By Liam Morgan
AFC FYLDE manager Dave Challinor is urging his players to ensure they remain in the race for an unprecedented treble with a victory against Blyth Spartans tomorrow.
The Coasters are on a staggering 22-match unbeaten run and clinched the Doodson Sports Cup with a 1-0 win over fellow Evo-Stik NPL Premier side Skelmersdale United on Monday.
They also lifted the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy in March, pictured here, and on their most recent cup win, Challinor said: “We made changes ahead of the league game on Wednesday but the players that came in were superb.
“In all honesty we didn’t play that well but we won the game and the cup and that’s all that matters.
“It was important we kept our run going as we’ve got a big game against Blyth and we’ve still got a chance of winning the league.”
The Coasters are however relying on current league leaders Chorley slipping up in their remaining three matches if they are to seal a remarkable treble.
Despite their recent run of form which has included 19 victories, Challinor is taking one match at a time – and admits promotion through the play-offs remains their most likely path into the Skrill North.
He said: “It’s out of our hands but the worst case scenario would be that we finish in the play-offs which was the minimum aim at the start of the season.
“We’ve probably run out of games and expecting Chorley to drop points is a big ask although they have got a couple of tricky away games.
“We’ve got to make sure we take care of business tomorrow night and give ourselves the best chance over the Easter weekend.
“Our players are definitely up for the challenge and we’ll do everything we can and just hope results go our way.”
A win at home to Spartans would see the Coasters close the gap on rivals Chorley to three points with three games of the season remaining.
