Goals from Jon Ustabasi (x2) and Connor Barrett lifted AFC Fylde out of the Vanarama National League bottom four with a fantastic 3-1 victory away at Dorking Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.
Ustabasi scored twice late in the first-half which sent the Coasters on their way to an important three points before Barrett added a third after half-time. Matt Briggs was on the scoresheet for Dorking in the 95th minute.
Head Coach Chris Beech named an unchanged side from last weekend’s home win over Bromley for the visit to Dorking.
Fylde threatened within the opening two minutes after Barrett pounced on a loose ball to cross into the box which just evaded Joe Westley in the box.
Barrett would himself create Fylde’s first chance of the contest, however his attempt went wide.
With 18 minutes played, Jason Prior connected with Taylor’s deep free-kick to whip an effort at goal, which Sam Graham did well to head clear.
Marc White’s Wanderers should have led on the half hour when James Muitt drove down the right to find Charlie Carter, who from a matter of yards, hit over the crossbar.
Minutes later, George Francomb’s long-range effort through a crowd of players went just past Theo Richardson’s bottom left-hand post.
Beech’s men were in front on 37 minutes after Danny Whitehead’s excellent lofted cross saw Westley and goalkeeper Harrison Male collide in the box as they both challenged , with the ball dropping to Ustabasi who tapped into an empty et to put the Coasters into the advantage.
And it got even better for Fylde five minutes later when Ustabasi brilliantly weaved his way past three red and white striped shirts to shoot low left-footed under Male and into the corner.
Aiming to half the deficit, Harry Ottaway tried his luck from the edge of the box, but could not test Richardson.
Half-Time: Dorking Wanderers 0-2 AFC Fylde
Dorking aimed to respond on the front foot in front of their own supporters, as Josh Taylor’s cross aimed towards Tom Blair had to be bravely headed clear to safety by captain Harry Davis.
Graham then did well defensively to get in the way of Ottaway’s effort inside the box, as the Coasters had to defend.
Towards the hour, Prior’s half-volley from Carter’s cross went just over Richardson’s crossbar.
Beech made his first change of the game with 64 minutes played. Dan Adshead made his return from injury as he replaced Nick Haughton.
Up the other end, Whitehead teed up Danny Ormerod to shoot from distance which was straight into the gloves of Male.
The Coasters’ third came on 70 minutes after Barrett’s driving solo run with possession saw the full-back drill right-footed across goal and into Male’s bottom left-corner.
Following the goal, Beech introduced Ash Hunter into the clash, coming on for Westley.
Richardson then made two excellent saves to thwart strikes from Blair and Muitt, as the Fylde stopper was called into action.
Blair’s volley in the box was later cleared off the line by Davis before Prior glanced over from Francomb’s corner.
Beech’s final substitute came with six minutes left, as Tom Walker made way for Max Conway.
Fylde had late chances to add a fourth through Ormerod’s snapshot on the turn and Hunter’s deflected strike.
Briggs added a 95th minute consolation for Dorking, profiting from Ottaway’s flick to fire through Richardson’s legs in the box.
But Fylde navigated the closing minutes to move out of the bottom four in the Vanarama National League.
AFC Fylde: Richardson, Barrett, Davis ©, Graham, Mitchell, Whitehead, Walker (Conway 84), Ustabasi, Haughton (Adshead 64), Ormerod, Westley (Hunter 72)
Subs not used: O’Kane, Kay.