COASTERS SURVIVE A SCARE!
NICK Haughton’s moment of magic was enough to see AFC Fylde into the last 16 of the FA Trophy at the hands of a desperately unlucky Biggleswade Town.
Haughton smashed home a fine 25-yard winner three minutes before half-time – his first goal since joining thre Coasters on loan from Salford City.
But Southern Premier Biggleswade rocked their National League hosts on more than one occasion – Joe White smashing an effort against the crossbar and Bradley Bell somehow heading wide in a tense finale.
“I’m immensely proud of the performance we’ve put in,” said Waders boss Lee Allinson.
“But that probably sums up our season in terms of not taking chances, and the reason we’ve probably drawn nine or ten games this year.”
White, the former Dagenham & Redbridge striker, gave the Coasters an early taster with a low drive goalwards which kept keeper Russ Griffiths alert.
The Waders continued to add pressure and almost took the lead again when an unmarked White nodded a superb cross from Jack Bradshaw agonisingly wide.
Just before half-time, however, it was the Coasters who took the lead. Finding space in the middle, Haughton sized up his effort from outside of the box before powering it beyond the helpless Sam Donkin
“It was the one time we got caught over the wrong side of the pitch, and he skipped past our midfield and got the shot away,” Allinson moaned. “It’s that that one lapse that has cost us.”
Buoyed by the goal, Fylde started the second half the brighter with Haughton unlucky not to double his tally, before setting Serhat Tasdemir through one-onone, only for the teenager to fire wide.
The Waders’ best opportunity came after a misjudged defensive header from Jordan Tunnicliffe allowed White a golden chance to level the scores. Bearing down on goal, White sent a well-timed half-volley thundering back off the crossbar, with Griffiths well beaten.
Although chances started to appear for both sides, it was again Biggleswade who seemed most likely to score the second.
Bell was presented with the best opportunity when he headed wide from just five yards, with only four minutes to go.
AFC Fylde manager Dave Challinor was not so complimentary about his team, and posed serious questions to them.
“If they look back in five or ten years and ask why [they weren’t successful], then look in the mirror – the answer is straight in front of them.
“We shouldn’t have won the game, because we did so many things wrong. If they’re the levels we’re gonna get to, then we are gonna get hammered in the next two games.”