It was a perfect start to life in temporary charge for Nathan Delfouneso and Chris Neal as they saw AFC Fylde defeat Southend United 2-1 at Mill Farm.

A poacher’s finish by Jon Ustabasi and a late stunner from Nick Haughton were enough to give the Coasters their first win since the start of August.

The Coasters’ first chance of note came in the 17th minute when Nick Haughton weaved his way into the box from the right-hand side only for his strike fly over the bar.

Not soon after, Bryce Hosannah found Ethan Mitchell on the right and the midfielder delivered a well-timed cross to Jon Ustabasi, only for the forward’s header to fall into the palms of Shrimpers goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi.

Ustabasi was starting to run the show on the wing, and he was involved again in the 36th minute.

A superb solo run from Corey Whelan, who was was playing at centre-back for the suspended Harry Davis, found Ustabasi whose cross fell into the path of Gavin Massey, with the winger’s strike again failing to trouble Andeng Ndi.

The deadlock was finally broken at the end of the first half, Ustabasi delivered a superb ball into the path of Mitchell whose header back across goal missed Danny Ormerod but Ustabasi was there at the back post to pounce on the loose ball and fire the Coasters into the lead.

Fylde had contained Southend United well in the first half with the away side creating little guilt-edged chances in what was an organised showing from the hosts.

The visitors however found the equaliser in the 57th minute. A brilliant save from Ben Winterbottom denied Macauley Bonne, however from the resulting corner, Gus Scott-Morriss found the back of the net from close range.

Adam Long did superbly to deny the visitors a second, heading the ball off the line and providing a brilliant sliding challenge to deny Macauley Bonne.

The Coasters’ spell of pressure increased late into the second half with Taylor O’Kane, Offrande Zanzala and Charlie Jolley all introduced in the search for the winner.

A late break saw Nick Haughton find Charlie Jolley one on one with Andeng Ndi with the striker firing just wide of the target but the offside flag was raised soon after.

Jolley was again denied late on by a great challenge by Southend captain Nathan Ralph as the forward looked certain to score.

But Haughton raised the roof in the 92nd minute of the game with a stunner after being found by  Bryce Hosannah on the edge of the box and the National League’s top goalscorer smashed the ball into the bottom right corner with a brilliant finish to earn his eighth of the campaign and secure three valuable points for the Coasters.

Next up for the Coasters they host Woking FC at Mill Farm on Saturday 21st October at 3pm GMT.

AFC Fylde line-up: Winterbottom, Evans, Long, Whelan (C), Hosannah, Riley (O’Kane 73), Mitchell, Haughton (Obi 90+4) Ustabasi, Ormerod (Zanzala 73), Massey (Jolley 84)

Subs not used: Richardson, Gamble, Hailwood