BATTLING BACK IN A
AFC Fylde stay top of the table despite having to settle for a point against a resolient Chester in an entertaining affair at Mill Farm.
Connor Barrett put the Coasters ahead with an exquisite curling effort on the stroke of half-time.
But after a stoppage due to a medical emergency, seasoned striker Kurt Willoughby slotted home into an empty net to hand the play-off chasing Blues a share of the spoils.
Fylde made the brighter start and almost took the lead early when Danny Whitehead burst down the line and skidded a low ball into the area. Luke Conlan arrived late but could only shoot wide from 12 yards out.
Barrett’s shot from the edge of the area suffered the same fate before Chester conjured up their first effort of the game when captain Declan Weeks cut inside past Curtis Weston and aimed a curling shot towards the top corner, drifting just wide.
The best chance of the half, however, fell to the Coasters after a clever backheel from Nick Haughton allowed Conlan to cross towards Mo Faal inside the six-yard box but he couldn’t direct his header past keeper Harry Tyrer.
But just when Chester could think of going into half-time with parity, Barrett charged down a loose ball, chopped on to his left foot and curled a peach of a strike off the crossbar and into the back of the net.
Chester had a few penalty claims waved away by referee John Mulligan before an incensed away end alerted to the official to a medical emergency, forcing the players off the field.
Tensions remained high once the game restarted and Chester duly levelled on 66 minutes when Willoughby was allowed time and space to pounce on a long ball upfield and slot into the net.
Chester went in search of a second full of confidence. Matty Williams drove a first-time strike at goal but a flurry of Coasters shirts charged him down and blocked superbly.
Fylde, however, went close themselves amid a tense finale whenHaughton was brought down on the edge of the area and as his free-kick appeared to be nestling in, Tyrer scurried across his line to bat away well.
Haughton was allowed one last chance from a free-kick following a foul on Curtis Weston around 25 yards out, while an off-balance Faal, couldn’t direct a header goalwards in stoppage time, leaving the teams settling for a good point.
★★★★★