Wonder goals from Danny Rowe and Dion Charles were not enough to nick all three points in a hard fought 2-2 draw against Brackley Town.

Fylde opened the scoring through a sensational strike from Rowe, but found themselves behind just 10 minutes into the second-half.

Charles popped up with an equally impressive strike on 56 minutes to earn a share of the spoils.

Challinor made two changes to the side that faced Millwall last weekend with Ben Hinchliffe returning in goal and Sam Finley replaced Josh Wilson in the centre of the park.

Matty Hughes had the first opportunity of the match when he broke from the left, cut inside and fizzed a strike narrowly wide of the right post.

Brackley Town had the ball in the net on eight minutes when Steven Diggin smashed home Eddy Odiambo’s deft chip, but the linesman’s flag was up.

Odiamdo was causing Fylde problems early on and Hinchliffe could only turn his 20-yard drive around the post.

Fylde were struggling get their passing game going in awful conditions, but fashioned a rare chance 24 minutes when Rowe flicked header flew just wide of the post on 24 minutes.

Challinor’s side were starting to up the pressure and Sam Finley’s ambitious effort was matched by Sam Hornby in the Brackley goal.

The opening for the hosts came on 29 minutes and it was well worth waiting for. Rowe twisted and turned on the edge of the box and as it looked like the chance was gone, the striker unleashed an unstoppable strike into the top corner.

Finley was proving a constant threat to the visitor’s goal and fired another long range effort inches wide of the left hand post.

Brackley levelled the score on 41 minutes when Richard Batchelor’s corner from the left was flicked in at the near post by Diggin.

The first real opening of the second period came on 54 minutes when goalscorer Rowe stung the palms of Hornby from 25 yards.

Brackley started the half the livelier of the two teams and deservedly took the lead a minute later when Glen Walker tapped home from six years.

However, the hosts were level just moments later and it was another goal to savour, Charles curling home a fine strike from the left-hand side of the penalty area.

Walker was next to test Hinchliffe on 72 minutes, but his powerful free-kick was well palmed away.

Fylde almost had the all-important winner three minutes from time, but Rowe could only turn Josh Wilson’s cross around the post under pressure from the defender.

Brackley gave the hosts a real score with seconds left on the clock, but could not force the ball home after a frantic goalmouth scramble and the match ended all square.  

 

AFC Fylde: Hinchliffe, C. Hughes, Hannigan (Langley 81), Collins, Whittle, Baker, Finley, Charles (Wilson 82), M. Hughes, Rowe, Blinkhorn (Lloyd 64).

Subs not used: Urwin, Sumner.

Goals: Rowe 29, Charles 56

Booked: Baker, Collins

Brackley Town: Hornby, Hawtin, MacDonald, Clarke, Graham, Mills, Odhiambo, Walker, Moyo (Smith 83), Diggin, Batchelor.

Subs not used: Austin, Morley, Winters, Whittall.  

Goals: Diggin 41, Walker 55

Referee: Marc Edwards

Attendance: 345