Nathan Delfouneso and Chris Neal’s unbeaten run in temporary charge came to a disappointing end as Tamworth defeated AFC Fylde 2-1 at Mill Farm on Tuesday night.
Tamworth took the lead through Tom McGlinchey only to be cancelled out by Nick Haughton’s 10th goal of the season, but a last gasp winner earned the away side all three points late on.
The Coasters made three changes from the team that earned a point against Welling on Saturday with Charlie Jolley, Taylor O’Kane and Patrick Gamble introduced into the starting line-up with Adam Long missing out through illness.
The Coasters began the half looking the more relaxed of the two teams keeping most of the ball within the first 15 minutes, however the high amount of possession wasn’t creating too many chances.
Charlie Jolley did superbly well to win a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area and Nick Haughton was the player to step up but the midfielder had his strike blocked by the head of Haydn Hollis.
Fylde looked comfortable on the ball and especially when it came to possession down the flanks with Charlie Jolley and Gavin Massey looking lively, fizzing crosses into the box but failing to find anyone in the box.
The away side nearly found the lead late into the first half when Nathan Tshikuna struck a half-volley towards the bottom right corner, only to be denied by a wonderful save by Ben Winterbottom just before the break.
Tamworth found the opener two minutes into the second half after an awkward ball from Hollis fell into the path of Tom McGlinchey who guided the ball past Winterbottom.
A few minutes later, The Coasters could’ve found a leveller when Charlie Jolley was found one-on-one with Tamworth goalkeeper Jas Singh but could only find the side netting.
Winterbottom denied Tamworth a second in the 53rd minute after an unmarked Kai Williams fired at goal only to be denied by The Coasters shot stopper with another brilliant save to keep Fylde’s hopes at an equaliser alive.
And that save proved to be a crucial as ten minutes later Danny Ormerod was fouled in the box by Luke Fairlamb to earn the hosts a penalty.
The National League’s top goalscorer Haughton made no mistake from the spot to find the leveller as he buried his spot kick into the bottom left corner.
Roberts nearly put The Coasters ahead as a Haughton corner wasn’t cleared and the winger swiped a shot just wide of the left-hand post.
It was then the Coasters keeper who was again called into action in the 79th minute after a Munashe Sundire strike headed towards the top left corner only for Winterbottom to deny him again with another brilliant save.
Joe Riley must’ve thought he’d earned the winner when he fired a strike towards to bottom left corner, but it travelled just wide.
But Tamworth found the winner in the 95th winner when Dan Creaney got onto the end of a Tom Tonks long throw to take all three points from Mill Farm.
The Coasters will look forward to an away trip to Barnet on Saturday, with kick-off at 3pm GMT.
