Kellamergh Park, home of AFC Fylde Women based in Warton, Lancashire and play their trade in the Women’s National League North. Nicknamed the “Coasters” as they are based near the West Coast.
It’s time for another day with Switch Sport! And this time with Commentator Kev who I haven’t seen in a long time! A 1:30pm kick off which should be enough time to get back for England vs Senegal in the World Cup round of 16 but it is a plate game vs Boldmere St Michael’s…
Onto the A57, to the M60, leading to the M61 and onto the M55 and here I am with 20 minutes to go before kick off. Press Pass entry for me today! Tasty! I have to say that this ground does not look like what it does in the pictures and that is in a very good way!! Kev has been spotted and off we go live on air! Very windy out here today but not for us as we are in the warmth of the green hut! Out come the teams! Let’s hope for no extra time anyway…
Kick Off! 3 minutes in and Boldmere look to play out from the back, they lose it and Fylde play it through to Hughes in the box on the left and she shoots… Saved by Quinn in the Boldmere goal. It is a corner for Fylde, in it comes… Cleared.
Both teams having a fair share of possession in the early stages but Fylde creating the best chance so far after 3 minutes. 18th minute and Boldmere win the ball back in the Fylde half, it’s played to Formaston and she goes for goal from 35 yards… OFF THE BAR!! Boldmere get to the loose ball… The flag is up! Offside! What a goal that nearly was!
3 minutes later and Fylde play forward, it’s played out wide to the left and it’s played in low towards Hughes who shoots… Brilliant save by Quinn! Another corner, in it comes… Cleared by Boldmere.
24 minutes now and Fylde play it forward, it’s threaded through to Hughes who’s in, Offside? She gets around the keeper… But it’s too heavy a touch and it rolls wide… Maybe she knew she was Offside?
1 minute later and Fylde have a free kick in the Boldmere half, it’s played into the box, the header at goal… Quinn is there again and Boldmere clear. Brilliant goalkeeping once again!
1 minute after that and Fylde come again, it’s played in to Hughes who beats the defender and gets her shot away… GOAL! It’s been coming you have to say! Good finish and Quinn’s resilience in the Boldmere goal has been broken for now! 1-0!
Straight from kick off and Boldmere play it out wide to the right for Trina Greaves, she goes for goal from the right… Where is that going…? OH! WHAT ABOUT THAT!? Where did that come from!!? Straight away and Boldmere are level!! Sensational goal!! 1-1!
The game is starting to open up now and it’s anyone’s for the taking. 39 minutes gone and Boldmere play a long ball forward, Katie George is in and out comes the keeper, George gets there first and it’s rolling……………. It’s off the post! It’s so unlucky but it’s loose….. Fylde clear. Wow! The game continues in good spirits but it’s 1-1 at half time.
Second half, a slow start to this half… 63rd minute and Fylde play forward down the right hand side, it’s played in towards the back post and here’s McCoy… It’s there… No wait the flag is up! No goal!
67th minute and Boldmere play down the right wing now, Trina Greaves plays it in towards the back post… And it’s headed firmly in!! Katie George was there and Boldmere lead here! 1-2!
83 minutes now and Boldmere are looking the better team here now! They play down the right, but the Fylde defender will get there and plays it back… But it’s not enough and Boldmere get to the loose ball, it’s played across and set up for Kirk to shoot… OH MY WORD! What a block that is! It’s off the line amazingly and Fylde are still alive in this tie somehow.
87th minute and Fylde play forward, Rowe has it and gets into the box, she makes space for the shot… OFF THE BAR… It comes to McCoy… THEY’VE GOT IT!! She rolls in the rebound and Fylde have indeed snatched a late equaliser!! 2-2!
Play goes on… And that is it! It will be extra time here… The rules of the competition sadly don’t have an England game straight to penalties rule… 2 evenly matched teams so far so it very much could be penalties as well if it pans out how it has all game…
Extra time! 101 minutes on the watch and it’s Fylde who come forward, it’s played through to McCoy who’s in… And she scores!! Fylde lead again! What a game this is proving to be!! 3-2! That is how it will stay at half time in extra time.
Second half, 109th minute and Boldmere have a corner, in it comes… It’s come off the post! It’s cleared for a throw in on the right for Boldmere, it’s played in… Cleared for another throw in, it’s crossed into the box and it comes for Kirk on the left of the box who goes for placement… It’s agonizingly wide! So close!
119 minutes now and Boldmere have a free kick in the Fylde half, one last chance perhaps? It’s played into the box, it bounces and Boldmere get a header away… IT’S OFF THE BAR… AND IT’S A GOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!! It’s turned in from point blank!! Jade Formaston is the hero! 3-3! What a game this has been!! It will be penalties after all!
It’s Fylde to go first and it’s McCoy to go first… Saved by Chloe Quinn!! Not the start that Fylde needed… Jade Formaston is up for Boldmere… She scores! Advantage Boldmere!
Number 7 for Fylde is next… SAVED BY CHLOE QUINN!! She’s done it again! Up steps Sutton for Boldmere… 2-0! Boldmere are nearly there!
Number 14 for Fylde really needs this one… And she gets it brilliantly! No keeper is stopping that one! Katie George can give Boldmere some breathing space here… OH NO! It’s wide! She’s blown a big opportunity there!
Number 10 is next for Fylde… Yes! It’s 2-2! Trina Greaves is next for Boldmere… Match point Boldmere! No more room for error for Fylde now!
Number 6 for Fylde must score… She does score! But Boldmere have a chance to win and it’s Edwards with the chance to send Boldmere through to the next round… NO! It’s saved! It will be sudden death!
Number 3 for Fylde steps up next… And scores! Now it’s Boldmere who must score… It’s Liddiard to take… She’s blazed it over… That’s it! Fylde are through! What a game this was!
FT: AFC Fylde Women 3-3 Boldmere St Michael’s Women AET
AFC Fylde Women win 4-3 on Penalties
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 1/10 – Not many people here sadly…
- The Ground: 8/10 – A hidden gem! A lot better than the pictures suggested! A good seated stand and a stand behind the far goal! A good setup for a step 3 or 4 non league club!
- Expense: 10/10 – £20 in fuel and some money on food and drink and a pin badge, was it worth it? Absolutely!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – Can’t ask for anymore than that! Drama upon drama and a Penalty Shootout! A great advert for Women’s football and it’s great to catch up with commentator Kev!
29/40