AFC Telford United 0 AFC Fylde 2: Strikers maintain perfect start to 2021 for Coasters

Strikers Jordan Hulme and Jack Sampson made the difference and lifted the Coasters a place to third in the National League North.

However, Fylde were grateful for a Telford penalty miss before Sampson sealed the points with his first goal for the club.

Nick Chadwick stuck with the starting 11 from the previous weekend's 4-0 win over Chorley, with Nick Haughton on bench after recovering from a hamstring tear.

Alongside him was fellow midfielder Sam Osborne, signed on the morning of the game from league rivals Leamington.

There were some recognisable names in the Bucks’ starting line-up, with Russ Griffiths, Andy Bond and James Hardy all enjoying spells at Fylde in recent years.

The game began in scrappy fashion, with both sides trying to build from the back but struggling to maintain possession.

However, Chadwick’s side quickly found their rhythm and went on to dominate most of the game.

The first notable chance fell to Sampson, who rose highest to meet a Luke Conlan free-kick but Griffiths managed to get across and tip the ball over his crossbar.

Ben Tollitt was then gifted the chance to put the visitors ahead but the hat-trick hero against Chorley sliced his effort well wide.

Fylde now had Telford on the back foot, their off-the-ball movement and free-flowing attacks proving too much for the Bucks defence.

Hulme latched on to a clever pass by Shaw after some patient play, striking low towards the bottom corner and forcing another good save from Griffiths.

Alex Whitmore saw a penalty claim waved away by the referee before Hulme broke the deadlock on 28 minutes.

A goal had looked to be on the cards for Fylde and Sampson was at the heart of the move, holding off his man and laying the ball off for Tollitt on the touchline.

The winger beat his man and fired a cross into the box. Hulme collected the ball, turned and drove an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner from eight yards.

The visitors had their tails up and were hungry for more goals before the interval, but Hulme and Tollitt’s efforts failed to test the goalkeeper.

AFC Telford were much-improved after half-time, carving out numerous opportunities as Bond and Dom McHale saw shots sail wide of Chris Neal’s goal.

It was McHale who was handed Telford’s best chance of equalising, after he was clumsily brought down by Conlan in the penalty area.

The referee pointed to the spot but the winger’s penalty cannoned back off the base of the post and away to safety.

Moments later, the luckless McHale fired a free-kick over the crossbar from range.

The penalty miss seemed to lift the Coasters, who found a new gear. And after several half-chances went astray, the second goal finally arrived on 78 minutes.

Full-back Luke Burke delivered a brilliant ball across the six-yard box, which Sampson somehow managed to flick into the bottom corner.

Haughton and Osborne were introduced to proceedings, the latter making his debut in the final moments, and both injected life into a game fizzling to its conclusion.

Haughton's effort from a tight angle demanded a save from the well-worked Griffiths.

As the full-time whistle sounded, the Fylde players punched the air to celebrate another impressive three points and a second successive clean sheet.

The win lifted Fylde above Kidderminster Harriers, who lost 3-2 to leaders Gloucester City on a day which saw every other fixture in the division postponed because of Covid or frozen pitches.

That casts doubt over Fylde's visit to York City on Tuesday: the Minstermen pulled out of their match at Boston United on Saturday morning after a player tested positive.

Fylde: Neal, Burke, Conland, Pond, Whitmore, Tollitt, Philliskirk, Perkins, Shaw (Osborne 89), Hulme (Haughton 76), Sampson; Subs not used: Sanders, Nolan, Willoughby.

Telford: Griffiths, White, Jones, Streete, Meppen-Walters, Byrne, Bond (Davies 68), Walker, McHale, Hall (Williams 74), Hardy; Subs not used: Rawling, Lenighan, Oswell.

Referee: Thomas Kirk

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