AFC Fylde Women are preparing for their next test in the FAWNL Northern Premier Division with a midweek fixture away to Burnley FC Women on Wednesday 22nd February, with kick-off at 7.45 pm.
In the absence of a fixture last weekend, the Coasters have been putting in the hard yards on the training ground in preparation for this short trip to the Lancashire FA County Ground in Leyland this Wednesday.
Last week, the Coasters announced that Danielle Young had stepped down from her position as First Team Manager after an incredibly successful two-year spell at the helm. Fortunately for the Club, Young will remain an important and influential member of the squad as she continues in a playing role.
As a result, Head Coach James Mallett has assumed the role of Interim First Team Manager. On Wednesday, Mallett will be looking for the team to bounce back from a disappointing 3-0 defeat at home to Derby County Women last time out.
In a hard-fought game, the Ewe Rams showed their clinical edge in front of goal to take home all three points. The result saw Fylde slip to eighth place in the league table after 13 games played, albeit with a game in hand over Stoke City Women in seventh place.
As for their next opponents, Burnley FC Women have enjoyed a successful season so far and currently sit in fourth place, having amassed 28 points from 12 games.
The Clarets recently announced the departure of Head Coach Jonathan Morgan, who has left the club to take up the managerial vacancy at Championship side Sheffield United Women. Assistant Coach Jay Bradford has since taken charge of the team on an interim basis.
The Coasters have already played the Clarets twice this season, and both games produced their fair share of goals.
When the two sides met in the league in August, it proved to be a highly competitive game under the lights at Kellamergh Park. Despite a spirited performance, the Coasters fell to a 4-2 defeat to a strong Burnley outfit, who extended their unbeaten start to the season.
In their second meeting in November, the two sides played out a thrilling cup tie in the Lancashire FA Women’s Challenge Cup. In an end-to-end contest, the Clarets left it late to seal a 4-2 victory at Kellamergh Park.
Fylde’s Amy Hughes scored twice to cancel out strikes from Burnley’s Evie Priestley and Ellie York. And in a dramatic finale, Millie Ravening found the net with two headed goals to send the Clarets through to the next round of the county cup.
And this Wednesday’s meeting promises to be another entertaining encounter between these two Lancashire neighbours.
Words by Scott Jones
