Match Report
AFC Fylde came out on top in an incredible match at Kellamergh Park which saw four goals scored inside the first 12 minutes.
Danny Rowe scored the opener in the second minute before Richie Allen went on a seven minute scoring spree to claim the perfect hat-trick.
Between his second and third goals however, Obi Anoruo gave Colwyn Bay a lifeline with their first goal before James Ellison brought it back to 4-2 from the spot just before the break.
But once Danny Rowe added his second four minutes into the second half the result was never in doubt. Allen then claimed his fourth with another penalty and he still had time to miss a third penalty with two minutes to go which denied him a fifth of the match.
The action began in the first minute when 17-year-old goalkeeper Gareth Rees almost spilled the ball into the path of Richie Baker but the Fylde midfielder was judged offside before attempting a shot.
But a minute later, Fylde had the lead thanks to Rowe’s tap in, assisted by Rees’ parry from Allen’s initial shot.
Three minutes later Allen shot down the right wing with the ball glued to his feet and was able to cut into the box and fire into the top corner of Bay’s net with his left foot.
It got even better for the home side who went 3-0 up with only seven minutes on the clock – Danny Lloyd was unlucky to see his curling effort saved by Rees but the rebound fell kindly for Allen to charge in and head into an empty net.
The visitors then got in on the act with their first attack of the game on ten minutes as Anoruo was able to beat Langley to a weighted through ball before knocking it round Ben Hinchliffe and sliding the ball into the net from a tight angle.
But two minutes on, Fylde had their fourth and Allen’s hat-trick was complete when he was felled near the by line and duly stepped up to fire in right footed past Rees.
Allen was unlucky not to add his fourth on 19 minutes when Rees pulled off a decent save to stop his shot and soon after Bay had the ball in the back of Fylde’s net but referee Mr Johnson had already blown for a foul on Hinchliffe.
The game calmed down for a spell before until the next attempt on 30 minutes from Rowe’s shot on the turn which sailed over the bar. Bay then saw two attempts wasted through Anoruo and Rob Hopley.
Danny Lloyd missed a gilt-edged chance to make it 5-1 but he headed Allen’s cross wide of the post when it looked easier to score.
But when the next goal did come, it fell for the visitors when Ellison was judged to be fouled after taking a shot on goal and the ref awarded Bay a penalty of their own which Ellison duly converted two minutes before the break.
Just before half time the game became tasty as Fylde captain Brad Barnes flew in hard on his opposite number Marc Williams and was lucky not to receive more than a ticking off from the referee.
Four minutes into the second half Fylde restored their three goal advantage when Rowe fired in a trademark long range strike that had Rees well beaten and from that point onwards the result was never in doubt despite a string of chances which followed for Bay.
Wesley Baynes and Hopley had half chances that they couldn’t convert into goals on the hour mark for Bay and Ellison should have done better when he was played in by a excellent through-ball but with Langley for company all the way he couldn’t beat Hinchliffe with a wayward shot from a tight angle.
Anoruo then found himself with a chance on goal linking on the end of Kevin Holsgrove’s flick on but couldn’t guide his effort past a very grateful Hinchliffe on 72 minutes.
Four minutes later and Fylde grabbed their sixth of the game when substitute Dion Charles was brought down just inside the box and Allen stepped up to fire past an outstretched Rees and send his shot in off the post.
Bay certainly didn’t lie down and Holsgrove was unlucky to see his strike sail inches wide of the target.
Charles was brought down in the box again five minutes from time and Allen stepped up to take a third penalty awarded to Fylde but Rees dived the right way and palmed his strike away for a corner to deny Allen his fifth goal of the game – and sportingly, Allen shook the young keeper’s hand acknowledging a decent save.
Charles came close to adding a seventh late on before Williams hit the bar with a header in stoppage time for the visitors.
The win edges The Coasters to within three points of league leaders Barrow who could only muster a 0-0 draw at third placed Chorley which makes for an exciting final four games of the season.
AFC Fylde: Hinchliffe, Hughes, Sumner, Langley, Hannigan, B. Barnes (C), Baker (Tomsett 80), Wilson, Rowe (Charles 62), Lloyd (Booth 62), Allen; Subs not used: Denson, Blinkhorn.
GOALS: Danny Rowe (2, 49), Richie Allen (5, 7, 12pen, 76pen)
Colwyn Bay: Rees, Baynes, Buckley, Noone, Lea, Holsgrove, Anoruo, Haywood, Hopley, Williams (C), Ellison (Seddon 80); Subs not used: Jones, Saiel, Hodgson, Bakker.
GOALS: Obi Anoruo (10), James Ellison (43pen)
YELLOW: Marc Williams (19)
HT: 4-2
ATT: 405
MOM: Richie Allen
REFEREE: Joseph Johnson