FAB FYLDE PASS TEST IN PEGGING BACK BEES
IN the closing moments, a Danny Rowe drive from the edge of the penalty area nearly gave Flyde a victory at The Hive, but both teams will need to be satisfied with a point apiece.
The Coasters finished the stronger outfit with the impressive Joe Cardle wasteful when the goal was at his mercy and a thunderbolt of a shot from Rowe struck an upright so nearly saw all three points heading for Lancashire.
A marvellously executed goal by the recalled Shaq Coulthirst broke the deadlock in the 20th minute. The striker showed good technique in controlling a high ball, heading goalwards before rifling a low left-footed drive into the bottom corner.
Barnet’s lead would last only four minutes before Daniel Phiiliskirk’s deft near-post header from Cardale’s excellent delivery from the right levelled the scores.
The Bees were impressive in the opening exchanges, but the visitors’ neat passing style was easy on the eye and slowly the Coasters became more than a match for John Still’s team.
Daniel Philliskirk was central to much of Flyde’s good play, constantly probing and looking to play inventive passes forward.
He was matched in midfield by Barnet’s Jack Taylor who was the creative fulcrum for the home side.
Dave Challinor, the Flyde manager, felt that the heavy rain aided and abetted the spectacle saying: “It was a brilliant day for football, the pitch was fantastic, the surface was that bit slicker with the rain.
“We reacted well to the setback of conceding a goal to get back in it, there were key moments at the back end of the game with Joe missing an open goal and then Rowey hit one that crashed into the post. To play the way we did was really pleasing. It was a close, tight game. “We have come a long way as a club when we can go home being disappointed that we have drawn.” Darren Currie, the Bees’ assistant manager added: “Both teams could feel that they had opportunities to win the game, they hit the post late on and one of their lads missed a tapin, but we had our chances as well. “I thought we played very well, we created opportunities to score more goals, but on the day, we weren’t quite ruthless enough in front of goal. “We need to improve in the final third, but we are looking solid everywhere else with the middle three moving the ball very well.”