Matthews-Lewis double helps Fylde beat Hornchurch 3–1 and climb to fourth
Sunday 1 November 2026 · By Jon Haverstock
Fylde beat Hornchurch 3–1 on Friday night, with Matthews-Lewis scoring twice, and moved up to fourth in the Enterprise National League. They are level on 29 points with third-placed Southend United.
Hornchurch took the lead through Balanta in the 17th or 18th minute. Matthews-Lewis equalised in the 39th minute and made it 2–1 in first-half stoppage time, in the 47th minute. Morris scored the third in the 72nd minute. The order of the goals was 0–1, 1–1, 2–1, 3–1. The attendance was 1,151, according to the BBC.
It was Fylde’s ninth league win in 16 games and their second in a row, after a 3–1 win over Hartlepool United on Tuesday 27 October. The result lifted them from seventh to fourth in the table.
The table shows Fylde with 29 points from 16 games, with nine wins, two draws and five defeats. Southend United have the same number of points and are third on goal difference, which is +11 against Fylde’s +6. Boreham Wood lead the table on 44 points, 15 clear of Fylde, and second-placed Harrogate Town are three ahead. Altrincham hold seventh place on 28, so Fylde are one point above the last play-off place. Hartlepool United are 21st on 15, which is 14 points below Fylde.
Only the leaders are promoted automatically, and the clubs from second to seventh go into the play-offs. The form guide reads L L W L W W. Fylde have scored 30 goals and conceded 24.
Head coach Craig Mahon’s reaction was not available at the time of writing, so this account relies on the BBC and the PA report.
The next game is a tough draw in the FA Cup first round. Fylde travel to Harrogate Town on Saturday 7 November, with kick-off at 3pm GMT. It is the only tie in the round between two National League clubs, and Harrogate are second in the league. There is no league game that day.
Fylde then travel to Eastleigh on Saturday 14 November at 3pm and to Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday 21 November at 3pm. They host Halifax Town on Tuesday 24 November at 7.45pm and Aldershot Town on Saturday 28 November at 12.30pm. Three of their next four games are away from home, starting with Harrogate.
Fylde lost three of the four league games before this run of two wins, so the climb is a welcome one. With six clubs within three points of each other between third and eighth, the next few results will matter.
Mill Farm Sports Village is the purpose-built home of AFC Fylde, on Coronation Way in Wesham (PR4 3JZ). Opened in August 2016 as the centrepiece of a larger sports and retail development just off Junction 3 of the M55, it holds about 6,000 and is one of the more comfortable grounds on the non-league circuit. For visiting supporters the essentials are simple: away fans are housed in the South Stand, a covered terrace behind the goal, with food and drink kiosks in that end. Tickets are usually best bought online in advance; turnstiles are electronic, so you need a ticket (or a barcode) before you reach the reader.
The ground is easy to read once you are on site. The West Stand is the main seated grandstand, with around 2,000 seats, hospitality suites and the club’s better views. Opposite it, the East Stand is a covered terrace running the length of the pitch. Behind the far goal the North Stand is the home end — the noisiest part of the ground, often with a drum, and typically the cheapest home ticket. Your South Stand looks straight onto that goalmouth. The pitch itself is a full-size grass surface (about 107 by 69 metres). Views are generally good: the stands were built without a forest of roof supports, and the curved black-and-white cladding gives the place a neat, modern look rather than a ramshackle non-league feel.
Getting there by car is straightforward. Leave the M55 at Junction 3 and follow the A585 for less than a mile. The official postcode is PR4 3JZ. Matchday parking in the North Stand car park is free on a first-come, first-served basis; once that fills, an overflow car park is usually charged at around £5. Do not use the Aldi car park next door — restrictions are enforced and tickets are common. Kirkham & Wesham railway station is about half a mile away, a 10–15 minute walk, with regular Northern services towards Preston, Manchester and Blackpool. Local buses (including the 61) stop a short walk from the site.
Turnstiles generally open an hour and a half before kick-off. Cash and cards are both accepted. On the complex itself you will find Bradley’s sports bar (large screens, food, and usually open to away supporters unless a particular fixture is segregated more tightly), plus Milano’s, Aroma café, and the usual matchday kiosks in the away end. Retail on the same site includes Aldi, KFC, Greggs and a petrol station — useful if you arrive early, but again, park only where the club directs you. Nearby wet-weather options if the on-site bar is busy include the Lane Ends on Weeton Road and pubs around Wesham centre near the station (Royal Oak, Stanley Arms).
Expect a search on the way in. Large bags, flares and fireworks are prohibited, and smoking inside the ground will get you ejected. Programmes are typically sold on the day. Accessible seating is in the West Stand and should be booked ahead; all four sides have step-free routes and toilets, including accessible toilets, in each stand. Stewards are used to first-time visitors and will point you to the South Stand if you arrive at the wrong bank of turnstiles. Allow a little extra time if you are buying on the day: ticket office first, then the barcode gates.
Mill Farm is a compact, well-run ground rather than a fortress of atmosphere, but the South Stand is close to the pitch and you will hear the home end clearly across the grass. Arrive early if you want a rail, a hot drink and a look at the village facilities. Check AFC Fylde’s site before you travel for the latest ticket prices, segregation notes and whether Bradley’s is open to away fans for your fixture — those details change with the size of the travelling support.