The U’s will be looking to make it three wins on the spin, with the visit of AFC Fylde on Saturday.
Last Time Out
Jack Wadham’s first goal for the club was enough to secure all three points over Solihull Moors, securing a second successive victory at the hands of Solihull Moors.
Wadham drew first blood after Ashley Nadesan showed superb muscle to win the ball back in the penalty area, before cutting the ball back to the former AFC Bournemouth youngster who stroked home on just his third ever start for the U’s.
The visitors put plenty of pressure on throughout the second half and went closest through Michael Adu-Poku, but the U’s back line held firm to seal consecutive wins for the first time since September.
Watch the highlights here.
The Opposition
AFC Fylde are the opposition on Saturday, and visit the VBS Community Stadium looking to move away from the relegation zone.
After adopting its current name in 2008 after winning the FA Vase, the club won four promotions between 2007 and 2017 to earn promotion to the National League for the first time, and continued their momentum with two play-off campaigns in their first two seasons, with the second seeing Fylde miss out on promotion to the EFL after losing to Salford City in the play-off final. Nonetheless, the Coasters would establish themselves in the fifth tier over the next few years, and despite a brief stint back in the National League North in 2022, they would bounce straight back with a title-winning season in 2022/23, before surviving once again with an 18th place finish.
Although they would have been to kick-on up the division, the Coasters currently sit 22nd and are a point from safety, with former manager Chris Beech being replaced by Kevin Phillips last month.
Recent Form
Hartlepool United 2-0 AFC Fylde
Braintree Town 1-0 AFC Fylde
AFC Fylde 3-0 Gateshead
AFC Fylde 0-5 Altrincham
Boston United 1-2 AFC Fylde
Dagenham & Redbridge 4-0 AFC Fylde
The Manager
Kevin Phillips
Former striker Kevin Phillips arrived at AFC Fylde last month, replacing Chris Beech in the Coasters’ attempt to move away from the drop zone.
After making a name for himself as a player at Sunderland, Phillips began his managerial career in the North-East when he took over at South Shields in January 2022, following coaching stints at Leicester City, Derby County and Stoke City. The Mariners would reach the play-offs as runners-up in his first season in charge, before winning promotion at the second attempt as champions the following campaign.
Remaining up north, Phillips’ next move would see him make the step up to the National League, with Hartlepool United bringing him to Victoria Park after being relegated from League Two, with the Pools sat 16th in the fifth tier at the time of his arrival. Despite a positive start to his time in County Durham, which saw the club end the season in 12th, owner Raj Singh opted against renewing his contract in favour of bringing in Daryl Sarll.
After a few months out the game, Phillips would be back in the hotseat with Fylde naming him as Beech’s successor, and the Coasters have so far won two and lost five under his guidance.
One to Watch
Nick Haughton
Fylde midfielder Nick Haughton entered his seventh full season with the Coasters after joining in 2018, and is currently the division’s joint-highest scorer.
A Bolton Wanderers academy product, Haughton would be released in 2013 and subsequently gained experience in non-league with stints at Curzon Ashton, Trafford and Runcorn Town, before joining League Two side Fleetwood Town in 2014. He would move on loan to Nantwich Town in order to maintain first team football, before making his debut for the Fishermen at the end of the same year.
Haughton would go on to make 46 appearances for the club, and later moved on loan to Salford City and Chorley before returning to the former on a permanent deal. He would spent nine months at the Peninsula Stadium, but departed in October 2018 to join Fylde where he has remained ever since, going on to appear over 200 times for the club.
The 30-year old finished the 2022/23 campaign as the division’s top goalscorer with 26 goals, winning the Player of the Season award and helping the Coasters win promotion to the National League as champions. He would subsequently contribute to a successful survival bid the following season with 18 goals to his name, and has continued his goalscoring form into the current campaign with 12 to his name already, which is the most in the entire division alongside York City’s Ollie Pearce.
Head-to-Head
Sutton United 2-1 AFC Fylde (04/11/2023)
AFC Fylde 0-0 Sutton United (10/12/2019)
AFC Fylde 2-2 Sutton United (01/12/2018)
Sutton United 0-0 AFC Fylde (25/08/2018)
AFC Fylde 2-1 Sutton United (07/04/2018)
Sutton United 2-1 AFC Fylde (07/10/2017)
Played for Both
Gime Touré
A striker who began his career in his native France before joining Macclesfield Town in the 2017/18 season, and then moving to AFC Fylde at the beginning of the following campaign. After scoring one of Fylde’s goals against Sutton in December 2018 he moved joined the U’s later that month and scored three goals in 22 games for us during the rest of that season. In summer 2019 he joined Hartlepool United, scoring against us in our 3-1 win on the opening day of the season, and a year later moved to Carlisle United, where he would spend two seasons. He has subsequently had spells with Aldershot Town, Yeovil Town and Scottish club Cove Rangers.
Team News
Alex Kirk was absent on Tuesday night against Solihull Moors, and is set to miss Saturday’s game as well after tearing his LCL early on against Maidenhead United. The defender will be out for the next few weeks as a result.
On a more positive note, Ryan Jackson has returned to full training, while Lewis Simper has made strong progress in his recovery from a knee injury sustained last month. You can keep up to date with his road to recovery here.
You can watch Steve Morison’s full pre-match interview here.
Officials
Saturday’s referee is Scott Jackson, who has been on the EFL referees’ since the start of last season. He refereed several games in our National League championship season, and was fourth official for our first ever Carabao Cup tie at Cardiff City. Jackson was also the fourth official for an Under-19 UEFA game between Liverpool and Real Madrid earlier this week.
How to Follow
Video
Overseas-based supporters can watch a live stream on National League TV, by a purchasing a match pass here for £9.99.
Audio
There will be a Mixlr audio commentary available and will be posted on social media accounts before kick-off.
At the VBS
Advance online prices for ground admission are as follows:
Adults: £21
Concessions (age over 60/students with current ID): £15
Junior (age 14-18): £7
Under-14s: Free if accompanied by adult or senior concession
Seat prices are £4 more in all cases. Supporters are reminded that these cheaper advance prices are available up to kick-off, and while tickets will be available on the day, tickets bought in person on the day carry a price increase of £2.
Click here to purchase a ticket.
Kit Watch
The U’s will be wearing their amber home kit. You can purchase a replica version here.
