Woking 3-0 The Coasters

The Coasters ended the season with defeat on the road, as Woking clinched National League survival with a classy display against Chris Beech’s side.

Two goals from Tunji Akinola and a scintillating long-range strike from Kevin Berkoe secured the points for Woking as The Cards secured their National League place. Results went in the way of AFC Fylde in the week, meaning Chris Beech and his side’s superb 2024, meant that Fylde would be playing National League football again next season.

Chris Beech made three changes to the side that fell to defeat last time out against Southend United, as Chris Neal took back the spot between the sticks in the first of the afternoon’s changes. Owen Evans dropped to the AFC Fylde bench, alongside Nick Haughton. Nick and Owen’s replacements in the side saw the introduction of Connor Barrett and Danny Whitehead for the final day. Richardson and Evans were joined on the bench by the returning Luke Conlon, alongside Academy graduate Jack Morris and Tom Walker.

The Coasters secured survival during the week, with a number of midweek games going in the favour of Fylde, meaning the Cardinals went into the game needing to win to secure their survival, Chris Beech’s side just looking to end a superb 2024, on a high to climb to the highest possible position in the Vanarama National League table come full time on the final day.

The Cards started strong as expected in front of a packed out crowd at The Laithwaite Community Stadium, with the ball falling to Jayden Luker who raced away one-on-one and took his time to strike towards goal which was well saved by the mid-drift of Chris Neal who pushed away. A big moment in the opening ten in Surrey.

The home side created a chance on the edge of the area in the twenty-fifth minute as Sam Graham took down Browne, Woking’s subsequent free-kick from the edge of the area, whipped in by Edwards fell into the six-yard box to Anderson who couldn’t find the target, striking it over the bar.

The Cards created another opening on the half-hour mark, as an inswinging delivery from the winger found its way towards Moss who got underneath the ball but couldn’t direct his free-header goalwards.

The first half ended as most of the forty-five before was, with Woking pressing for the goal to take pressure off their relegation battle, with the home side continuing their high pressure winning the ball back in the final third before it fell at the back stick to the unmarked Berkoe, who dragged his shot wide of the post much to the frustration of the home supporters.

But right on the whistle, the home side finally grabbed a goal that the home fans were craving as a floated ball into the ball fell to the back stick where Tunji Akinola was on hand to poke the ball past Neal, there was barely time to get back underway as the referee called for half-time right after the home side grabbed a vital goal in their push to safety on the final day.

The second half got back underway with the home side on top again as Tunji Akinola let fly from range, Chris Neal pulled out a massive save to push wide but from the resulting corner it fell to Tunji Akinola who smashed it past Neal to double the home side’s lead and to surely secure National League survival.

The Coasters made their first swap of the afternoon on the hour mark, as Owen Evans was introduced to play for Danny Whitehead.

Once again the home side showed their strength in front of goal as Kendell got free inside the area, and hit one into the ground, which was narrowly wide of Chris Neal’s goal.

A double switch with twenty to go for The Coasters, which saw youngster Jack Morris made his first team debut, replacing Dan Adshead, who has made a lasting impression on the Mill Farm faithful following his introduction in December. The second of the double swap saw Danny Ormerod’s impressive season come to an end, with Tom Walker seeing out the final knockings of the game.

Fylde spent the later stages of the second half following Evans’ introduction on the front foot and were unlucky not to grab a goal back as the ball fell to Ustabasi’s feet in the area, whose shot fell to the feet of Max Conway, who was unlucky not to force the keeper into a save with his stinging strike whistling over the bar.

The Coasters once again pushed upfield to try and half the deficit and Jaaskelainen had to be on his best at the near post when Walkers struck from the edge of the area and looked to be creeping inside the post if not for a solid save from the experienced shot-stopper.

Woking turned on the style as we crept closer to the final whistle as Kevin Berkoe’s long-distance strike whistled past Neal in the AFC Fylde goal, to wrap up the victory for the home side, and to secure safety much to the delight of those in Surrey.

As the whistle blew, the delight for the home side was confirmed, as Woking secured survival, with The Coasters mathematically safe, ending the 2023/24 season in 16th place.

The Coasters will conclude the 2023/24 season in the evening, with the inaugural AFC Fylde Awards Evening beginning at 8.30 in Mill Farm’s Churchill’s conference suite, where a number of accolades will be awarded to those who have made the most impact on and off the pitch during the season.

AFC Fylde: Neal, Hosannah, Long, Graham, Barrett, Ustabasi, Conway, Whitehead (Evans), Adshead (Morris), Ormerod (Walker), Mitchell Unused Subs: Richardson, Conlon

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