Bradley aims to continue living the dream at Fylde

The 25-year-old, who signed last week from Alfreton Town for a club-record five-figure sum, was thrown straight into Dave Challinor’s starting line-up for the visit of Gainsborough Trinity and scored in the 3-1 victory.

That goal completed Fylde’s comeback from 1-0 down as they Coasters remain top of National League North on goal difference. They can pull three points clear with victory in tonight’s rearranged game at Stockport. Winger Bradley said: “I was delighted to score. It was a bit of a difficult afternoon for us because they came to try and sit back and nick a result.

“It made it even more difficult when they got the goal because they became even tougher to break down.

“I think that will happen a lot this year, so we’ve got to get used to it, but overall I’m delighted to win and to score on my debut.

“I come from a team that perhaps plays in a similar way to Gainsborough, so I know that teams will come and do that. The sooner we get used to it as a group the better. If we can react like that in every game we’ll have a decent season.

“The more goals everyone can chip in with the better, rather than relying on one person (a reference to 17-goal striker Danny Rowe). If we can score as a team, that will only help us.”

The goal takes Bradley’s total to eight for the season and he added: “I was really pleased to get the move done.

“I heard about it last Saturday and then Monday-Tuesday was sorting out the move, then on Wednesday I came down to sign. It was just nice to train on Thursday and Friday back into full-time and then to play Saturday.”

Bradley is keen to help Fylde continue their unbeaten start tonight. He said: “Stockport is a nice place to go and I’m sure there will be a decent crowd. I’ve already played there this year with Alfreton and I think we can definitely get a result. That’s the main thing now – picking up points.”

Manager Dave Challinor admits his planning for tonight’s game is affected by the fact it is followed by an 11-day break from action.

Fylde’s first-hurdle FA Cup exit means they face a blank weekend and don’t play again until they visit Kidderminster on Saturday week. Challinor said: “I suppose the preparation for Stockport differs a little bit because we don’t have a game on the Saturday. Being out of the cup gives us options in terms of what we do in training.

“We can integrate injured players back into the squad and integrate Dan into the squad as well.”

“We’ll have 19 or 20 players available for Kidderminster, and there are 16 places in the squad and 11 starting shirts.

“People have to make sure that they are in one of them and that won’t be done just on ability. It will be about attitude in training, about people doing the right things and wanting to be a part of it.”

DANIEL AGNEW