Arbroath 1 – 2 AFC Fylde – Match Report
Match Highlights
Arbroath vs AFC Fylde – Ian Campbell Post Match Interview
Arbroath narrowly lost out to English side AFC Fylde at Gayfield tonight in what was a very competitive and physical friendly.
Arbroath made several changes as Gill, Low, Fosu, Shanks and two trialists started, with Ricky Little missing through injury and McKenna, Donnelly, Jacobs, Stewart and Gaston dropping to the bench.
The two trialists were playing on each side of midfield and as Arbroath attacked the harbour end the first real chance fell to trialist 35 in the 11th minute who smashed a 30 yard drive which Chris Neal pushed onto his post before Trialist 34 had his follow up blocked with a stunning block with his foot.
AFC Flyde took the lead just 2 minutes later when Emeka Obi rose unchallenged from a corner kick and headed the ball into the far corner of the net.
Kieran Shanks almost equalised just seconds after Arbroath fell behind but the ball just bounced out of his full reach.
Kieran Shanks was leading the line well and up against Obi he had a battle but he kept on going with the tall AFC Fylde defender obviously wanting Shank’s shirt as a souvenir as his hands were always were attached to it.
Thomas O’Brien had a header at goal from a free kick but his header was saved by Neal.
Good play down the wing from David Gold in the 32nd minute allowed him to break free and cross was met by Shanks but his header was directly into the gloves of Neal.
Despite up against full time opposition Arbroath looked the more dangerous side but the Coasters could have doubled their lead just before the interval when Hatfield fired wide after linking up with Barrett.
Half Time – Arbroath 0 – 1 AFC Fylde
AFC Fylde should have definitely scored when a cross found the head of Rowley but with the goal at his mercy, his header was well wide.
In the 55th minute Arbroath made several changes. Trialist 34, 35, Daniel Fosu, James Craigen, Kieran Shanks and David Gold went off and on came Dylan Paterson, Bobby Linn, Michael McKenna, Scott Stewart, Keaghan Jacobs and Dale Hilson.
Just after the changes AFC Fylde scored a second, the Arbroath defence got caught out and a ball from Haughton was tapped into the net by Trialist B.
Bobby Linn showed his first piece of skill as he twice skinned his man just moments after coming on, with Dylan Paterson having a shot on the right side blocked.
In the 70th minute Bobby Linn hit his 3rd screamer this week as he took a 35 yard free kick, curling it and dipping it over the keeper to score another belter!
Just a minute later and Linn almost pulled Arbroath level as he latched onto a Scott Stewart cutback but his shot again was blocked.
Thomas O’Brien had a header saved off the line with a finger tip save with 5 minutes remaining, with Jason Thomson being denied in the 90th minute with another fine save from the Fylde keeper.
Full Time – Arbroath 1 – 2 AFC Fylde
A rare defeat at home for Arbroath, but another good work out against a good full time team. Lots of positives to take out of it, and another belter for Linn to add to his collection.
A huge game on Saturday, we hope to see you there!
Arbroath
21 – Cammy Gill
7 – David Gold (Stewart 55)
2 – Jason Thomson
3 – Colin Hamilton
5 – Thomas O’Brien (c)
34 – Trialist (Paterson 5)
6 – Nicky Low
35 – Trialist (Linn 35)
27 – Daniel Fosu (Jacobs 55)
16 – Kieran Shanks (Hilson 55)
28 – James Craigen (McKenna 55)
Arbroath Substitutes
8 – Michael McKenna (Craigen 55)
9 – Dale Hilson (Shanks 55)
10 – Keaghan Jacobs (Fosu 55)
11 – Bobby Linn (Trialist 35)
12 – Scott Stewart (Gold 55)
14 – Dyaln Paterson (Trialist 34)
15 – Luke Donnelly
21 – Derek Gaston (GK)
Goal – Linn 70
Yellow Card – McKenna 85
AFC Fylde
1 – Chris Neal
6 – Alex Whitmore (Morrison 64)
5 – Emeka Obi
33 – Piece Bird
17 – Connor Barrett
3 – Luke Conlan
14 – Curtis Weston
12 – Will Hatfield
21 – Danny Whitehead
7 – Joe Rowley
12 – Sam Osborne
AFC Fylde Substitutes
18 – Nick Haughton
8 – Danny Philliskirk
15 – Kyle Morrison (Whitmore 64)
28 – Harry Davis
4 – Jordan Cranston
10 – Harvey Gregson
36 – Trialist A
9 – Trialist B
45 – Trialist C
Goals – Obi 13, Trialist B 55
Attendance – 721
Referee – Greg Soutar
Assistant Referee 1 – Nathan Clac-Mansfield
Assistant Referee 2 – Abbie Hendry
