Coasters win prized FA Cup place

AFC Fylde won through to the first round proper of the FA Cup for the second time in the club’s history thanks to a second half hat-trick from Richie Allen at The Walks.

In a game that was the epitome of a classic cup tie Kings Lynn led 1-0 at half time through George Thomson’s goal but within 16 minutes of the restart Fylde had turned it around to lead 3-1 with Allen’s first two either side of Michael Pott’s fifth goal of the season.

But a spirited home side did not give in and came back into the game through Thomson’s second mid-way through the half.

But Allen completed his hat-trick with 20 minutes to go to restore Fylde’s two goal cushion before the Linnets struck again through Stephen Spriggs to set up a tasty final five minutes where both Spriggs and Bradley Barnes were sent for early showers by the referee.

The opening exchanges had a tense feel about them as both sides stood up to each other well in midfield and very little was created in terms of clear-cut chances.

It took until the 29th minute for Fylde to find the target and it was Richie Allen who almost found the back of the net but after doing all the hard work his strike was cleared off the line by a defender and his cousin Jamie, on loan from Fleetwood Town, couldn’t quite reach the rebound.

But disaster struck for Fylde four minutes later as Michael Frew flicked on for Thomson to run through and lob Ben Hinchliffe for the lead.

And they came close to adding a second when Ryan Fryatt headed a corner wide of the goal seven minutes before the break.

Dave Challinor’s half-time team talk was probably the most important so far this season and the Coasters certainly took notice as within minutes of the restart Fylde had turned the tie on its head.

Richie Allen fired in his first on 50 minutes, side-footing home Mike Barnes’ low cross which was well left by Jamie Allen in the middle.

It was 2-1 five minutes later when another low cross from Barnes was cheekily back-heeled towards goal by Potts and keeper Alex Street could only watch it cross the line at his near post.

A comedy of errors from Linnets keeper Street eventually led to Fylde’s third goal on 61 minutes. A poor kick saw Jamie Allen block his attempted clearance and it fell kindly for Richie Allen only for Street to save his shot.

Liam Tomsett threw himself low to head the ball back towards goal – but a defender was on hand to clear his effort away from goal.

However, on the next attack Richie Allen beat Street to a high ball as he flicked it over the line with an overhead kick.

The game had been well and truly kicked into and within six minutes Kings Lynn were back in the game through Thomson’s second – a comfortable tap-in at the back post from post from Frew’s low cross.

But Fylde restored their two goal advantage in the 72nd minute as Richie Allen completed his hat-trick from a shot which Street got a hand to but couldn’t stop from trickling over his line.

The game wasn’t over there as Spriggs pulled it back to within a goal again for the home side when he headed into an empty net after some good pressure from the Linnetts with just five minutes to go.

The match became feisty late on as Spriggs was then shown red by referee Mr Fitch after an off the ball incident where Fylde’s Danny Lloyd was also shown a yellow.

And deep into stoppage time Bradley Barnes was given a second yellow card, and his marching orders, to take the gloss of what was an impressive second half display for The Coasters.

This result means Fylde are into the hat, ball 50, for the first round draw on Monday evening.