Boston United 1 AFC Fylde 1 (Boston win 4-2 on penalties): Coasters exit the FA Trophy

Junior Mondal gave the Coasters a dream start with a goal after just 20 seconds, before the Pilgrims’ supersub, Connor Dimaio, levelled the game late on.

It was another substitute, Scott Garner, who was the matchwinner, stroking his penalty past Lewis Thomas to ensure the hosts progressed on penalties.

The Coasters had travelled to their National League North counterparts after a convincing 4-1 victory at Curzon Ashton on Tuesday.

Nick Chadwick opted to make four changes to the side that started that night, bringing skipper Nathan Pond back into the team along with Ben Tollitt, Danny Philliskirk and Thomas, who made his Fylde debut following his arrival from Burnley on Friday.

It took just 20 seconds for the visitors to take the lead, with the in-form Mondal netting his third goal in two games.

Jack Sampson used his strength to hold off his man and slip the ball into Mondal’s path, allowing the young winger to curl a left-footed effort past Ross Fitzsimons in the Boston goal.

The game calmed down momentarily with both teams settling into the game before Kurt Willoughby almost extended Fylde’s lead with 12 minutes on the clock.

The striker did well to wriggle away from Luke Shiels but was halted by a last-ditch Pierce Bird challenge as he attempted to pull the trigger inside the six-yard box.

On the 15-minute mark, Pilgrims captain Shiels almost found an equalising goal.

The centre-back latched onto a Joe Leesley delivery but was unable to keep his header down.

Then came another chance for Willoughby on 26 minutes, as Philliskirk’s well-timed pass gave the lively forward the chance to shoot at goal, but his strike was met by a fine save from Fitzsimons.

Tollitt tried his luck on the half-hour, stinging the hands of the Boston keeper, before Mondal spurned a chance six minutes later.

The Coasters pushed for that all-important second goal but were unable to find it before the referee blew for half-time.

Trailing 1-0, Boston came out for the second half with a point to prove, which was evident in how they came at Fylde in the opening few minutes.

Paul Green almost levelled the tie early in the second half, the Pilgrims’ midfielder seeing his effort well saved by Thomas.

The game then ebbed and flowed without either team managing to muster up any clear-cut openings.

Craig Shaw threw on Garner and Dimaio in the 75th minute in the hope of his side getting back into the game – and they did.

It was Dimaio who produced the moment of magic with nine minutes to play, cutting inside and curling an unstoppable effort into the far corner of the net.

The Coasters refused to lie down though, seeing two late efforts from Luke Conlan and Philliskirk denied.

With the score 1-1 at full-time, it meant the tie would be decided by spot-kicks.

The Pilgrims netted all four of their penalties with Fylde converting two – Philliskirk and Luke Brennan failing to score for the Coasters, whose hopes of progress in the FA Trophy were sunk.

Fylde now turn their focus back to the National League North campaign when they travel to Chorley on Boxing Day.

Boston United: Fitzsimons, Tootle (Warren 82), Duxbury (Garner 75), Platt, Shiels, Green, Burrow, Bird, Hawkridge (Dimaio 75), Preston, Leesley. Sub not used: Crook.

AFC Fylde: Thomas, Conlan, Pond, Whitmore, Lussey, Ogle, Tollitt, Philliskirk, Mondal (Brennan 90), Sampson (Sanders 80), Willoughby (Shaw 66). Subs not used: Burke, Nolan, Stanley, Byrne.

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