AFC Fylde 1-2 Altrincham: Alty put a stop to Fylde’s unbeaten home record

By Paul Rooney

AFC FYLDE 1

T Whelan 17

ALTRINCHAM 2

Hemmings 15, Kosylo 20

AFC Fylde’s 17-game unbeaten home record came to an end as Altrincham made it five wins out of six to continue their impressive climb up the National League table.

AFC FYLDE: Taylor 7 (for C Whelan 63), Mayor 7 (for Olley 63), Butterfield 7 (for Merrie 63), Broad 6 (for Thomas 80), Upton 6 (for Mitchell 80). Subs not used: Boyes, Morris

ALTRINCHAM: Cooper 7 (for Barnes 45), Hinchy 7 (for Crawford 46), Weaver 7 (for Hemmings 69), Reddin 6 (for Barlow 80), Kirk 6 (for Lopata-White 80). Subs not used: Acquah, Breckin

In a crazy five-minute first-half spell, in-form Kane Hemmings fired the Robins in front, only for Tom Whelan to level for the Coasters moments later.

But the impressive Matty Kosylo restored Alty’s lead – one which they were able to maintain to the end, thus bringing a halt to Fylde’s recent excellent form.

Respect

Robins boss Neil Gibson was full of praise for his side, saying: “Fylde were second in the table coming into today’s game and they are full of confidence.

“We knew we would have to respect that and have to be really brave so we locked on man-to-man across the pitch and then looked to press off that. We did that similarly on Wednesday night (against Hartlepool) and they did it again today.

“The second half we had to get behind the ball a bit more but I thought it was a good all round performance.

MATT’LL DO: Matty Kosylo celebrates after opening the scoring.

PICTURE: Steve McClellan

“That’s another goal for Kane Hemmings. Physically, he gives you that outball and he’s what we’ve been looking for and he’s pushing our other players.”

As two of the National League’s in-form sides, it was no surprise to see both teams start on the front foot.

Match Action

Fylde’s Luca Thomas forced a fine save from visiting keeper Andy Firth on nine minutes and that was the prelude to the mad, end-to-end spell that following.

Man-of-the-match Kosylo, provided the cross for Hemmings to drill Alty in front on 15 minutes, before Tom Whelan levelled things two minutes later, prodding smartly past Firth from close range.

Parity didn’t last long, however, Kosylo restoring the visitors’ lead on 20 minutes with a smartly hit shot from distance that flew past a stranded Zac Jones in the home goal.

Second Half

With that, the goals dried up, although Alty’s Jimmy Knowles twice had efforts cleared off the line in the second half and Jones saved well from Lucas Weaver in the closing stages.

A raft of second half substitutions from both sides certainly disrupted the rhythm of the game and although Millar Matthews-Lewis and Danny Mayor both went close for

Fylde late on it didn’t the improve mood of disappointed Coasters boss Craig Mahon.

Deserved

“I think we probably got what we deserved,” he said. “I didn’t think we were at our usual levels and the standard that we have set the last few games.

“The amount of effort we put in over the last two games probably took its toll on us today. And, yes, it’s disappointing to lose at home after a good week but, listen, we’ve been on a good run and we just look to start again.”

STAR MAN: Matty Kosylo (Altrincham)

ATTENDANCE: 1,528

ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★

REFEREE: Ollie Yates