Chorley 3 AFC Fylde 1: Magpies use their heads to sink Coasters in derby

Connor Hall got Chorley off to a wonder start with a goal inside five minutes, and second-half strikes by Andy Owens and Harvey Smith made sure that Ben Tollitt’s 17th-minute effort counted for nothing.

Following the hard-fought FA Trophy loss at Boston United a week earlier, Fylde boss Nick Chadwick decided on three changes for the Boxing Day clash, as Chris Neal returned in goal after his injury lay-off, while Luke Burke and Nathan Shaw also got the nod.

The previous Boxing Day meeting between the sides was at the same level in 2016, when two Jason Walker goals secured a Chorley victory at Fylde.

The Magpies got the perfect start on Saturday, when some clever hold-up play from Lewis Reilly enabled Hall to curl the ball home from the corner of the 18-yard box.

The goal seemed to wake the visitors up and their dominance paid off 12 minutes later, when Tollitt squeezed the ball past Matt Urwin to equalise.

Chorley then came back into the ascendency as goalscorer Hall broke through but an outstanding last-ditch challenge from captain Nathan Pond was enough to prevent the frontman from doubling his tally.

Then it was former Coaster Arlen Birch who drove forward for the Magpies. The full-back broke free of Tollitt and pulled the ball back to Lewis Reilly from the byline but his effort was blocked by Pond again.

As the first half drew to a close, Shaw saw two long-range efforts go close. The first was held well by keeper Urwin and the second just missed the far post after taking a deflection.

Alex Whitmore had a header saved on the stroke of half-time, the big central defender rising highest in the penalty area to head a Shaw corner at Urwin as the half ended all square.

Fylde dominated the early moments of the second half, knocking the ball around in a way that spectators have become accustomed to this campaign.

Within two minutes of the restart a Tollitt free-kick gave Chorley a scare, then Danny Philliskirk struck the base of the post four minutes later after a free-flowing move.

Then came the moment that swung the game in Chorley’s favour. A looping corner in the 58th minute was met by Owens, who headed past the diving Neal with his first touch after coming off the bench.

With Fylde attempting to recover, Chorley produced with a similar sucker punch three minutes later.

It was another set-piece, this time Smith rising highest to head into the back of the net.

A handball shout was waved away midway through the second half, when Jack Sampson flicked a header on to the raised hand of Lewis Baines.

Chadwick urges his side on, but although Fylde huffed and puffed for the remainder of the game a solid Chorley outfit stood strong to deny any chance of a comeback.

A last-minute red card for Chorley defender Tyler Garrett made no difference to the outcome.

Back-to-back league defeats have seen Fylde slip a place to fourth, with Chester moving above them. The Coasters are now nine points behind leaders Gloucester City.

Before Saturday's rematch with Chorley, Fylde welcome Southport to Mill Farm on Monday for a 3pm kick-off.

Fylde: Neal, Burke, Conlan, Pond, Whitmore, Tollitt, Philliskirk (Nolan 88), Mondal, Shaw, Sampson, Lussey (Brennan 77); Subs not used: Sanders, Hulme, Willoughby

Chorley: Urwin, Birch, Smith, Leather, Baines, Calveley (Garratt 69), Reilly (Owens 57), Newby, Tomlinson, Shenton (Henley 57), Hall; Subs not used: Jebbison, Marah

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