Laithwaite Independent Financial Advisers

Ahead of the Game: AFC Fylde (H)

William Bewsey
10:37am, Thu 10th Apr 2025

Woking vs AFC Fylde
Vanarama National League
Saturday 12th April 2025
15:00 Kick-Off

Woking are looking for back-to-back league wins for the first time under Neal Ardley to go an extra step towards securing their National League safety for next season.

The Cards face two sides staring down the barrel of relegation in Fylde and Maidenhead next week, with the Coasters sitting 23rd and very much entering last chance saloon to make up a seven point gap on 20th placed Boston United.

Ardley’s side was heavily rotated in midweek, but with a massive three points secured at Oldham, he will have a selection dilemma on his hands as the likes of Dan Moss and Frank Vincent return from their rests.

Opposition Watch
An impressive run of form at the back end of last season saw Fylde survive quite comfortably in their first season back at National League level, although they did finish below the Cards.

A tumultuous year has seen Chris Beech, Nathan Delfouneso, Chris Neal, Kevin Phillips and now David Longwell in the dugout as the Coasters have struggled for any sort of consistency. Appointed in October, Phillips was dismissed in February with Fylde in dire straits after just five wins in his 18 games culminating in a damaging home defeat to Boston.

A run of one win and six defeats in their last seven has essentially consigned Fylde to the drop unless they can put together at least four wins out of their last five, which includes trips to Rochdale and Tamworth as well as hosting champions elect Barnet on the last day. The maximum they can get to is 54 points if they beat the Cards, if not then 51 or 52 points which may not be enough and their fate could well be mathematically sealed by Good Friday.

In and amongst all the chaos on the Fylde peninsula, Nick Haughton has done what he does so well and currently has 18 goals and nine assists, so he is of course one to watch as he hopes to take his side’s fight past Easter. Fylde’s last goal away from home came on the 1st of March at Gateshead, with their last away win an impressive 2-1 victory at Altrincham a week prior.

Around the Ground
Ticket information is available here.

Please note, there is a private party in the bar from 18:30 on Saturday.

St John’s Ambulance will also be attending, so please give generously.

Last Time Out
Lewis Walker cancelled out Nick Haughton’s opener back in September at Mill Farm to take a share of the spoils back to Surrey.

Last April, Woking ran out 3-0 winners over Fylde at the Laithwaite in a game they had to at least draw to secure National League safety, with two from Tunji Akinola supported by a Kevin Berkoe strike.

These sides have met six times before, with Woking winning five times and just the one draw at Mill Farm last September.

Match Report | Dale's decider secures huge three points for Cards

William Bewsey
5:16pm, Sat 12th Apr 2025

Woking 1-0 AFC Fylde
Vanarama National League
12th April 2025

Woking hosted AFC Fylde at the Laithwaite with both sides at opposite ends of the relegation picture. The visitors started the day in 23rd position in the table, seven points off 20th placed Boston United, whilst the Cards were looking to reach the 50 point mark and take another step towards safety.

Following Tuesday night’s impressive win at Oldham, Neal Ardley made just two changes, with a straight swap between Inih Effiong, who captained the Cards and Sam Ashford, who made the bench. Tunji Akinola came in for Harry Beautyman, who was not in the squad.

Meanwhile, Fylde started with Nick Haughton supporting the two strikers, hoping to add to his 18 goals for the season as he has once again stood out for the Coasters.

An early chance for the visitors went begging after former Fylde defender Timi Odusina misjudged his header back to Jaaskelainen, but Danny Ormerod failed to dink the ball over the Finn. Good link up play from O’Brien and Effiong saw the latter’s shot saved by Ben Winterbottom as the opening fifteen minutes were productive from both sides.

The following twenty minutes were much less productive; apart from a tame effort from Ashley Boatswain at Jaaskelainen and an off the ball incident involving Jamie Andrews and Ethan Mitchell which saw the latter booked, nothing much happened. On the stroke of half time, a dangerous Haughton delivery was somehow not bundled in by Harry Davis at the far post.

Half-time: Woking 0-0 AFC Fylde

Intricate play from Andrews and Hinds saw the latter’s flick saved by Winterbottom as the Cards aimed to start the second half quickly, before a sweet half volley from Effiong flew narrowly over the crossbar.

Ardley turned to Josh Osude just after the hour mark as he looked for a spark, and nearly found it almost immediately when Andrews’ long throw was diverted into his path, but Winterbottom managed to save.

Woking had the opener after 76 minutes when Dale Gorman’s initial shot was blocked, before the ball came back to him and he fired in an unstoppable strike past Winterbottom.

The electric Osude put a fantastic low delivery into the box in stoppage time which just evaded Ashford as the clock wound down before full time, and a big three points for the Cards.

With Maidenhead now occupying 21st, a win at York Road on Good Friday would effectively secure safety.

Woking: Jaaskelainen, Kelly-Evans, Hinds, Odusina, Okoli, Akinola, Andrews, Gorman, Walker (Ashford 75’), Effiong, O’Brien (Osude 61’),

Subs: Webber, Chicksen, Anderson, Moss, Lawson

Goals: Gorman 76’

Bookings: Odusina 45+1’, Okoli 84

AFC Fylde : Winterbottom, Evans, Davis, Mitchell, Haughton, Bardell, Hugill (Massey 75’), Whelan, Boatswain, Ormerod (Ustabasi 59’), Riley (McFayden 84’)

Subs: Clark, Sassi, Obi, Long, McFayden, Massey

Bookings: Ormerod 26’, Mitchell 34’, Hugill 54’

Attendance: 1976

Sponsors’ Man of the Match: Chin Okoli was immense at the back, winning his headers with ease and providing a calm presence.