AFC Fylde succumbed to a heavy home defeat at the hands of Barnet, as a spell early in the second half from Barnet blew Fylde away.
The game started much the way of many recent Coasters league games – with an early goal for the opponents.
Once again, it was a set-piece that was their undoing – this time a flat corner wasn’t dealt with, and thundered home on the first time of asking by defender Ricardo Santos.
Usually, this had been a wake-up call for Fylde – but in this instance Barnet kept on top, with most of the following play being dictated by the visitors.
The Coasters did buck their ideas up though, and were closed to equalising when Dan Bradley’s effort from 18 yards was just tipped wide by Scott Loach.
Soon after, Fylde had the ball cleared off the line, as Rowe fired a loose corner goal wards – but it was cleared on the line, and away to safety.
Nick Haughton looked his lively self, whilst Jordan Williams was a threat running in behind, but they couldn’t make it tell in the first half.
The visitors looked the more likely to notch a second before the break, with Jack Taylor striking a free-kick off of the bar – before Mason-Clark forced Lavercombe into a smart stop.
Second Half
The signs after the interval looked good, as Danny Rowe saw a long-distance effort just clawed beyond the post by Loach, before the corner was close to being forced in.
However this positivity didn’t last long, and once again, it was set-pieces which were the undoing of the Fylde defence.
After Jameson had bought down Josh Walker, Harry Walker stepped up to float the ball into the box – which Simeon Akinola met all too graciously, steering home his 6th of the season with a placed header.
It looked as though Fylde had clawed one back shortly after, as Philliskirk headed back across goal for Byrne to head in on the line – but it was flagged for offside.
Things continued to get worse for Fylde, and soon after Josh Walker, who had been lively all game, was found in the box, and made no mistake dispatching past Lavercombe for Barnet’s third.
The defensive woes continued, and soon Barnet had an unprecedented fourth, as Mauro Vilhete ran unchecked into the box, before firing in from an acute angle.
It was a night to forget for Fylde, who had recorded back-to-back home wins prior to this game – and finished the night seven points adrift of the playoffs.
Teams
AFC Fylde: Lavercombe, Duxbury, Jameson, Byrne, Forbes, Philliskirk (Whitmore 60’), Bradley, Croasdale, Williams, Rowe, Haughton (Craigen 67’).
Subs unused: Montgomery, Yeates, Ngwatala.
Barnet: Loach, Alexander, Reynolds (C), Santos, J.Taylor, Akinola, H.Taylor, Vilhete (Tutonda 80’), Walker (Pavey 72’), Sweeney, Mason-Clark (Fonguck 75’).
Subs unused: Matrevics, Rowan.
