GOLD-EN RESCUES
AN END-TO-END spectacle between the National League North’s top two saw AFC Fylde and King’s Lynn serve up a thriling draw at Mill Farm.
Fylde boss Adam Murray saw his side surrender a 3-1 lead and told The NLP: “For the neutral I imagine it was an unbelievable game to watch.
“First half it was the best performance we have had. It probably should have been 6-0.
“At half-time we were still in control but when you are going for a title then they are always going to come back at you.
“But the reaction was there from Tuesday and we have got a third of the season still to go.”
Nick Haughton began proceedings in confident fashion and found Luke Conlan at the back post from a corner for him to knock the ball back into the six-yard box and into Alex Whitmore’s path, who took a touch to shoot, but Paul Jones raced off his line and was there to collect.
Murray’s men drew first blood in the battle when a throw into the area from Connor Barrett was flicked on by Danny Whitehead into the path of Mo Faal, who on the half-turn, volleyed into the bottom corner.
With Fylde looking dangerous in attack, King’s Lynn pulled one back against the run of play after a clever reverse ball behind the Coasters back line was latched on to by Ben Stephens for him to take one touch and lift over the goalkeeper Chris Neal.
As the half-time break approached, the game livened up further, with the Coasters scoring two in quick succession when Conlan turned in at the far post from Faal’s header back across goal.
There was more jubilation when Haughton picked himself up after being fouled by Adam Crowther to see his free-kick deflect off the wall nestle into the far corner of the net to give the home side a healthy lead at the interval.
Despite a quieter start to the second half, things took a turn once again when King’s Lynn pulled a goal back through Barrett after he was left free to run into the box and cutely strike across goal to ripple the net.
The Coasters hadn’t really threatened in the half, which King’s Lynn took advantage of when a high ball hung up in the air wasn’t dealt with by the Fylde defence, allowing the ever-dangerous Gold Omotayo to let the ball drop and volley into the far corner to earn a draw on the road for the Linnets.