AFC Fylde returned to winning ways in the National League North when they secured a 3-1 victory over Farsley Celtic at Mill Farm.

Proceedings got off to a flyer when a clipped ball over the top of the Farsley defence by Danny Whitehead was met by the perfectly timed run of Siya Ligendza, who expertly headed over Max Dearnley and into the net.

That was quickly followed up by a well-worked corner routine that saw Nick Haughton pick out the late run of Connor Barrett, who thumped a low-driven shot into the back of the net.

Farsley managed to grab one back through Tom Allen from a corner soon after, but following a first-half substitution made by Murray where Will Hatfield replaced Mo Faal, Hatfield made an instant impact, following up on the rebound from Haughton’s effort to add a third of the night.

Adam Murray made one change from the 3-3 draw with King’s Lynn Town, with Siya Ligendza replacing Dan Malone, who took a place on the bench.

Thinking back to Saturday afternoon, the start to this clash was a lot quieter, but when presented with the first chance of the game, the Coasters carried out what Head Coach Adam Murray had asked for by being ruthless in front of goal.

When Danny Whitehead picked the ball up in the middle of the park, he spotted the perfectly timed run of Siya Ligendza, who thought quickly to head over and lob Dearnley.

Really good play from the Coasters followed the goal, which saw Siya Ligendza do well to wriggle out of a tight situation and switch play to Jordan Cranston for him to cut in on his right foot and force Dearnley into an acrobatic save to his left.

Despite the few chances in the game, Fylde was making the ones that they did get count. A clever corner routine allowed Nick Haughton to find Barrett on the edge of the area, who made a late dart from the back and thumped into the bottom corner from just outside the area.

It wasn’t a meeting that either side had full control of so far, and Farsley made sure they were still in the clash when a corner floated to the back post found the head of Allan and then the back of the net.

A half chance from Kian Scales after he took on the spectacular from distance, only to be kept out by Neal, spurred the Coasters on to grabbing a third on the stroke of half-time.

Nick Haughton pounced on a pass to the edge of the box to take on a first-time shot and test Dearnley, who parried away but only to the feet of Hatfield for him to convert at the near post.

Half-Time: AFC Fylde 3-1 Farsley Celtic

It took a good five minutes or so for the Coasters to get into their stride, where they almost let Farsley back in after Carlton Ubaezuonu flashed a ball across the face of goal, which Neal watched sail away from goal.  

Nick Haughton took it upon himself minutes later to get Murray’s side moving forward, and after he fizzed a pass into Hatfield, he found Barrett on the right for him to take one touch and zip a shot across the face of goal and wide of the mark.

Murray’s side seemed to have settled into the second 45 as the clock ticked down, and they almost grabbed a fourth after Danny Philliskirk intercepted a pass out from the back and hit an unlikely dipping strike inches wide of the post.

That was followed by Haughton looking to get himself on the scoresheet when he latched onto Barrett’s pass and hit a strike towards the top corner, which Dearnley scrambled across his line and got a good hand to, with the Coasters seeing the game out to take all three points.

Full-Time: AFC Fylde 3-1 Farsley Celtic  

AFC Fylde: Neal; Obi, Whitmore, Conlan, Cranston (76’ Davis), Barrett (73’ Walker), Philliskirk, Haughton, Whitehead, Ligendza, Faal (44’ Hatfield).

Unused subs: Malone, Rowley.

Farsley Celtic: Dearnley, Turner, Scales (80’ Wallace), Johnson, Butler, Allan, Clayton, Atkinson, Ubaezuonu, Mulhern (60 Williams), Devine (73’ Jessop).

Unused Subs: Parkin, Butroid.