KANE’S SO ABLE AS WOOD BAG A POINT...
AFC FYLDE had to settle for a share of the spoils against Boreham Wood on their debut match in the National League.
The hosts got off to a dream start when defender Danny Woodards headed into his own goal, however Ricky Shakes levelled the scores on half-time.
Boreham Wood completed the turnaround after the break through Kane Smith, before Fylde new man Jonny Smith fired home a spectacular equaliser.
The visitors dominated in the early exchanges, but it was the hosts who first threatened – Andy Bond was unfortunate to see his diving header saved by Grant Smith.
There was a historic moment to follow, and one to forget for Woodards, as Fylde opened their National League account. Zaine Francis-Angol bombed down the left before whipping in a fierce cross that was expertly headed into his own goal by the visiting defender.
Full-back Smith’s eyes lit up as a loose ball fell kindly to him on the edge of the Fylde area, and although he struck his effort well, it fizzed narrowly wide.
A goal was coming for the visitors and it duly arrived seconds before the break. Angelo Balanta delivered a deep cross from the right that was powered home at the back post by Shakes.
Shakes turned provider ten minutes after the restart with a cross to the far post and Smith’s downward header somehow found the bottom corner through a crowd of players.
Fylde found a leveller when Henry Jones nicked the ball away from his marker in the middle and fed Jonny Smith, who fired an unstoppable left-footed strike into the far top corner. Rowe almost grabbed the headlines when he launched a set-piece through the wall, only to see it superbly kept out by Smith. Both managers shared a similar verdict but Fylde boss Dave Challinor wanted to see more from his troops: “We will definitely take a point from that game. We wanted to avoid defeat and we probably feel a little disappointed in the end because we could have nicked it. “We wanted to show this league what we can do. However, we earned a point even though we didn’t play particularly well, so I’ll take that. Wood manager Luke Garrard said: “I have to admit that I would have taken a point before the game. Fylde have a real winning habit and I’m pleased with our performance, as I am with the result.”