FORTESS OF MILL FARM IS COASTERS’ SANCTUARY

AFC FYLDE maintained their terrific home record with a convincing victory over struggling Braintree Town at Mill Farm.

Goals from Serhat Tasdemir, Danny Philliskirk and Danny Rowe secured the points for the Coasters who never really got out of second gear.

Boss Dave Challinor kept faith with the same team that drew 0-0 at FC Halifax on Tuesday night and his faith was rewarded after 11 minutes.

Tasdemir picked up the ball on the edge of the box before placing the ball nicely into the bottom left corner out of the reach of Killip.

Braintree responded and went close through Mohammed Bettamer’s 25 yard strike which swerved just over the crossbar and a wonder save from Jay Lynch denied a powerful header from Joe Ellul from six yards.

A poor touch from Ryan Croasdale gave Mohammed Bettamer a huge chance to level but his quickly taken shot was pounced on by Lynch.

A change in referees just before the break due to illness couldn’t halt the Coasters’ momentum and they doubled their lead five minutes after the break. A superb cross from the right from Arlen Birch was met perfectly by Philliskirk who guided his header past Killip from 12 yards.

Braintree had a golden opportunity to half the deficit as Bettamer was slipped through one on one but he slid the ball narrowly wide of the far left post. Goalscorer Tasdemir was then replaced by Ash Hemmings before the Coasters made it safe a few minutes later. This time a cross from the left from Joe Cardle found Rowe who powered a header into the near left corner. Rowe almost doubled his tally when he turned his marker on the left hand side of the penalty area before curling his shot just wide of the far right post with Hemmings just out of reach. Half chances for Francis-Angol and Cardle followed with the game reaching its conclusion whilst up the other end Braintree used their aerial advantage to test Lynch from several corners. The final whistle signified another three points at Mill Farm for the Coasters who move back into the final play-off place. Challinor said: “It was a poor first half by our standards, about as bad a first half as it’s been. But in the second half the lads took on board what we said and we managed the second half really well. We’d been working on crossing and finishing from crosses on Thursday and it’s paid dividends today with two good goals.” The result leaves Brad Quinton’s Braintree bottom of the table ahead of their home clash with Eastleigh on Saturday. STAR MAN: Zaine Francis-Angol (AFC Fylde) ATT: 1,535 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Peter Gibbons 7/10