📝 Match Preview: AFC Fylde (H)

All you need to know ahead of Saturday's FA Cup clash

6 November 2020

The magic of the Emirates FA Cup returns to St James Park on Saturday as the Grecians take on National League North side AFC Fylde in a 1pm kick-off as the sides meet for the first time.

Both sides come into the clash in very good form and both are unbeaten in their last ten matches.

Ahead of the 1pm kick-off, Exeter City manager Matt Taylor has said that it's a competiton the team want to go far in, but have to be wary of the threats an AFC Fylde side, packed with Football League experience will provide.

"It's a game we want to win and a competition we want to progress in." said Matt.

"They have recruited well and they have a lot of players with league experience or are on loan from the Football League. We know how difficult it can be so we will look at the personnel within our squad and attack the game this weekend."

You can hear Matt's pre-match thoughts here 👇🏻

REMEMBRANCE MATCH

At Saturday's match we will mark Remembrance weekend. There will be a Minute's silence before kick-off and players will be wearing poppy armbands which will be signed and auctioned for Royal British Legion.

We would normally have a bucket collection, but you can donate online

http://ecfc.co/RBLDonate

HOW TO WATCH

The match is available to stream on City's iFollow platform for home and away supporters, with all funds shared 50/50 between the two clubs.

Whilst we would love you to be there, showing your passionate support for the Grecians, you can get the next best thing by purchasing a match pass at the cost of just £10 in the UK. The stream includes the live BBC Radio Devon commentary, score overlay and replays.

To purchase a match pass please click here.

GRAB A GRECIAN

Our Emirates FA Cup souvenir programme is now on sale via the Club Shop, priced at just £3.50

The FA Cup Souvenir Edition contains regular updates from Matt Taylor and the Supporters’ Trust, as features from our regular contributors, Rob Casey and Leigh Edwards.

The programme also takes a look at our 1931 FA Cup Journey with Charlie Howell, whilst Will Barrett takes a poignant look at our 1914 campaign to mark Remembrance Weekend.

As always, we have all the info in on our opponent’s this weekend, with a short history, scout report and profiles on all of the AFC squad.

To order your copy for delivery ahead of the game click here.

The programme will also be available to download from MatchDayInfo from Friday afternoon.

MATCH DAY COVERAGE

As usual, we’ll have the match covered across our social media channels and we’ll have a post-match interview with manager Matt Taylor and a player as they reflect on the result.

Exeter City on social media

AFC FYLDE'S LAST MATCH

Alfreton Town 1 AFC Fylde 1 | November 3, 2020 | National League North

Luke Burke’s sensational first-half strike wasn’t enough to secure an eighth successive win for Jim Bentley’s side. Alfreton’s Elliott Reeves equalised early in the second-half, before substitute Jack Sampson was given his marching orders for a late tackle on former AFC Fylde midfielder, Dan Bradley.

Match Reports

📝 Match Report: City 2 AFC Fylde 1

Our take on City's narrow FA Cup victory

7 November 2020

Exeter City are into the hat for the second round of FA Cup after beating AFC Fylde 2-1 at St James Park.

The Grecians came from behind thanks to first-half goals from Matt Jay and Alex Hartridge to beat the impressive National League North side.

Both sides came into this fixture in good form, being unbeaten in their last ten matches. Matt Taylor named a starting line-up filled with both youth and experience to face the national north side. Rory McArdle returned and captained the side, with Alex Hartridge, Harry Kite, and Ben Seymour making starts for the Grecians.

The Coasters who currently sit top of their respected league, named a side packed with Football League experience and were looking for a cup upset at St James Park.

Exeter nearly had the perfect start when a quickly taken corner caught the Fylde backline off guard, but Hartridge’s header went just wide of veteran keeper Neal in goal.

A cagey ten minutes followed as both sides were trying to work each other out, but it was Fylde that capitalised and took their early chances. Fylde’s danger man Haughton made room on the edge of the box and found Hulme whose neat turn created space for him to slot it past Andresson in goal.

Fylde had the wind in their sails and was passing the ball around with confidence. Shaw and Tollitt had speculative efforts from range, but both attempts were saved comfortably by Andresson.

City slowly found their feet and was creating chances of their own, and soon found an equaliser. Jack Sparkes’ cross managed to find Jay on the outside of the box, and his impressive shot found its way into the corner of the goal.

The Grecians then doubled their lead a few minutes later when a looping corner found captain Rory McArdle at the back post who managed to head it back into Harry Kite. He managed to keep it alive and find Hartridge in the middle to flick goalwards and past Neal in net, much to his surprise.

Exeter went looking for their third, with Jake Caprice delivering a teasing cross into Seymour, but his point-blank effort was saved by the keeper. Sparkes then had an effort soon after, with his cross-cum-shot nearly catching out Neal at the far post.

Haughton had a decent effort at the end of the first half for Fylde, when his deflected shot from range nearly beat Andresson but sailed just over the bar to his relief.

City started the second half strongly, with Nicky Law and Jay linking up well in the Fylde box, but Law’s cross couldn’t find Ryan Bowman in the box.

This was City’s only real chance of the second half as Fylde dominated possession, looking for a leveller. Andresson was called into action when Shaw’s close-range effort was deflected, but the impressive Icelandic on loan from Reading managed to tip it over the crossbar for a corner.

The next twenty minutes saw AFC Fylde having the majority of the possession, having the ball in some good areas but struggling to conjure up any meaningful chances. Fylde bombarded the City backline with crosses, free kicks, and corners but the Grecians stood firm with McArdle and Hartridge making key blocks and tackles.

This was the story of the half, but Exeter managed to withstand the pressure and advance to the second round of the FA Cup.

The Grecians are back in action next Saturday as they face Bradford City at Valley Parade, in the Sky Bet League Two.

Exeter City: Andresson, Caprice (Key), Sweeney, McArdle, Hartridge, Sparkes, Jay, Kite (Taylor), Law, Seymour, Bowman (Randall)

Subs not used: Lee, Dean, Williams, Ajose

Booked: McArdle

AFC Fylde: Neal, Burke, Conlan, Whitmore, Tollitt, Philliskirk, Hulme, Haughton (Willoughby), Sanders, Shaw (Mondall), Lussey (Perkins)

Subs not used: Ogle, Stanley, Byrne

Booked:

Exeter City FC

Standings