AFC Fylde Women returned to winning ways on Sunday with a convincing 3-0 victory over Stockport County Ladies FC at Kellamergh Park.
The Coasters scored three times without reply to beat the Hatters on home soil and record their first win of the 2024/25 season.
Fylde joint managers Jake Williams and Steve Mainwaring were eager for their side to bounce back from the disappointment of successive league defeats. And the team certainly rose to the challenge with a dominant performance in torrential conditions. Goals from Iszy Binks, Katie Bowers Folan and Ylenia Carabott sent the Coasters on their way to an emphatic win in front of their home supporters.
Among the changes to Fylde’s starting eleven, Isabel Pendlebury made her debut in between the sticks, while Eve Whitaker made a welcome return to the midfield after recovering from illness.
On a wet September afternoon, the contest got off to a flying start as County forced an early corner, from which Fylde managed to launch a counterattack as Imogen Borrowdale played in Millie Tindall, but Tindall’s shot was blocked by the recovering defender.
Making a surging run forward, Bowers Folan carved out the next chance but could only find the side netting. Moments later, Bowers Folan connected with Binks’ cross and forced a smart save from visiting goalkeeper Lucy Farrell. Binks nearly found herself through on goal herself, but Farrell charged out to gather the loose ball.
The visitors posed a threat from a number of crosses into the box, but the Fylde backline held firm to clear their lines. On the quarter-hour mark, County fired an effort on target, but Pendlebury reacted well to make the save.
As the rain continued to fall, the Coasters went ahead in spectacular fashion when Binks rifled home from an acute angle in the 24th minute. The move started when Holly Kelsh-Ridge tried a quick one-two with Karri Chan, but it was intercepted by the County defender. Chan quickly regained possession and slid the ball through to Binks, who unleashed a first-time shot into the roof of the net. It was an unstoppable strike to give Fylde an early advantage.
Although they were restricted to few opportunities, the Hatters got in behind the Fylde defence on the half-hour mark, but play was called back for offside. The two sides battled out the remainder of the first period as the hosts maintained their lead at the break.
Half-Time: AFC Fylde Women 1-0 Stockport County Ladies FC
The Coasters started the second half on the front foot and were quickly awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. Kelsh-Ridge swung in a delivery, but it just cleared the crossbar.
In their next attack, Imogen Borrowdale raced clear and advanced on goal. As she looked to chip the ball over the goalkeeper, Farrell made a crucial block from point-blank range to keep her out.
Fylde went on to make it 2-0 in the 58th minute when Bowers Folan was rewarded for chasing down the goalkeeper as she intercepted Farrell’s attempted clearance and the ball rebounded into the empty net. Bowers Folan wheeled away in celebration to mark her first goal for the club.
The visitors would have been disappointed to concede in such a manner, but the wet conditions admittedly made it much more difficult to play out from the back.
In the 70th minute, the Hatters came close to halving the deficit when Chloe Fisher worked space on the edge of the area and bent a shot toward the top corner, but it flew narrowly wide of the post.
The Coasters extended their lead in the 77th minute when Ylenia Carabott made an instant impact off the bench with a composed side-footed finish. Within moments of being on the pitch, Carabott received a perfectly weighted pass from Chan just inside the area and slotted the ball into the bottom right corner.
Bethany Mason replaced Bowers Folan in attack for the final ten minutes as Fylde looked to produce a strong finish to the game.
There was late drama in stoppage time as Pendlebury showed sharp reflexes to push away a goalbound attempt and thus keep the clean sheet intact. It capped off an impressive display by the Fylde goalkeeper on her debut.
Full-Time: AFC Fylde Women 3-0 Stockport County Ladies FC
Next up, the Coasters welcome Chorley Women to Kellamergh Park in the Preliminary Round of the FAWNL Plate. This cup fixture will be played on Sunday 15th September, with kick-off at 2.00 pm.
AFC Fylde Women: Pendlebury, Binks, Holt, Sanchez, Tindall, Hyland (75’ Carabott), Kelsh-Ridge (68’ Duffell), Borrowdale, Whitaker, Bowers Folan (81’ Mason), Chan
Unused substitutes: Hamer, Rogers
Stockport County Ladies FC: Farrell, Lysons (56’ Rathburn), Weston (69’ Newton), Lancaster, Owen, Bentley (64’ Fisher), Bradshaw, Wilson, Brady (56’ Greenhalgh), Watson (76’ Figueiredo), Hamer
Report by Scott Jones
