Solihull Moors 3 – 1 AFC Fylde
Wright 14’, McCallum 19’, Howe 25’ – Croasdale 45’
Att: 1389
The Coasters were made to pay for a poor opening half-an hour, where three goals for Solihull Moors condemned Jim Bentley to his first defeat as AFC Fylde manager.
The opening goal came in direct fashion, as a deep, looping cross picked out James Osborne in the AFC Fylde box, who had Wright in support.
Osborne’s clever head back across goal found Wright, who was there to guide it home from close range, and give the Moors an early lead.
Almost immediately after, Solihull came again, as a corner into the box found Beesley – but the on-loan Salford City man headed against the bar.
They weren’t to be deterred though, and soon after, they had a penalty – as Osborne was tripped in the box.
Striker Paul McCallum stood up to take the penalty, dispatching it low into the bottom right hand corner, sending Sam Hornby the wrong way.
Shortly after, the game seemed to be beyond Fylde’s reach, as a long throw from McCallum picked out centre-back Callum Howe – who headed into the top corner.
It seemed that the game would be over as a contest, until, on the stroke of half-time, the Coasters bought themselves a lifeline.
A long ball was chased down by Jordan Williams, who got the better of Ryan Boot, and found the onrushing Ryan Croasdale.
It was near enough an open goal for the Fylde number 8, who made the most of the opportunity to pass the ball into the net, and net his second in as many games.
Half-time: Solihull Moors 3 – 1 AFC Fylde
The second half began in much the same form, with the Coasters looking good in possession, and more likely to make things happen.
Just ten minutes after the restart, the Coasters had a penalty shout turned down, as Callum Howe looked to haul down Ryan Croasdale.
It could have been a pivotal moment in the tie, however, in this instance the referee decided not to award the spot kick.
Fylde could sense the tide had turned, though, and on the hour mark, it was that man again Croasdale at the heart of it.
A lightning-quick counter attack saw Kosylo cut the ball back for Croasdale, however a fantastic tackle from Gunning prevented him from making it 3-2.
Another penalty claim was denied for the Coasters, this time Danny Rowe’s effort struck the hand of Gudger – but once more, the referee wasn’t moved.
The one way traffic continued, this time, the Coasters going as close as possible – with Ryan Croasdale striking the bar from close range.
It was Williams who was slid in and, after his effort rebounded, found Croasdale, but the midfielder lifted it too high, and back off of the crossbar.
The feeling that it wasn’t to be Fylde’s afternoon had set in, and after Croasdale couldn’t react in time to turn home a lashed Kyle Jameson effort, one big final chance fell for the Coasters.
Alex Whitmore was picked out in the box, and looked as if he’d give the Coasters one final chance in the dying stages, but his header was cleared off of the line by Nathan Blisset.
The full-time whistle came, and with it Jim Bentley’s first taste of defeat, but there will have been plenty learned about his side against high-flying Solihull.
Teams
Solihull: Boot, Reckord, Gudger, Osborne, McCallum (Neufville 89’), Gunning (Hawkridge 82’), Wright (Blissett 77’), Vaughan, Howe (C), Ball, Beesley
Unused Subs: Williams, Yussuf
AFC Fylde: Hornby, Byrne, Whitmore, Kosylo (Yeates 68’), Croasdale, Rowe, Philliskirk, Williams, Burke, Bradley (Forbes 77’), Taylor (Jameson 40’)
Unused Subs: Lavercombe, Lewis Montrose
