Exeter City 2 AFC Fylde 1: Coasters bow out of FA Cup with heads high as League Two club hold on

Jordan Hulme’s tidy finish after 11 minutes gave The Coasters a dream start, but two first-half goals from academy graduates Matt Jay and Alex Hartridge helped secure the Grecians' place in Monday's draw.

Jim Bentley made one change to the team that started Tuesday's draw at Alfreton Town, giving midfielder Jordan Lussey his first start for the club and dropping the experienced David Perkins to the bench.

Exeter made seven changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Morecambe in their League Two encounter in midweek.

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors, with young Exeter City defender Alex Hartridge getting his head to a corner and sending it just wide of Chris Neal’s far post. It was a let-off for the visitors in the first minute.

AFC Fylde quickly settled into the game, however, and controlled the opening moments

Their dominance was rewarded with 11 minutes on the clock. Nick Haughton jinked past two defenders and saw his shot deflect towards AFC Fylde’s number nine Jordan Hulme. The striker held off Rory Mcardle, swivelled and drove the ball past keeper Jokull Andresson.

Exeter looked to expose the visitors down the flanks, swinging several crosses into the box that were defended well by skipper-on-the-day Alex Whitmore, and Wigan Athletic loanee Jack Sanders.

On 22 minutes, Hulme found himself in some room again but this time Andresson managed to get a hand to his strike and divert away from goal.

The Coasters continued to pile on the pressure as Ben Tollitt then saw a curling effort saved by Andresson after 23 minutes.

Three minutes later, Exeter found an equaliser against the run of play. Jay sprang into life on the left wing, cut inside and drove a low effort past the outstretched arms of Neal.

In the 33rd minute the game swung in Exeter’s favour as Hartridge instinctively turned and found the back of the net to give the Grecians the lead.

The young centre-back found room in the penalty area and reacted well to a header down from a corner for his first senior goal.

Neal made an outstanding save after 35 minutes to keep the score at 2-1, Alex Seymour getting free at the front post but denied by the keeper's right leg.

The final chance of the first half fell to Fylde number 10 Haughton. The creative midfielder, who hadn't made much of an impact until this point, found some room 25 yards out and tried his luck. His effort flew just over Andresson’s crossbar following a wicked deflection.

It took seven minutes for the second-half to come to life, but then powerful centre-forward Hulme held off McArdle and struck an effort towards the top corner only for the goalkeeper to parry the effort over the bar.

Hulme was then on the floor claiming for a penalty on the hour mark but the referee waved his protests away - much to his dismay.

With less than 15 minutes to go, Haughton had the perfect opportunity to fire The Coasters level.

After weaving in an out of the hosts’ defence, Haughton found himself eight yards out with the goal at his mercy, but he lost his footing at the crucial moment and the chance passed.

The busy Andresson had more work to do on 81 minutes, getting across to tip Luke Burke’s left-footed long-range effort wide.

The final 10 minutes saw The Coasters pour bodies forward in search of the all-important equaliser. Unfortunately, their efforts were in vain.

A disappointing climax, but a valiant effort by Jim Bentley’s side who gave the League Two opposition plenty of scares.

Fylde: Neal, Burke, Conlan, Whitmore, Sanders, Philliskirk, Lussey (Perkins 65), Tollitt, Shaw (Mondal 89), Haughton (Willoughby 82), Hulme; Subs not used: Ogle, Stanley, Byrne.

Exeter: Andresson, Caprice (Kay 82), Sweeney, McArdle, Hartridge, Sparkes, Jay, Kite (Taylor 63), Law, Seymour, Bowman (Randall 67); Subs not used: Lee, Dean, Williams, Ajose

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