TOP TALENT ORMEROD IS FYLDE’S YOUNG GUN

TEENAGER Danny Ormerod helped maintain AFC Fylde’s hopes of pulling off a great escape.

The 17-year-old’s match-winner against second-placed Bromley helped inch the Coasters ever close to safety.

They have picked up 10 points from a possible 12 in January and are now only one point from safety – they were seven adrift at their lowest ebb.

Chris Beech, director of football who became head coach in October, was delighted with the victory and praised the players for buying into his philosophy.

“The lads are enjoying the football we want to play. They like it and it has invigorated them,” he explained.

“It is not the first time we have done it against a top side as we beat Oldham 3-0, but we have to keep doing it.”

Beech also pointed out that the victory and recent improved form has been achieved with a squad ravaged by injury with eight on the sidelines against Bromley saying they were down to their only last 16 available players.

Beech praised Ormerod, the youngster who was released by Blackpool aged 14 and who has come through the Coasters’ academy.

“He is a local lad from Bispham who comes from a great family, and he is a great prospect,” he said.

Bromley manager Andy Woodman was left frustrated and disappointed by a first league loss in 10 games since November.

“I cannot fault the work rate and endeavour, we that final bit of quality eluded us,” he said.

“We had enough chances not only to win two games but couldn’t put the ball in the net.”

And when they did, they had a 20th minute effort wrongly ruled out for offside – much to the annoyance of Woodman.

He added: “People will say it is a bad result which it is, but on another day we would have been out of sight.”

The match’s decisive moment came in the 11th minute when Ormerod netted his third senior goal.

Danny Whitehead made a lung-bursting forward run and released Ormerod who, from the right of the box, slotted a shot low past keeper Grant Smith.

The only surprise was that it was the only goal of the game.

The Coasters had some great chance to build on their lead in the opening period but lacked a cutting edge.

Fylde keeper Theo Richardson pulled of the save of the day with 18 minutes left to keep out Corey Whitely’s close-range effort.

Bromley keeper Grant Smith also had to be at his best to beat out a far-post header from Ormerod.

The Coasters came agonisingly close to a second when Ormerod’s shot on the turn crashed against the post and Burnley loanee Joe Westley, following up, forced a great save from Grant.

Bromley sub Mitchel Bergkamp had the chance to be an instant hero but fired narrowly over.