Fylde silence Morrell’s Lambs

Fylde opened up a four-point lead at the top of Vanarama Conference North with this eighth successive league win.

Goals from Danny Lloyd, Joe Booth and Michael Barnes sealed victory over Andy Morrell’s Lambs.

Disciplined in defence, creative in midfield and prolific in front of goal, this performance epitomised the spirit and confidence of the Coasters.

Dave Challinor three changes to the side that beat North Ferriby United 1-0 on Saturday. Luke Denson, Joe Booth and Danny Lloyd replaced Liam Tomsett, Michael Potts and Danny Rowe for a side playing their eighth match in four weeks

Tamworth goalkeeper James Belshaw got down well to his right, after a long-range effort from Luke Denson in the 10th minute, before Caspar Hughes shot straight at the keeper from 10 yards.

The Coasters continued to control the tempo and took the lead in the 23rd minute with Lloyd’s sublime left-foot strike from 30 yards.

Fylde continued to pres, with Richie Allen and Adam Sumner going close.

Tamworth were forced to settle for ambitious long-range efforts which rarely troubled Ben Hinchliffe in the visitors’ goal.

Tamworth began the second half with more intent but Hughes missed a great chance to double Fylde’s lead in the 53rd minute, when his effort was cleared off the line by Tamworth defender Thomas James.

It wasn’t until the 61st minute that the Coasters added their second.

Joe Booth, who last weekend reached 300 appearances for the club, grasped full control of the game for his team by heading in Michael Barnes’ exquisite cross in acrobatic

style.

The provider then turned goalscorer as Barnes seized on a long clearance by Hinchliffe to chip the ball over the advancing Belshaw and head the ball into an empty net.

And Fylde received a further boost as striker Matty Blinkhorn saw his first action as a second-half substitute since getting injured in last season’s play-off final.

Fylde have now scored 28 goals in eight league games and kept four consecutive clean sheets.

That’s not bad form to take into Saturday’s FA Cup third qualifying round tie at home to Buxton.