PLAY-OFF FINAL PREVIEW
Just another 90 minutes of football stands between AFC Fylde and their ambition of gaining promotion to the Conference North as Saturday’s Play-off Final looms ever closer.
Standing in their way and looking to spoil the party is Ashton United – a team that shocked many a non-league fan by triumphing in their Semi Final against FC United of Manchester, winning 2-1 at Gigg Lane. Ashton’s goals came in stoppage time of both normal time and extra time to set up Saturday’s final at Kellamergh Park.
The Coasters finished 13 points ahead of their opponents in the regular season standings but that will count for nothing come three o’clock Saturday afternoon as both sides will head into the one off match full of confidence they can win it.
Dave Challinor will have been happy that his side came through Tuesday night’s win over Worksop Town unscathed but the same cannot be said for Ashton who will be without striker Dale Johnson who picked up a serious injury in their game meaning he will miss the Final.
These two sides have already met three times this season. The Coasters took four points off United in the league thanks to a narrow 1-0 win at KP in January before drawing 1-1 at the Hurst Cross Stadium just a month later.
But United will be bouyed by the fact they have already won at KP earlier in the season when they went home with a 1-0 win from the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round tie between the two sides at the end of September.
Dave Challinor will have his players focused on the task at hand though and said ahead of the game: “There’s a big prize on offer and I’m sure it will be a close contest, but these are the occasions we’re all involved in football for. I’m sure it will be a great advert for the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League and a fitting final that can be enjoyed by all.”
The Fylde boss added: “The atmosphere on Tuesday evening was fantastic and very tense. Today has to be the same and I can only urge you to get behind our lads more than you ever had.”
Admission prices for the final are just £9 for adults and £5 for concessions. The free shuttle bus is in service prior to kick off so come along and show your support for AFC Fylde as they look to cap off an already successful season.
Kick off is at 3pm so come along and get behind The Coasters!
