AFC Fylde boss Dave Challinor hailed his side’s stunning 6-0 victory over National League leaders as ‘near perfect’.

The Coasters ran riot against the high-flying Silkmen to move within just two points of the play-offs with a game in hand.

The six-goal rout also means Fylde are now the top scorers in the division on their debut season in the fifth tier of English Football.

A delighted Challinor said: “It was an outstanding performance with outstanding work rate. 

“We had so much intensity to our game with a high level of quality as well. The first half was near perfect but the challenge was to reproduce that in the second half. 

“It’s easy to think you’ve done enough to get through the game because it’s 4-0 at half-time. We knew we’d get chances because Macclesfield would push players forward and try to get back in the game. 

“Overall, that performance was as good as it could’ve been.

“Even if we had fallen slightly below the first half performance, there was no way they would get back in the game because we were so clinical.

“We knew the first 15 minutes of the second half would be important. I thought we managed the game well and to get the goal on the hour was key. 

“That then gave us the opportunity to put fresh legs on and keep that momentum going. 

“We’d asked the lads to ’empty the tank’ and if the tank was empty after 60 minutes then so-be-it. We needed to play with intensity to put Macclesfield under pressure because they are a good team when you allow them to play.  

“We were dominant. We don’t have a problem scoring goals – we’re the top scorers in the league – and we know on our day we can punish teams.

“Timing wise, the goals were perfect. We punished a good experienced team who statistically are the best in the league.”