Arnold and Fylde looking to extend winning run

Paul Arnold is hoping that his Fylde side can build upon their momentum as they welcome a high flying Esher to Woodlands this weekend.

Fylde had begun the season with four defeats from their first five games, but back to back wins against Rosslyn Park and Coventry have given the Lancashire side a platform to work from for the rest of the season.

Woodlands is sure to be a tough place for Esher to come and visit on Saturday, but having won five of their seven matches so far, they are now just three points of the top and will have their sights set on another victory.

Fylde have won two of their four games at home this season and Arnold hopes his side can keep up their winning ways, but says they must stay focused.

“We are going to look to keep the momentum building,” he said. “I think one of our downfalls in the past has been complacency so we want the lads to remain levelled headed.

“We are not world beaters because we have now won two games. Three weeks ago, we got beat at home in the last minute and we got punished up front so we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves.

“I think Esher have recruited well and have a few players from Harlequins so they are going to be a tough team, but if we play like I know we can play, we can beat anyone in this league.”

Since their loss to Hartpury College in Round Two, Fylde have been unlucky in the other defeats they have suffered this season having lost two games in the final minutes of matches.

But Arnold knew that the win was coming and the fact they have come against two of the promotion favourites is an added bonus for Fylde.

He added: “The win has been building for a few weeks. If you look at Hartpury where we were well and truly beaten, the other three losses we have had, we have picked up bonus points and two of which we have lost in injury time.

“I wasn’t too worried and we’ve got a bit of personnel back with the likes of David Fairbrother and Even Stewart. They bring a lot of experience to the side so I felt like it was coming and both wins against Coventry and Rosslyn Park were great.”

“Against Coventry, I think we fronted up well. Dominic Moon came into the back row and probably had his best game for us since his move from Preston along with Mark Goodman and Dave Fairbrother.”

Fylde brought in a lot of new personnel over the summer and it has taken a while for everything to click into place for Arnold and his team.

It was clear the side were still in the embryonic stages in the early weeks of the season, but now they are starting to find their feet as two wins has seen move on to the cusp of the top half.

And Arnold revealed an interesting coaching method which he has adopted since taking over the reins at the club.

Arnold said: “We’ve brought in about five or six new lads so it is going to take a bit of time to gel. It obviously has taken a bit of time for us to get them up to how we train and play.

“Everyone is now singing from the same song sheet. We are a very play led group so for new players coming into a group like that it’s hard to kind of adjust and getting used to being told what to do all the time.

"The three coaches – me, Warren Spragg and Alex Loney we just stood and watched them train and didn’t tell them anything. They took control of their own training, their own boundaries, their own limits and we left it like that. We are not after 15 coaches, but we are after decision makers on the pitch.

“We are a young squad and I am by the far the oldest player which is a bit of a worry! We are in a building phase.

“I think when anyone comes into a new club and takes over from some who was successful like Mark Nelson was, it’s going to take a bit of time so we will see where we finish and we can then push on from there.

Along with Fylde v Esher this Saturday, there is still all full programme of National One fixtures so here is a preview of the rest of the action.

Hartpury College v Darlington Mowden Park

Hartpury College will be hopeful that they can go into the first break of the season as league leaders when they take on Darlington Mowden Park on Saturday. Hartpury have won their last six matches, and go into this game against DMP who will be buoyed by their win against Loughborough Students last week.

Amazingly, DMP have played five of their first seven games away from home so far this season and only have two wins to their name.

Loughborough Students v Blackheath

Blackheath will be waiting in the wings if Hartpury are to slip up at home as they travel to a Loughborough Students side that are struggling for form once again.

‘Heath have lost only once this season, but had to battle hard to beat Wharfedale last week and that concentration and focus will be key again this weekend.

Richmond v Henley Hawks

Richmond are going about their work very nicely as we enter the final game of October. They have the chance to turn up the heat on the three sides above them when they host Henley Hawks this weekend.

Henley were blown away by Hartpury in the second half last weekend and will be looking for a complete 80 minute performance this Saturday as they go in search of win number four of the season.

Wharfedale v Ampthill and District

Wharfedale have only won twice this season, but were very unfortunate not to have made that three last weekend against Blackheath after an excellent performance. This Saturday they face another tough challenge when they host Ampthill.

Since promotion via the National Two play-off, The A’s have done well so far but after an unbeaten start to the season, they have now lost their last two matches and will want to avoid making that a habit.

Coventry v Rosslyn Park

Coventry and Rosslyn Park have struggled to find their form from last season so far this campaign. Both sides were early favourites for promotion, but we are yet to see what they are truly capable of.

There is no doubt that this will be a close match with the teams lying in seventh and sixth place respectively.

Coventry know with a win they can leapfrog Park whereas Rosslyn will want to keep hunting down the front-runners.

Hull Ionains v Blaydon

Hull Ionains have had a very mixed start to life in National One after being crowned National Two North champions last season.  

Just one win in their last four matches has seen them slip slightly down the table, but the I’s have been formidable at Brantingham Park over the last year.

Despite being bottom, Blaydon have performed extremely over the last two weeks and were very close to getting something away at Plymouth Albion. It could only be a matter of time before the side from the North-East secures their second win of the season.

Plymouth Albion v Cinderford

After a much needed boost away at Blaydon last week, Plymouth Albion now return home to take on a Cinderford side who are level on points with bottom club Blaydon.

Cinderford narrowly escaped relegation last season and really need to start turning their fortunes around if they are to avoid the same sort of scenario this campaign. However, this will certainly be a tough assignment for Cinderford.