harrogate 39 times for Harrogate this season, scoring 13 goals along the way.
Although his goalscoring form doesn’t scream prolific, he has scored six goals in his last ten, which puts him in pretty good form at the minute.
He has also scored in his last two outings against Wrexham and Gateshead, so Beck will be hoping to make it three goals in three games when Harrogate travel to Mill Farm on Wednesday.
Beck came on as a substitute to score against Fylde in the last meeting between the sides before Danny Rowe’s late penalty earnt all three points at the CNG Stadium.
Head-to-Head
This will be the 11th time the two sides have met.
2014/15 – Conference North
AFC Fylde 1-2 Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town 1-4 AFC Fylde
2015/16 – Conference North
Harrogate Town 2-2 AFC Fylde
AFC Fylde 2-1 Harrogate Town
Conference North Playoff
Harrogate Town 0-1 AFC Fylde
AFC Fylde 1-1 Harrogate Town
2016/17 – Conference North
AFC Fylde 2-1 Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town 3-3 AFC Fylde
2018/19 – Vanarama National League
AFC Fylde 0-0 Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town 1-2 AFC Fylde
Other Games To Keep An Eye On
The only game which is of significance is the other playoff fixture, as if successful in the quarter and semi-finals, the Coasters could face one of them.
Wrexham Vs Eastleigh
Coverage
The game will be broadcast on BT Sport 1, with coverage starting from 6.45pm.
You can follow the game via Twitter as we provide regular updates, pre and post-match interviews and more.
BBC Radio Lancashire, Live Sports FM and Fylde Coast Radio will also be providing matchday commentary.
