HARROGATE TOWN 1 AFC FYLDE 2

DANNY ROWE’S stoppage-time penalty propelled him to the top of the goalscoring charts going into the new year – and AFC Fylde to third place in the table.

Rowe had earlier seen a penalty kick saved by James Belshaw, but had the last laugh after mark Beck had earlier equalised his 47thminute opener.

“Despite his first miss from the spot, Rowe has shown a lot of character and stuck it away,” said Coasters boss Dave Challinor. “We didn’t start the best, but after 15 minutes we got a foothold and played some decent stuff.”

Opposite number Simon Weaver looked to had secured a point with the introduction of Beck, who struck eight minutes from time to cancel out Rowe’s earlier freekick, though the late goal did nothing to bring cheer to the frustrated home boss.

“The lads showed tremendous spirit and character to battle their way back into the game,” Weaver said.

“The first half an hour we were superb at times and really got them on the back foot, we could have gone in at half-time with a convincing score line but it wasn’t to be.”

Both sides struck the goal frame in the first half as Joe Leesley’s shot was turned towards his own goal by Fylde captain Neill Byrne, just a few minutes before Zaine Francis-Angol’s cross was knocked back across goal into the path of Rowe, whose strike fired back off the bar.

The first shot on target of the day produced the first goal as, two minutes into the second half, Rowe curled a free-kick past Belshaw from 30 yards.

Fylde had the chance to double their lead when Nick Haughton was brought down by Josh Falkingham, though Rowe’s spot-kick was kept out by Belshaw.

Town’s equaliser arrived eight minutes from time as Beck finished well on the turn.

With stoppage time looming, Fylde were awarded another spot kick as sub Serhat Tasdemir went down under the challenge of Warren Burrell. Liam Kitching was shown two yellow cards in succession and Rowe made him pay by firing confidently down the middle for his 18th of the season.