JIM AVOIDS A BANANA SKIN
JIM Bentley admitted his relief as AFC Fylde avoided a potential giantkilling from Dorking Wanderers to reach the FA Trophy last eight.
The holders trailed to James McShane’s only to turn the tables through Nick Haughton and Neill Byrne.
Back came Dorking with Matthew Briggs levelling at 2-2 on the hour but late strikes from Jordan Williams and then Haughton saw the Coasters home.
Naturally, Bentley was relieved to see off the National League South high-fliers but said he is still a long way off being satisfied.
“We are disappointed in regards of our performance because I expect better,” Bentley said.
“We have done well in the league and not got the results we needed and that was turned on its head here.
“We could have done a lot better but at this stage of the season results count. We scored four goals and could have scored more.”
Fylde have put up a strong defence of the Trophy all season and started the brighter here with a fine cross landing on a plate for Williams, but he misjudged his header.
And they were promptly punished on 22 minutes when Dorking took the lead. Trickery on the halfway line from Briggs saw him surge down the right-hand side, past two men, and rwhile his cross-shot was pushed away, McShane was on hand to tuck the loose ball home.
Fylde, however, hit back 13 minutes with Haughton turning creator. Having drawn a free-kick 30 yards from goal the nippy winger took aim and fired low and hard into the far corner.
Indeed, Dorking could not get to grips with Haughton and ten minutes after the restart he put the visitors in front. First, he forced Slavomir Huk into a fine save from 20 yards but the Slovakian could only palm the ball away and, following a goalmouth scramble, defender Byrne slammed into the roof of the net.
Five minutes later, it was 2-2 – and it came from nothing. Briggs looked to have overrun the ball but a poor clearance meant he was able to strike past Sam Hornby from eight yards.
Back came Fylde, however, and on 76 minutes they were back in front – Williams popping up in the right place at the right time to pounce on a Huk parry.
And man-of-the-match Haughton was to have the final say, burying his side’s killer fourth goal high into the net from inside the 18yard box high with nine minutes remaining.
“Nick is getting better and better,” added Bentley. “Last week he had seven shots in the first half but only hit the target once so he knows where he needs to improve and if he does that he will push on.”