AFC Fylde 2 AFC Telford United 1: Merrie men fight back
Chris Merrie's late strike sealed a huge comeback win as AFC Fylde defeated AFC Telford United 2-1 at Mill Farm on Tuesday.
Trailing at half-time after taking one point from their previous two games, Craig Mahon's side turned it around with goals by Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile and Merrie to cut South Shields' lead at the top of National League North to two points.
Play-off chasers Telford started brighter and it needed a brilliant reaction save from Zac Jones to keep out Remi Walker’s deflected shot after 10 minutes. Walker was not to be denied on 19 minutes, cutting in from the left and firing into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box.
The Bucks went close to doubling their lead when James Meddows curled a shot just over the crossbar.
Fylde's first big chance arrived when Danny Mayor found Merrie in the box. His shot was well saved by Joshua Gracey and Danny Ormerod headed the rebound over.
Walker went close again for Telford but Fylde pressure was growing and Gracey saved with his legs to deny Ormerod before half-time.
Telford's Adan George flicked a corner over the bar early in the second half but Fylde were level on 54 minutes, when Felipe headed his fourth Coasters goal from Tom Whelan's cross.
Dylan Allen-Hedley shot wide for the visitors but Fylde had more chances for a winner. The impressive Mayor fired just wide as did substitute Luca Thomas and Tom Whelan, while Gracey held on to Corey Whelan's header.
Fylde gave a debut to latest signing Adam Lewis, the left-back having joined on loan from League Two Chesterfield for the rest of the season.
Merrie was the unlikely matchwinner on 83 minutes, beating Gracey with a deflected effort from Thomas' cut-back after fine play by Tom Whelan. Jones then saved low to his left to deny George and seal a vital Fylde win.
Saturday's 1-1 draw at Leamington had left Fylde four points behind South Shields but that gap has been halved after the leaders could only draw 1-1 at Chorley.
Fylde are back at Mill Farm to face King's Lynn Town on Saturday before heading to Hereford next Tuesday.
FYLDE: Jones, McFayden (Lewis 79), Merrie, Mayor (Thomas 62), Ustabasi, Healy-Byrne, Lancaster, C Whelan, T Whelan, Felipe (Wilson 62), Ormerod; Not used: Boyes, Coates, Mitchell, Taylor.