AFC Fylde - FC Halifax Town
By Tom Snee at Kellamurgh Park
Saturday 20th Match, 2010
The Shaymen named two of their new signings in the starting line up; Michael Wilde replacing the injured Richard Marshall, and Bradley Barnes coming in for the suspended Tom Baker.Wilde in particular was at the centre of the action early on - his strength creating a pair of half chances that were easily saved by Lewis Edge.
After plenty of rain fell on the pitch before the game, the surface at Kellamurgh Park was distinctly zippy early in the day, but neither side appeared to adjust to the conditions in a stagnant first twenty minutes.
New boy Wilde slotted in well next to the in-form James Dean, and the two linked to put the ball in the net after twenty one minutes, only to be denied by the linesman's flag.After a defence splitting ball from Paul Sykes found Dean, the striker played it through to Wilde - but the debutant was inches offside as he rolled the ball home.
The home side were keen not let the Shaymen dominate, and surprisingly took the lead themselves after 27 minutes.After a long ball over the top found Jason Dodwell, Danny Lowe dived in for a last gasp challenge.However, his touch only found Town old boy Michael Barnes, who took his time to roll the ball into an open net and give the Coasters the lead.
Fylde looked a different side to the one that were outclassed at the Shay earlier in the season, with Barnes and Dodwell looking consistently threatening.The travelling fans had little to cheer about, with the Shaymen lacking much of the spark that has seen them near the top of the table.Passes short and long went astray, and AFC Fylde held a deserved 1-0 lead at the break.
Town came out for the second half looking like a team who meant business, and it wasn't long before they restored parity.An Aaron Hardy free-kick was taken down by Dean, who crossed in for strike partner Wilde to knock home a debut goal - instantly endearing himself the large contingent of travelling Town fans.
The goal galvanized Town into life, and the lead was their's minutes later.Mark Peers good work had earlier presented a chance for Barnes which was well saved by Edge, buton 61 minutes his ball found Nick Gray, who smashed the ball into the top corner to give the Shaymen the lead their second half performance deserved.
The Coasters were far from out of the game, however, with a thunderbolt of a Dodwell strike flying just wide of the left hand post as Fylde built the pressure on the Shaymen.Town, however, held firm and continued to attack.
Peers was showing hints of his early season form, running at defenders with ease, and fine work from Dean and Wilde held the attacking effort together as the game wound down.
As the game entered injury time, the Coasters won a free kick out wide on the left.With everyone expecting a cross, Joe Booth bent the ball high into the top corner of Jonathan Hedge's net to rescue a draw for the home side and send Town fans home disappointed.
The Shaymen will have to get back on the horse ahead of Tuesday night's home clash with Radcliffe Borough.
