Goals from Josh Kay and Nick Haughton secured AFC Fylde a third straight Vanarama National League win with a 2-1 victory away at Eastleigh on Saturday afternoon.
Kay and Haughton netted either side of the break at the Silverlake Stadium for the in-form Coasters to overcome the Spitfires on their travels.
Head Coach Chris Beech has named his AFC Fylde side for today’s visit to Eastleigh in the Vanarama National League.
Kay returned to the Coasters’ line-up in place of Danny Ormerod, whilst new signings Adam Long and Bryce Hossanah were among the substitutes at the Silverlake Stadium.
Early in the contest, Chris Maguire flashed a dangerous ball across goal which Sam Graham did well to clear to safety.
Ben Greenwood then delivered a deep cross to the back post, which forward Paul McCallum was unable to convert.
Haughton then whipped a free-kick from a tight angle on the left which was beaten away by goalkeeper Joe McDonnell.
Growing into the game, opportunities went to the Coasters through Jon Ustabasi and Kay, as Fylde went close.
Coasters goalkeeper Theo Richardson then made two good saves, keeping out efforts from Reeves and Enzo Boldewijn.
Just beyond the half-hour, Richardson’s quick-thinking set Connor Barrett free to drive up field, with his neat pass aimed towards Westley was claimed by McDonnell.
Fylde led on 42 minutes when Haughton pressured Nigel Atangana, as Westley won possession to play an excellent pass to Kay, who struck right-footed in the box low under McDonnell and into the bottom left-corner.
Buoyed by their lead, Fylde went in search of a quick-fire second, with Danny Whitehead’s strike from 25-yards went narrowly over the crossbar.
Half-Time: Eastleigh 0-1 AFC Fylde
Fylde started the second half how they finished the first, on the attack, with Kay’s shot deflected for a corner.
The Coasters scored their second of the game with 47 minutes played, weaving into the box to superbly strike past McDonnell to extend the advantage in Hampshire.
Defender Ethan Mitchell continued his excellent display in Coasters colours by thwarting Scott Quigley’s shot.
Beech made his first change midway through the half, with Ash Hunter replacing Kay.
In the 70th minute, Ustabasi’s first-time attempt was deflected for a corner following an excellent passing move.
Reeves pulled one back for Eastleigh in the 75th minute, when Richardson’s clearance after Maguire’s long ball was half-volleyed in from distance to half the deficit.
And Eastleigh would have levelled minutes later but Richardson somehow denied Jake Taylor from close range after a flick on.
Fylde’s second substitution came in the final 11 minutes, as Danny Ormerod came on for Westley.
Richardson was forced to make good stops to save from Quigley’s looping strike and Taylor’s header.
Dan Adshead was introduced as Fylde’s third change late on, as a replacement for Haughton.
Navigating pressure, Graham, Mitchell and captain Harry Davis were all forced to defend the Coasters’ goal, following crosses from Boldewijn and Maguire.
Richardson was forced to punch Maguire’s free-kick away in the eighth minute of added time as the Coasters secured a fantastic three points which moves them up to 18th position.
AFC Fylde: Richardson, Mitchell, Davis ©, Graham, Barrett, Whitehead, Walker, Kay (Hunter 73), Ustabasi, Haughton (Adshead 87), Westley (Ormerod 79)
Subs not used: Long, Hossanah
