14-10-2023, 19:50
The 930 of us who turned up for the 4th Qualifying Round FA Cup match saw in the end a closely fought game although the scoreline doesn't quite tell the tale of the game. Fylde bottom of the Conference against a Leek side who at the start of the game were just above the drop zone in the Northern Premier League West division although in fairness they had only played 6 games and had 4 games in hand on other sides.
A heavy shower as I arrived at the ground although that hadn't put off visiting fans who looked to have taken in every pub in Kirkham. Having potted their manager Adam Murray this week, head of football Chris Beech was in charge. The first half was all Fylde had the vast majority of possession although in truth didn't do a lot with it, strangely reluctant to shoot when in a good position however when they got corners that was a danger time for the Tangerine shirted visitors.
The visitors had survived fairly easily for 13 minutes when Fylde got their first corner of the game, the corner was cleared to the left side of the box but was chipped back into the danger zone by Haughton, Ustabasi got a touch on it and in it went, try as they might they couldn't get a second and at the break Leek were still in the game
![[Image: 6-C54-DFF0-2-EFD-497-A-AD8-E-514380-E96219.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/89vn48d/6-C54-DFF0-2-EFD-497-A-AD8-E-514380-E96219.jpg)
The second half was a complete turnaround Fylde looked like the lower of the two clubs, in the space of five minutes Leek had missed two sitters, one brilliantly saved by Richardson and the second hit the side netting from very close range, could have been costly but on 55 minutes they were deservedly level, Opoku received the ball in the inside left position dummied a defender before chipping over Richardson into the net. Cue delirium with the away support. Fylde retaliated immediately with a header flashing narrowly over the bar but momentum had changed and the visitors looked to be denied a penalty although from 100 yards away couldn't tell if it was the correct decision.
Then the corner curse struck again corner from the right Graham nodded home easily to put the home side ahead, this time there was no comeback the third also came from a corner ex Crewe player Steve Davis headed home think possibly the keeper could have done better. In the nine minutes of injury time Scully of Leek picked up his second yellow card followed by a red. Fylde went close a couple of times but that would have been harsh on the visitors who all put in a fair shift
A heavy shower as I arrived at the ground although that hadn't put off visiting fans who looked to have taken in every pub in Kirkham. Having potted their manager Adam Murray this week, head of football Chris Beech was in charge. The first half was all Fylde had the vast majority of possession although in truth didn't do a lot with it, strangely reluctant to shoot when in a good position however when they got corners that was a danger time for the Tangerine shirted visitors.
The visitors had survived fairly easily for 13 minutes when Fylde got their first corner of the game, the corner was cleared to the left side of the box but was chipped back into the danger zone by Haughton, Ustabasi got a touch on it and in it went, try as they might they couldn't get a second and at the break Leek were still in the game
The second half was a complete turnaround Fylde looked like the lower of the two clubs, in the space of five minutes Leek had missed two sitters, one brilliantly saved by Richardson and the second hit the side netting from very close range, could have been costly but on 55 minutes they were deservedly level, Opoku received the ball in the inside left position dummied a defender before chipping over Richardson into the net. Cue delirium with the away support. Fylde retaliated immediately with a header flashing narrowly over the bar but momentum had changed and the visitors looked to be denied a penalty although from 100 yards away couldn't tell if it was the correct decision.
Then the corner curse struck again corner from the right Graham nodded home easily to put the home side ahead, this time there was no comeback the third also came from a corner ex Crewe player Steve Davis headed home think possibly the keeper could have done better. In the nine minutes of injury time Scully of Leek picked up his second yellow card followed by a red. Fylde went close a couple of times but that would have been harsh on the visitors who all put in a fair shift
Have you heard about the news on Mizar 5
People got to shout to stay alive
People got to shout to stay alive