Nick Haughton’s hat-trick saw AFC Fylde come from behind to earn a thrilling 3-2 home win over 10-man Solihull Moors on the opening day of the Vanarama National League season at Mill Farm.
Fylde were in front within 10 minutes after Haughton whipped his free-kick into the top corner prior to Owen Evans’ own goal and Jack Stevens’ strike turning the clash on its head.
Haughton scored his second free-kick of the afternoon to restore parity 11 minutes after half-time, with Joss Labadie also sent off for the visitors.
The match winning moment came after 83 minutes when Haughton bent a superb strike with his left foot into the top corner to earn the three points.
First-Half
Corey Whelan led the Coasters out having been named as team captain, whilst new loan signing Patrick Gamble was amongst the substitutes after signing from Blackburn Rovers.
Early on, Chris Beech’s men threatened when Jon Ustabasi drove down the right and delivered a dangerous cross into the box, which Moors captain James Clarke managed to clear to safety.
The Coasters’ first goal of the campaign came in the 10th minute through Haughton’s right-footed free-kick from the left, with his strike curled beyond goalkeeper Laurie Walker and into the top left-corner.
After Evans was fouled by John Bostock following a surging run, Haughton stepped up from a similar distance, though his set-piece was held by Walker.
Midway through the half, Solihull went close to equalising. Having seen his corner headed out by Charlie Jolley, Bostock’s cross from the right was met by Whitmore at the back post, but his header was blocked by his own team-mate, Tahvon Campbell before being dealt with by the Fylde defence.
Andy Whing’s Moors were back level on 29 minutes when Evans turned Matty Warburton’s deflected cross from the left beyond his own goalkeeper Theo Richardson.
Nine minutes later, Fylde were behind after Warburton found Stevens in the box following a passing move, who shot under Richardson and into the bottom right-corner.
Half-Time: AFC Fylde 1-2 Solihull Moors
Fylde started the second-half on top as they attacked the North Stand. In the opening minutes, Evans won back possession to drive forward and thread Jolley in on goal, but his strike from the left edge of the box was charged down by Clarke.
Haughton’s resulting outswinging corner into the crowded box was headed over the crossbar by skipper Whelan.
Fylde were back on terms with 56 minutes played after Ustabasi was fouled on the edge of the box. Haughton struck his right-footed shot low across the turf and under the wall which beat Walker.
Solihull were reduced to 10-men on 58 minutes when referee Elliott Bell dismissed Labadie for a second bookable offence.
On the hour, Campbell drove the box from the right, and he squirmed an effort goalwards which Bryce Hosannah cleared off the line.
Whitmore then hooked a volley from the Moors set-piece just wide of Richardson’s bottom right-corner.
Haughton completed his hat-trick on 83 minutes. Following good build-up play, the Coasters’ number 10 struck a left-footed bullet into Walker’s top right-corner which proved the decisive moment.
The strike proved to be the winner as the Coasters held on through the nine additional minutes to beat Solihull and get three impressive points on the opening day.
AFC Fylde: Richardson, Evans (McFayden 76), Obi (Gamble 76), Long, Hosannah, Mitchell, Whelan © (O’Kane 81), Haughton, Ustabasi (Brennan 76), Jolley (Riley 68), Ormerod
Subs not used: Winterbottom, Morris
