"The Bucks face Fylde on Tuesday night"

Match Date : March 15th, 2022 7:45 pm
Competition : National League North
Ground : Mill Farm Sports Village
Kick Off : 19:45

Telford take on another of the league’s heavy hitters on Tuesday evening, when the Bucks will travel to Mill Farm to face AFC Fylde.

Having ended last year’s shortened season in second (top on points per game), Fylde wasted no time in setting out their title credentials this time around. The Coasters started the league campaign nine unbeaten, picking up 23 points from a possible 27. However, their inconsistent form since then has seen them lose contact with leaders Gateshead and Brackley Town, which in turn has led the Lancashire club dispense of the services of former Telford favourite Jim Bentley.

Bentley left Fylde at the start of this month, with James Rowe picking up the reins at Mill Farm. Rowe was the man who made Gloucester City into title challengers before overseeing a similar transformation at Chesterfield. The Spirites were in the National League Premier relegation zone when Rowe arrived in November 2020, but they ended that season in the playoff places. And the Derbyshire side were sat in 2nd place when Rowe left the club by mutual consent this February following allegations of misconduct.

Fylde got off to a good start under Rowe’s leadership at the weekend, winning 1-0 away at Kidderminster thanks to a goal from Nick Haughton. And the Bucks will have to keep a close eye on Haughton who is one of the division’s top scorers having bagged 20 league goals so far – including four in his last five outings.

Two goals from Joe Piggott either side of half time saw Fylde come from behind to win 2-1 at the New Bucks Head back in November. The Bucks have never beaten the Coasters, in fact, losing six and drawing one of the clashes between the sides. But games between the sides are usually tight – four of those six defeats have been by a single goal – and the Bucks drew on their last visit to Mill Farm, which came during Fylde’s title-winning 2016/17 campaign.

The Bucks’ Fylde loanee, Liam Nolan, is unavailable to play against his parent club.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Website: www.afcfylde.co.uk

You can buy tickets in advance via the AFC Fylde website.

Ground Address: Mill Farm Sports Village, Coronation Way, Wesham, PR4 3JZ

FORM GUIDE

THE BUCKS

Form: D-D-W-L-L

Last match: Brackley Town 2-1 AFC Telford United

Pos.: 20th

Top scorer: Jason Oswell (12)

FYLDE

Form: L-W-L-W-W

Last match: Kidderminster Harriers 0-1 AFC Fylde

Pos.: 4th

Top scorer:  Nick Haughton (21)