The Penalty Box Dancer
Player Valuation: £35m
AFC Fylde vs Portsmouth
League Cup first round
13th August 2030
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Ferguson changed the team for the League Cup clash with Portsmouth. Okoroji, Jolley and Stockbridge came in at the back with Daniel Embid in the middle, Pirone, Marshall and Maja also got a start. The first half lacked action but it was Portsmouth with the opener on 35 minutes through midfielder Joe Joyce who hit a low shot that got into the bottom left corner past Foster. Fylde came out for the second half were more intent and Pirone played a nice ball into the box for Maja who hit the crossbar. Declan Marshall was trying to carve open an attack, he played it wide to Stockbridge who crossed high into the box and Pirone headed into the net to make it 1-1! Pirone took the ball from Foster with 12 minutes to go down the right, he came forward but was tackled by Jordan Marshall, he played the ball across the back and Declan Marshall pounced and blasted it into the corner! He put Fylde in front! Daniel Embid committed a foul on Frost outside the Fylde area and received his second yellow and was off. Josh Ferguson came on for Marshall to help in the middle. Frost took the free-kick hoping to equalise and it cannoned off the bar and into the hands of Foster. The board went up for 5 minutes and Portsmouth were going long. Jordan Marshall crossed into the box from the left and Ashord got up to head through the hands of Foster, 2-2! Frost came forward for Portsmouth and Jolley made the tackle but the ball ran through to Overton and he chipped it delicately over Foster to steal it for Portsmouth! The sending off for Fylde has been a blow to their chances in this match. They're out of the League Cup at the first round stage once again.
PLAYER RATINGS
Sunderland vs AFC Fylde
17th August 2030
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League leaders Fylde travelled to thr North East to take on fellow promotion contenders Sunderland. It was an attacking start to the match from both teams but neither side could break the deadlock. Josh Ferguson came close on 31 minutes when Bytheway took the ball out wide and played it to Ferguson who dribbled past a defender and the keeper took his shot to the chest from close range. Both keepers were playing well and Ferguson wanted more creativity from his players in the final third. John Jones tried a shot from the free-kick and the keeper made a great save onto the crossbar, Alan O'Neill was there to react and he headed in the rebound! There is the breakthrough! Fylde held their lead as the match rolled into stoppage time. Fylde won the free-kick just inside the Sunderland half and John Jones sent it towards the far post, Elsom headed it for Sunderland towards the post and Henderson got his head to it, the keeper got across to keep it out, Josh Maja turned and put it away! 2-0! That's the three points for Fylde! Maja's first goal for Fylde!
DF: To get a result at the Stadium of Light is incedible, they are a very good team and what can I say? John Jones is sensational. He is going to have a huge career ahead of him in football. If he keeps playing like this Leicester will want him back!
PLAYER RATINGS
Ipswich Town vs AFC Fylde
20th August 2030
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It was a difficult trip to Ipswich for Fylde three days after playing in the North East and Daniel Embid came in for Jordan Wilson. Josh Maja got a start up top. Former Fylde defender Ryan Reynolds started at the back for Ipswich, a player who was handed his professional debut by Duncan Ferguson. Fylde couldn't get near the ball in the first 5 minutes and paid the price when Sam Thomas played in McAuley on sight of goal and he buried it past Foster. Fylde hit the bar twice in the next ten minutes, Bytheway and Embid both crashing shots against the woodwork. It wasn't the best showing from Fylde and they struggled to get near Ipswich. The players just didn't seem interested out there tonight.
PLAYER RATINGS
LEAGUE TABLE
