MATCH PREVIEW | AFC FYLDE V BARNET FC

Barnet travel to Mill Farm, Home of A.F.C. Fylde, this Saturday (17th February, 15:00 KO) as The Bees look to strengthen their position in The National League table.

So, What’s The Buzz?
Barnet was in cup action last Saturday as they travelled to National League South side Welling United in the 5th round of The FA Trophy. Welling’s season thus far had been challenging, with them placed 21st in the league. However, their biggest season result came in the previous round of the competition where they knocked out a youthful Chesterfield side, who sit top of The National League. If Barnet were going to go deep in the competition and better last season’s semi-final performance, they’d have to take Welling seriously.

Dean Brennan named a strong line-up with names such as Reece Hall-Johnson, Ben Coker, Harry Pritchard with the captain’s armband, and new signing Gatlin O’Donkor up top, debuting after signing on loan from Oxford United. After a tight 20 minutes, it was O’Donkor who opened his account and Barnet’s on the day with a lovely finish from inside the box. Second-half goals from Zak Brunt and Nicke Kabamba, who got his 23rd goal for the season in all competitions, sealed Barnet’s place into the quarterfinals, where they will face fellow promotion pushers, Bromley FC.

Club Profile
Club Name: A.F.C. Fylde
Nickname: The Coasters
Founded: 1988
Ground: Mill Farm
Manager: Chris Beech
League Position: 17th
Form: DWWWW

Opposition Report
Despite being founded just 36 years ago, Fylde has achieved plenty in that time. After a merger between Kirkham Town and Wesham, the club adopted the name A.F.C. Fylde after their first big success, winning The FA Vase in 2008. Fylde was first promoted to The National League in 2017 and had sights on breaking into the Football League but after two failed attempts in the play-offs, Fylde remained at this level until 2022, when they were relegated to the National League North.

After bouncing back immediately and crowned league champions, Fylde sits 17th in the table but is in redhot form, winning their last four league games and unbeaten in 7. During their first stint in The National League, Fylde became the first and only team to win both The FA Vase and The FA Trophy, when they defeated Leyton Orient at Wembley in 2019.

One to Watch: Nick Haughton
Haughton is at the heart of everything Fylde does on the pitch. The 29-year-old plays as an attacking midfielder for The Coasters, having scored 10 league goals from 31 appearances this campaign and 62 in 152 league games total. Having come through Bolton Wanderers’ academy, Haughton started his career off at Curzon Ashton. Over the next 5 years, Haughton would move eight times including three separate spells at Salford City before moving to Mill Farm in 2018. Since his move to Fylde, he has recorded consecutive 26-goal campaigns and claimed National League North Player of the Season in 2023, following Fylde’s title winning season.

In The Dugout: Chris Beech
Beech was born in Blackpool and came through their academy as a player. The 49-year-old made 317 league appearances for four different clubs, scoring 50 goals from midfield in the process. In terms of his managerial career, Beech started in the backroom staff at Rochdale, where he ended his playing career. His first permanent role came at Carlisle United in 2019. His time at the club was filled with issues that were not of his doing and Beech performed remarkably well in his 2 years there before being sacked in 2021. Beech was appointed Fylde’s manager in December 2023 after previously being Caretaker Manager and Director of Football at the club.

Henry’s Smokehouse

Henry’s Smokehouse is just a 4-minute drive from A.F.C Fylde stadium, Mill Farm and are offering Barnet fans a free hotdog when they purchase their first pint. The offer is available for Bees supporters pre and post-match.

Address: Fleetwood Rd, Greenhalgh, Preston PR4 3HE