MATCH PREVIEW | AFC FYLDE

The Champions head up to the Mill Farm Stadium this Monday for their final game of the 24/25 season, as they face AFC Fylde in the Vanarama National League.

Barnet FC:

Barnet FC were crowned Vanarama National League Champions on Saturday the 26^th of April as they secured a comfortable 4-0 victory against Aldershot Town in their last home match at The Hive Stadium this season.

Barnet started strongly, nearly scoring from an early Hartigan free kick before being awarded a penalty within the first 10 minutes of the match.

Mark Shelton slotted home the opener and doubled the lead from the spot minutes later, following another foul during a corner.

Aldershot looked to get a response in the game but were denied by the Owen Evans and the Bees backline.

In the second half, Shelton’s blocked shot fell to Callum Stead, who tapped in for 3–0.

Stead later headed in a fourth, with the ball judged to have crossed the line despite the Aldershot goalkeeper getting a touch to the ball.

As the game was coming to a close, a fully sold-out Hive Stadium cheered on as the Bees were crowned league champions and lifted the Vanarama National League trophy for the fourth time in the clubs history.

Barnet’s last five results:

Barnet FC 4-0 Aldershot Town

Sutton United 1-3 Barnet FC

Barnet FC 1-1 Eastleigh

Barnet FC 1-1 Wealdstone

Braintree Town 2-1 Barnet FC

From the dugout:

Connor Smith’s pre-match interview can be viewed HERE!

AFC Fylde:

AFC Fylde were defeated 4-3 by 10-man Tamworth on Saturday, conceding a 91^st last minute goal.

Tamworth’s Dan Creaney opened the scoring with a header, but the match turned when Tamworth’s goalkeeper, Jas Singh, was sent off for a foul on Bryce Hosannah, leading to a red card and a Fylde equalizer from Nick Haughton’s free kick.

Fylde then took the lead through Jolley and extended their advantage when Lincoln McFayden scored just before the break.

Tamworth responded in the second half, with Kennedy Digie pulling one back for the hosts just before halftime.

After missing a chance earlier, Creaney scored his second goal to level the match.

Despite late pressure from Fylde, Tamworth grabbed the winner in injury time when Kyle Finn bundled the ball in from close range, leaving Fylde with nothing after a dramatic second half.

AFC Fylde’s last five results:

Tamworth 4-3 AFC Fylde

Rochdale 0-0 AFC Fylde

AFC Fylde 0-1 FC Halifax Town

Woking 1-0 AFC Fylde

AFC Fylde 1-3 York City

In the opposition dugout:

AFC Fylde manager David Longwell will be in the dugouts for the hosts on Monday with his assistant Frankie McAvoy beside him.

Longwell became AFC Fylde’s Assistant Head Coach in January 2025 and stepped up as interim head coach in February 2025 after Kevin Phillips’ departure.

Ones to watch:

AFC Fylde’s attacking midfielder Nick Haughton is the clubs current top goal scorer this season, scoring 19 goals and assisting 12 in the league.

He has made 44 league appearances for The Coasters and is averaging a goal every 187 minutes this season.

Last time these two sides met:

Barnet sealed the three points against AFC Fylde back in September 2024 with a 2-0 win at The Hive Stadium.

Barnet started strong with early shots from Harry Chapman and Anthony Hartigan, but neither found the net.

Fylde responded with a breakaway, but Ethan Mitchell’s cross was just out of reach.

Zak Brunt had a shot saved by Ben Winterbottom, and Barnet’s Ryan Glover missed a header wide.

The best chance of the half came in the 41st minute when Callum Stead’s shot hit the post.

In the second half, Barnet continued to press, with Glover’s shot saved and Hartigan’s free kick cross narrowly missing its target.

Substitute Nicke Kabamba made an immediate impact, scoring the opener after rounding the keeper.

Barnet kept attacking, with Winterbottom denying Hartigan and Stead’s efforts, while Myles Kenlock’s shot went wide.

The win was sealed in the 95th minute when Callum Stead scored from Ben Coker’s cross to secure a 2-0 victory.

Dean Brennan and the Bees are determined to finish the season on another high note, aiming for a strong conclusion with reaching the 100 points mark.

Having already secured the Vanarama National League trophy, they will also be focused on preparing for playing in the EFL next season.