Hereford 1 AFC Fylde 4: Goal-hungry Coasters pull clear at top
AFC Fylde moved four points clear at the top of National League North with two 4-1 victories in four days.
Tuesday's win at Hereford matched Saturday's home result against King's Lynn Town as Tom Whelan and Luca Thomas scored in both games.
The Coasters went ahead inside five minutes at Edgar Street as Danny Mayor beat a man and slipped the ball inside for Preston North End loanee Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile to score.
Adam Lewis' cross would have resulted in an own goal but for a goal-line clearance, though Fylde did double their lead on 26 minutes.
A moment of Mayor magic saw the wideman glide past two defenders before curling his shot into the far corner from the edge of the area.
Fylde had to replace Alex Healy-Byrne after he came off worse in a challenge but they added their third on 38 minutes.
Mayor swung the ball in from a short corner and it reached Chris Merrie on the edge of the box. His shot was charged down only for Whelan to net the rebound.
Hereford came out firing for the second half as Mikey Lane curled an effort just wide but Fylde created more chances – Mayor played in Thomas, whose scuffed shot was saved by former Fylde keeper Theo Richardson.
But Thomas made no mistake on 61 minutes, collecting Felipe’s pass and curling a wonderful effort into the top corner.
Luke Hunter, recalled this week from his five-game loan spell at Workington in the Northern Premier League, impressed off the bench and almost set up a fifth for Fylde, though Felipe couldn't find a finish.
Hereford did grab a consolation on 89 minutes, when Harrison Sonha seized on a loose pass to score, but this was a hugely successful night for Fylde.
Ten days after finding themselves four points behind South Shields at the top, three straight wins have left Fylde four ahead – the Tyneside club were beaten 3-0 at King’s Lynn on Tuesday.
Craig Mahon's side next visit Worksop Town on Saturday before their final Tuesday night game at home to Marine.
FYLDE: Jones, Taylor, Merrie (Wilson 74), Thomas (Hunter 65), Mayor (Mitchell 59), Healy-Byrne (Coates 34), Lancaster, T Whelan, Felipe, Ormerod (Mo 80), Lewis; Not used: Boyes, McFayden.