Danny Ormerod’s double ensured that 2024 started in the perfect way for AFC Fylde as the Coasters earned a 2-0 victory over Rochdale at Mill Farm on New Year’s Day.
Ormerod fired Chris Beech’s men to a vital three points in the Vanarama National League with a second-half brace.
Beech made two changes to the side that was beaten by this afternoon’s opponents on Boxing Day, with Nick Haughton returning to the side for Kieran Glynn and Ormerod coming into the line-up in place of Josh Kay.
Inside the first four minutes, Connor Barrett drove forward down the right before crossing into the box, but Dale defender Max Turner managed to block Nick Haughton’s low strike.
Minutes later, Haughton tried his luck from 25-yards, with goalkeeper Louie Moulden able to collect our number 10’s lofted effort.
The Coasters had to deal with set-piece pressure from Dale, as Harry Davis was forced to clear Ethan Ebanks-Landell’s knockdown from a corner, with Ian Henderson ready to pounce.
Richardson’s long ball up field was brought down by Sam Graham in a dangerous position on the right, with the centre-back crossing into the six-yard box which Ormerod was unable to reach at the back post, with Charman reacting first to shoot at goal, with Moulden able to push away.
The Coasters aimed to threaten the Dale goal midway through the half, with Moulden keeping out Jon Ustabasi’s rising attempt, and Charman bent an excellent strike which crashed off the crossbar.
Late in the half, Harvey Gilmour won possession from Barrett to aim at goal from distance, which Richardson did well to drop down to his left and save.
Jeserun Uchegbulam then cut inside and into the Coasters box, however his shot went way over Richardson’s crossbar.
The final chance of the half went to Fylde on 43 minutes, as Danny Whitehead profited from positive build-up play to curl inches wide of Moulden’s bottom right-post.
Half-Time: AFC Fylde 0-0 Rochdale
Buoyed by their first-half display, Fylde went in search of an opener, with Max Conway’s pinpoint cross finding Whitehead, though his fierce shot was deflected over by Ryan East.
Fylde were ahead on 58 minutes following a fantastic team passing move. Dan Adshead moved play up to Barrett, who produced an excellent defence-splitting pass for Ormerod to shoot first-time with his right boot from just outside the box, which arrowed across goal and into Moulden’s bottom left-corner.
Ormerod’s second of the contest came four minutes later, as the 17-year-old reacted quickest to a scramble in the box following a corner, to poke the ball under Moulden from close-range.
East then drove forward, but Graham’s superb tackle ensured that the Dale attack towards goal ended.
The game was suspended with 75 minutes played after Uchegbulam received treatment for a serious injury.
Once play resumed, Ormerod was denied a hat-trick by Moulden, after being played in by Ustabasi, whilst Charman stung the palms of Moulden, as Fylde navigated the remaining minutes of added time to secure the win.
AFC Fylde: Richardson, Davis, Graham, Barrett, Conway (Obi 90+3), Ustabasi, Whitehead, Adshead, Haughton (Glynn 63), Ormerod (O’Kane 90+11), Charman
Subs not used: Neal, Rowley
