AFC Fylde were defeated 1-0 on Saturday afternoon by Braintree Town.

Inih Effiong’s second half goal was the difference after Tyler Roberts was sent off for the Coasters.

Fylde had a great chance within the opening two minutes after Nick Haughton’s corner was headed over by skipper Corey Whelan.

From that moment on, the first half had little left to report on as both sides appeared to cancel each other out.

Bryce Hosannah looked to work a chance for himself towards the latter stages of the half as he cut inside onto his left foot but couldn’t get a strike on goal.

Fylde started the second half on the front foot with Charlie Jolley getting past the last defender but was well closed down before being able to get an effort away.

Just before the hour mark, the home side broke the deadlock as the ball was worked to the byline and cut back to Effiong who bundled the ball past Winterbottom to open the scoring.

Things went from bad to worse for Fylde in a matter of seconds as Tyler Roberts was sent off for two bookable offences within a matter of minutes.

Fylde looked to change things around as Gavin Massey was introduced to replace Charlie Jolley.

Ustabasi thought he’d found the equaliser with a downward header but Lucas Covolan produced a brilliant stop around the post.

Taelor O’Kane almost then draw the Coasters level as he picked up the loose ball in the Braintree area but his effort was brilliantly blocked at close range.

The late pressure wasn’t enough for Fylde who fell to defeat in Essex.

AFC Fylde: Winterbottom, Hosannah, Whelan (C), Obi, Evans, Haughton, Mitchell, O’Kane, Roberts, Ustabasi, Jolley (Massey 73′)

Subs not used: Richardson, Gamble, Zanzala, Bardell, McFayden, Riley