AFC Fylde 3 Bradford (Park Avenue) 3: Stoppage-time equaliser sees Coasters drop first home points

Luke Conlan looked to have won the game for the hosts with his first goal of the season, but Lewis Knight’s second of the night three minutes into added time dashed Fylde's hopes of a second home win in four days.

Nick Chadwick made two changes to the side that started Saturday's win over Boston United, bringing Kurt Willoughby in for the injured Nick Haughton and handing Luke Brennan his first start for the club as Nathan Shaw dropped to the bench.

The game got off to a lively start at a bitter Mill Farm, with Bradford (Park Avenue) taking the lead inside two minutes.

Striker Brad Dockerty curled a low effort from 18 yards into the bottom corner. The assistant referee initially raised his flag for offside, but after consultation the goal was awarded to the dismay of the Fylde players.

Coasters winger Ben Tollitt got his side back on level terms after 13 minutes following a slick move from right to left.

The hosts’ patience was rewarded when Tollitt found the room to cut inside onto his favoured right foot and bend the ball around the defender into the bottom corner, leaving Dan Atkinson helpless in goal.

Tollitt’s goal injected some life into a lacklustre Fylde display and two minutes later they were ahead as Willoughby drilled a low, right-footed shot into the bottom corner from distance.

It took a good stop from Chris Neal to prevent BPA equalising on 29 minutes but they did a minute later.

Some terrific work by left-back Harry Boyes saw him deliver a pinpoint cross on to the head of Lewis Knight, who powered the ball home.

The first half hour was fast-paced but the tempo reduced for the remainder of the half as both sides regained some composure and changed ends with the score at 2-2.

The first chance of the second half fell to Fylde's Wigan Athletic loanee Jack Sanders. The 6' 4 central defender rose highest to meet a Brennan corner but his downward header was somehow deflected against a post before being hacked to safety.

Thirty seconds later Tollitt almost grabbed his second goal and arguably should have. Danny Philliskirk and Jordan Hulme combined well before the latter cut the ball back for Tollitt, who ballooned his shot over the bar.

On 55 minutes, Alex Whitmore got his head to Brennan's driven corner but the skipper's glancing effort was cleared by the well-placed Jordan Windass.

The third goal that The Coasters had been pushing for finally came on 67 minutes. Nathan Shaw was the catalyst, the substitute's fine work giving Luke Burke the chance to fizz the ball across goal for Conlan to tap home.

Conlan wheeled away celebrating his first goal for the club, which he thought to be the final nail in The Green Army’s coffin.

Sanders had another header denied with 10 minutes left to play but it was the visitors who eventually had the final say.

Chadwick’s side were playing some good football, trying to manage the game, before a wave of long balls came from the visitors as they searched desperately for that final chance.

That chance came in the third minute of stoppage time, the same point as Leamington had equalised against the Coasters a week earlier.

A teasing ball somehow made its way past the defence and found Lewis Knight at the back post. The striker never looked like missing as he hooked the ball home.

Kidderminster's home defeat by Kettering Town lifted Fylde to second place, still three points behind leaders Gloucester City with two games in hand.

Fylde: Neal, Burke, Conlan, Sanders, Whitmore, Nolan (Lussey 70), Philliskirk, Tollitt, Brennan (Shaw 63), Hulme (Samson 87), Willoughby; subs not used: Mondal, Ogle.

Bradford PA: Atkinson, Ross, Boyes, Marriott (Sanyang 39), Havern, Windass, Toulson (Ibrian 74), Hibbs, Dockerty, Knight (Lyons 90), Clee; Subs not used: Huffer, Downing.

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