AFC Fylde tasted defeat for the second match in the space of a few days after a 2-0 loss to Kidderminster Harriers at Mill Farm.
It wasn’t a dream start for the Coasters when after three minutes, Amari Morgan-Smith found space to break free from Emeka Obi and rifle into the top corner from the edge of the area.
Fylde weren’t their usual selves, and that left Kidderminster to add a second of the afternoon after a corner in from the right wasn’t dealt with by the Coasters inside the six-yard, with Morgan-Smith heading in his second of the afternoon.
Adam Murray made three changes to the side that fell to a narrow defeat against Spennymoor Town on Good Friday. In came, Emeka Obi, Nick Haughton & Bartosz Cybulski for Pierce Bird, Luke Charman & Siya Ligendza.
Things didn’t get off to the best of starts for the Coasters, who after three minutes, found themselves a goal down when a loose ball was pounced upon by Morgan-Smith, who lashed in ferociously from the edge of the area into the top corner.
It appeared that the visitors were spurred on further as Joe Leesley was allowed time to travel forward and swerve an effort at goal, leaving Chris Neal to produce a good stop at the last second.
Fylde weren’t at their best in the first half, and things were about to get worse when Morgan-Smith added his and Harriers’ second of the afternoon, with the striker heading in on the goalline from a corner.
Half-Time: AFC Fylde 0-2 Kidderminster Harriers
The Coasters had to come out on the front foot as soon as the whistle sounded for the restart, and that’s what they did.
Nick Haughton picked the ball up in the centre circle and fed substitute Luke Charman down the left, and as the number nine burst into the area, he unleashed a fierce shot towards the near post, which Dibble got down to well and parried away.
Kidderminster still looked dangerous as they continued to defend their lead from the front, and it was Ash Hemmings who came forward to cut in from the right and test Neal, though he gathered at the second attempt after spilling the initial shot.
Fylde were the much-better side in the second half, and there were numerous chances for Murray’s men, with Connor Barrett first denied by a wall of dark blue shirts before Haughton stepped up to a free-kick and fired inches over the bar from around 25 yards.
If there was a team to get the next goal, it would have been the Coasters. Haughton picked up the ball on the edge of the area and dropped a shoulder before seeing a left-footed effort deflect wide.
However, the Kidderminster defence stood firm throughout the 90, with Luke Charman going closest in the final ten minutes but getting no reward for his efforts.
Full-Time: AFC Fylde 0-2 Kidderminster Harriers
AFC Fylde: Neal, Obi, Whitmore (46’ Whitehead), Davis, Conlan, Barrett, Philliskirk, Hatfield (46’ Charman), Rowley, Haughton, Cybulski (61’ Delfouneso).
Unused subs: Pike, Walker, Delfouneso
Kidderminster Harriers: Dibble, Penny, Richards, Knight-Percival, Pearce, Byrne, Foulkes, Brown, Leesley (90’ Martin), Morgan-Smith, Hemmings (90+3’ Bearne).
Unused Subs: Palmer, Leak, Hall
