Analysis from around the grounds in the leagues
AFC FYLDE leapfrogged Dover Athletic into the play-offs with a superb win at Mill Farm.
The Coasters had lost their place in the top seven of the National League table after backto-back defeats, however goals from Danny Rowe, Serhat Tasdemir and James Hardy cancelled out Mitch Pinnock’s opener and ensured Chris Kinnear’s 1,500th game as a manager ended badly for him.
Fylde manager Dave Challinor was delighted that his side’s hard work paid dividends: “We knew if we kept plugging away then we would get some joy. Thankfully we got what we deserved in the final 20 minutes. We had some real firepower on the bench and that proved to be the difference.
Dover stalwart Kinnear said: “We came out after the break, looked quite lively and scored a decent goal. When we went 2-1 down we had a bit of a go but they hit us with another at the end. The table is still very tight and it should be an interesting finish to the season.”
Dover enjoyed some early pressure and a loose ball almost fell perfectly to Pinnock, but Jay Lynch was quick off his line to claim at the winger’s feet.
Rowe hit back with a real chance when picked out by a perfectly weighted pass from Finley, but goalkeeper Mitch Walker made a fine point-black save.
There was little in the game as half-time approached although both sides had chances to make the breakthrough. Finley’s left-footed strike from the 18-yard line almost squirmed underneath Walker, while Ryan Bird dragged a strike just wide of the far post up at the other end. Despite offering little going forward after the restart, it was the visitors who took the lead. Josh Passley drove down the right before delivering a delightful cross to the back post that was harder to miss for Pinnock. A moment of magic was required to drag the hosts back into the contest. Top scorer Rowe beat his marker , nicked the ball past another challenge and placed a fine left-footed strike into the opposite corner from 18 yards. The comeback was complete when Tasdemir, introduced just five minutes earlier, lashed a low shot past the helpless Walker. The result was put to bed in added time – Tasdemir was unlucky to see his effort across goal come back off the post, but thankfully fellow substitute Hardy was on hand to slot home the rebound.