A battling display from AFC Fylde saw the club twice come from behind to earn a superb victory.

In front of a bumper crowd of 305 at Kellamergh Park, both sides started brightly, with the best chance of the opening exchanges falling to the away side, as Keddie saw his effort deflected away by Lawlor, after Turner’s cross had only been half cleared by the Fylde defence. Byrne came close for the visitors on 12 minutes, but his shot across goal went wide.

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Tom Read had to make his first save in the Trafford goal on 22 minutes, comfortably claiming Elderton’s optimistic effort from 25 yards. 3 minutes later, Read was called in to action again as Walywyn’s low effort from the edge of the area had to be flicked away, after Kay had been allowed to run 60 yards unchallenged. From the resulting Milligan corner, Mahoney’s clever flick had to be cleared away from danger.

On 37 minutes, Walwyn outmuscled two Trafford defenders to burst into the area and then from a tight angle fire in a shot that was smothered by Read, although passing instead of shooting may have provided a better chance of a goal.

Three minutes before the interval, Trafford took the lead as after winning the ball inside their own half, the visitors went on a quick breakaway with several players combining to find Byrne, who rifled home past the diving Edge.

AFC Fylde improved after the restart and leveled on 53 minutes, when Captain Jamie Milligan unleashed a bending 25 yard free kick in to the top corner. The equaliser saw the game open up, with both teams playing attacking football. The visitors wasted a glorious opportunity to take the lead on 59 minutes, as the unmarked Bayunu headed wide from 6 yards out.

However, Trafford did eventually regain the lead four minutes later, as Turner’s shot took a deflection in the congested area, with Knight first on react to slide home.

Trafford’s lead didn’t last long as within 30 seconds the home side had leveled again, as slack defending had allowed debutant Townson room in the area. His dinked effort could only be flicked away by Read into the path of Matt Walwyn, who netted his 8th goal in 7 matches by firing the ball home. Both sides continued to create chances, with Joe Shaw’s audacious attempt from the half way line forcing Fylde keeper Edge to fingertip the effort over the crossbar.

On 73 minutes, the Coasters took the lead for the first time in the game, as Milligan’s corner was met by a bullet header from the unchallenged Mick Stringfellow. Walwyn had a chance to put the game out of site 5 minutes later after Milligan’s through pass and but the striker through on goal, but the youngster fired his effort wide.

Trafford piled on the pressure in the later stages, but despite their hard work they were unable to find the equaliser, with AFC Fylde holding on for the valuable 3 points.

TEAMS:
AFC FYLDE: Lewis Edge, Matt Lawlor, Ryan Elderton, Phil Doughty, Mick Stringfellow, Matt Kay, Matt Mahoney, Jamie Milligan ©, Danny Monckton (Kevin Townson 45), Matt Walwyn (John Hills 83), Mike Barnes
Unused subs: Joe Booth, Matutu Chilufya, Dave Stevenson
Goals: Jamie Milligan 53, Matt Walwyn 64, Mick Stringfellow 73
Bookings: Matt Mahoney 35, Matt Kay 87
TRAFFORD: Tom Read, Paul Ashton, Callum Byrne, Ryan Marley, Nia Bayunu, Kyle Harrop, Andy Lundy (Scott Barlow 75), Melford Knight (John Buckley 81), Mark Keddie, Joe Shaw ©, Tommy Turner
Unused subs: Tom Bailey, Warren Colliver, Chris Lawton
Goals: Callum Byrne 42, Melford Knight 63
Bookings: Ryan Marley 86

Attendance: 305

Referee: R. Pollock

Saturday’s result saw AFC Fylde move up in to 4th place in the Evo-Stick League Division One North, with 22 points having been accumulated from their opening 12 matches. The Coasters are next in action on Tuesday night, when Skelmersdale United are the visitors to Kellamergh Park in the Challenge Cup.