FC Halifax Town v AFC Fylde
Friday 14th April, 2017, k/o 3pm
The Shay
Vanarama National League North
It’s crunch time! Just four games remain of the National League North season and the Coasters are within touching distance of the title!
There are still several permutations but, regardless of results elsewhere, seven points from a possible 12 would absolutely guarantee promotion for the Coasters.
Two wins would all but secure the championship, considering Fylde’s far superior goal difference, but anything more would make sure.
Defeat at Stalybridge Celtic at the weekend looked likely to ensure a nervy end to the campaign, although Kidderminster slipped to a similar fate at Bower Fold on Tuesday night in their game in hand to ease the pressure on Dave Challinor’s side.
Whilst the Coasters suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Stalybridge on Saturday, striker Danny Rowe enjoyed a moment to savour. His equalising goal was not only Fylde’s 100th league strike of the season, it also equalled the goalscoring record for the league (43), currently held by Altrincham’s Damien Reeves.
The Easter Weekend could go a long way to deciding matters at both ends of the table with the battle for the play-offs and survival wide open.
Friday’s opponents Halifax are still very much in the mix for a place in the play-offs and current sit just one point behind second-placed Kidderminster and four points ahead of Chorley in sixth.
The Shaymen are comfortably the team in form over the last 15 games, picking up 33 points from a possible 45 – five more than any other club in the division. Last time out they saw off Alfreton with a narrow 1-0 victory.
The Coasters edged out the previous meeting with Halifax earlier in the season – Bohan Dixon’s late goal securing a 3-2 victory at Mill Farm back in late August.
Team news:
Caspar Hughes will join in with training tomorrow after picking up a knock against Stalybridge on Saturday, whilst James Hardy is set for a scan on his back after coming off in the previous game against Darlington.
Fixtures:
Tomorrow
Chorley v Worcester City
Curzon Ashton v Altrincham
FC Halifax Town v AFC Fylde
Gainsborough Trinity v Salford City
Kidderminster Harriers v Boston United
Stockport County v AFC Telford United
Saturday
Alfreton Town v Darlington
Bradford Park Avenue v Tamworth
FC United of Manchester v Brackley Town
Gloucester City v Stalybridge Celtic
Nuneaton Town v Harrogate Town
Recent form:
FC Halifax Town: W-D-W-W-W
Last result: Halifax 1-0 Alfreton
League position: 3rd
AFC Fylde: L-W-L-D-D
Last result: Stalybridge 2-1 AFC Fylde
League position: 1st
Admission:
Seating: Adults £16, Concessions £13, U16 £5, U7s £3.
Standing: Adults £15, Concessions £12, U16s £5, U7s £3.
