AFC Fylde Women were unable to avoid defeat on Wednesday evening with a 3-1 loss to Chorley Women at Kellamergh Park.
Fylde went behind inside the opening quarter of an hour as the Magpies made a flying start with three quick-fire goals in the space of five minutes.
That blistering start left the Coasters with a mountain to climb, but they did reduce the deficit when Imogen Barrowdale scored her first goal for the club midway through the first half.
Despite the Fylde’s best efforts to draw level, the damage had already been done in the early exchanges of this Lancashire derby. In the end, Chorley claimed all the spoils with a 3-1 victory to cement their position in third, while Fylde slipped to tenth, albeit after only six games played.
Jake Williams and Steve Mainwaring were eager for their Fylde team to bounce back from a narrow home defeat to Norton & Stockton Ancients last time out. Likewise, Carmelo Ruggieri’s Magpies were also looking to return to winning ways after an impressive start to the season.
When the two sides met in the FAWNL Plate less than a fortnight ago, Fylde opened up a two-goal lead through Iszy Binks and Abi Duffell, before Nicola Worthington netted a late consolation for the visitors. The Coasters were prepared for another tough test when Chorley returned for a league encounter ten days later.
Among the changes to Fylde’s line-up, Sasha Rowe made a welcome return in midfield, while Katie Bowers Folan started up front.
The Coasters started on the front foot and signalled their attacking intent inside the opening minutes. Karri Chan threaded a delightful pass through to Bowers Folan, who darted past several defenders before firing on target, but visiting goalkeeper Mollie Finch was equal to it.
From an early corner, Abi Tindall whipped in an inviting cross that was headed narrowly off target.
The Magpies opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Safron Newhouse found space for a shot and fired past Skye Kirkham in the Fylde goal. Barely a minute later, the visitors doubled their advantage when Molly Wood popped up inside the box to drive home.
It quickly went from bad to worse for the Coasters as the Magpies scored a third with only 13 minutes on the clock. Nicola Worthington continued her fine goalscoring form after racing through on goal and tucking the ball past the onrushing Kirkham.
As a result, the Coasters trailed by a two-goal margin at the interval.
Half-Time: AFC Fylde Women 1-3 Chorley Women FC
The visitors started the second half in the ascendancy as they looked for a way through the Fylde backline.
At the 65th-minute mark, Ylenia Carabott replaced Mia Hyland as the Coasters looked to strengthen their attacking options.
With less than 20 minutes remaining, Fylde defender Ella Holt tried her luck from range when she spotted the goalkeeper off her line. Holt’s audacious effort drifted just wide of the post.
Full-Time: AFC Fylde Women 1-3 Chorley Women FC
Next up, the Coasters turn their attention to the FAWNL Plate with a First Round tie against Wolves Women. This away tie will be played at Wolves’ Compton Park training ground on Sunday 29th September, with kick-off at 2.00 pm.
AFC Fylde Women: Kirkham, Binks, Holt, Sanchez, Tindall (20’ Dunion), Hyland (65’ Carabott), Kelsh-Ridge, Rowe, Borrowdale, Bowers Folan, Chan
Unused substitutes: Pendlebury, Duffell, Rogers
Chorley Women FC: Finch, Searson, Wade, Wood, Parker, Ritchie (80’ Gunn), Newhouse (89’ Dale), Worthington, Wright (60’ Parish), Stanhope (88’ Price), Wong (46’ Derbyshire)
Report by Scott Jones
