CRAWFORD COMPLETES FIGHTBACK
A FRANTIC afternoon at Mill Farm saw AFC Fylde come from a goal down to keep their promotion hopes alive.
Ryan Upward gave a much-improved Maidenhead a shock tenth-minute lead, only for the Coasters to grind out victory courtesy of a goal in each half from Danny Rowe and Tom Crawford.
“We expected it to be tough,” said Fylde boss Dave Challinor. “The worst thing you can do in games like this is give them a goal first, which is what we did.
“Second half we got the goal and saw the game out, but I wasn’t overly happy with how we did it, as we almost left it to chance.”
The Magpies dominated the early stages so it was no surprise they went in front, thanks a sweet volley from just inside the box from Upward that nestled it into the back of the net beyond Jay Lynch.
Fylde were nearly level instantly, however, as their first real move of the game saw Nick Haughton and Zaine Francis-Angol combine, playing in Alex Reid, whose powerful effort from close in was deflected narrowly over.
But the Coasters did manage to break through on the halfhour mark, however – Rowe made the most of a Reid lay-off, twisting and turning in the box, before firing it low past Carl Pentney for his 23rd goal of the season.
“Rowe’s the top scorer in the league and he showed it.He had one clear-cut chance, and took it,” said Maidenhead assistant manager Sam Lock.
“Although I felt we could have defended it better, it was a very, very good goal,” The second half began with the ball in the net, as Remy Clerima’s cross found Adrian Clifton in plenty of space – nodding home from five yards only to be flagged for offside. The Coasters responded well with a flowing passing move resulting in Francis-Angol forcing a fine save from Pentney, but the Magpies keeper could do nothing about Crawford’s winner on 57 minutes with a fine effort from the edge of the box. Maidenhead responded well, with a host of set-pieces, with James Comley’s delivery continuing to cause problems. And they almost forced an equaliser when Josh Kelly found himself free in the box, but he couldn’t fashion an effort goalwards. “Ultimately we didn’t play to the level that we have done in the previous weeks, and they are a good side who dominate games at home,” reflected Lock.