Thursday 13th February 2025
FA Women’s National League Division One North
Photo: John Shirras
AFC Fylde Women were edged out 1-0 by Chorley Women in a closely fought Lancashire derby on Thursday evening.
It was a special occasion under the lights for these local rivals as they battled it out in front of a bumper crowd at the Jim Fowler Memorial Ground in Euxton. With precious league points at stake, there was little to separate the two sides over the course of a highly competitive contest.
This midweek clash was ultimately settled by a single goal scored by Chorley’s Safron Newhouse inside the opening ten minutes. After the early setback, the Coasters created a host of chances but could not find the elusive equaliser as they slipped to a narrow defeat to Carmelo Ruggieri’s in-form Magpies.
For his second league game in charge, Murphy made two changes to the side that faced York City Ladies last time out. Abi Duffell returned to the starting line-up, while skipper Holly Kelsh-Ridge also came back in after recovering from illness.
On a chilly evening in Euxton, the Coasters looked to set the tempo from the outset. Nicola James almost released Duffell with a deft through ball, but it rolled just beyond her and into the arms of home goalkeeper Mollie Finch.
In the ninth minute, Chorley opened the scoring with their first real attack of the game. Racing onto a long ball over the top, Newhouse made a darting run in behind the Fylde backline, before rounding Skye Kirkham and slotting the ball into the empty net. Millie Tindall almost recovered to make a last-gasp clearance, but the shot had enough on it to roll over the line. As Newhouse wheeled away in delight, it sparked joyful celebrations from the home crowd.
It proved to be a tough start for the Coasters, but they quickly regrouped and pressed high up the pitch in search of an equaliser. At the same time, they had to be alert to the danger posed by their hosts on the counterattack.
On the quarter-hour mark, Fylde’s Beth Mason unleashed a powerful drive that stung the palms of Finch. At the other end, Chorley threatened on the break, but James made a vital interception to nullify the danger over the top.
Minutes later, Kelsh-Ridge carved out an opening and forced a fine save from Finch, who reacted well to keep the shot out. Just before the half-hour mark, Kelsh-Ridge created another good chance when she curled an effort narrowly wide of the far post.
Towards the end of the first period, Mason played in Imogen Borrowdale, who worked space inside the box and dragged her effort wide just wide of the post. Thanks to some resilient defending by the Magpies, the scoreline remained the same at the interval.
Half-Time: Chorley Women FC 1-0 AFC Fylde Women
The Coasters made a bright start to the second half as Demi Devereaux slid the ball through to Borrowdale, who turned towards goal, but saw her shot blocked at close quarters by a Chorley defender.
In the 53rd minute, Murphy made a double change as Ellie Adams and Karri Chan replaced Mia Hyland and Abi Duffell in the middle of the park. The young midfielder Adams was making her debut for Fylde following her arrival earlier in the week.
As for the hosts, Lizzie Hamer was also introduced into the action early in the second half as she marked her debut for Chorley since signing from Stockport County Ladies.
Shortly after the hour mark, Devereaux was in the thick of the action again as she exploited space in behind the Chorley defence and found herself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Finch raced out to narrow the angle and denied her at close range.
As Fylde came forward minutes later, Chan weaved her way past two defenders before being brought down inside the Chorley half. The Coasters continued to ramp up the pressure on their hosts, but struggled to find a way through.
Entering the final few minutes, Adams embarked on a mazy run into the area and fired her shot towards goal, but Finch made another crucial stop to preserve the clean sheet.
With the last action of the game, the Magpies came close to doubling their lead when an inswinging corner just evaded substitute Faye Stanhope, who could not get the decisive touch at the back post.
Moments later, the referee blew the full-time whistle to bring an end to an entertaining game. While Chorley cemented their position in third place, the Coasters were left to rue a missed opportunity to close the gap on the sides just above them in the table.
Despite the defeat, Murphy’s team could reflect on another spirited performance that will stand them in good stead heading into this weekend’s rearranged fixture at home to Middlesbrough Women.
Full-Time: Chorley Women FC 1-0 AFC Fylde Women
Chorley Women FC: Finch, Parish, Searson, Cook, Wood, Parker, Newhouse, Worthington, Unsworth, Binks, Coward
Substitutes: Ritchie, Stanhope, Hamer, Price
AFC Fylde Women: Kirkham, Mason, Nuttall, James, Tindall, Borrowdale, Hyland (53’ Adams), O’Mahony, Duffell (53’ Chan), Kelsh-Ridge, Devereaux
Unused substitutes: Dale, Dunion, Bowers Folan
Report by Scott Jones
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