Second half double keeps Fylde top

AFC Fylde 2, Bamber Bridge 0LEAGUE leaders AFC Fylde consolidated their position at the top of the table with this 2-0 win over Bamber Bridge.

Both goals came in the second half with Jimmy McCarthy giving the home side the lead two minutes after the re-start – Bradley Barnes then sealed the win on 68 minutes from a well-worked team goal.

Fylde had the better of the opening 45 minutes and created a number of chances to take an early lead.

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Glenn Steel sent his shot inches wide on six minutes before Richie Allen almost broke through the last line of defence trying to reach a through-ball from Matty Kay.

Fylde manager Dave Challinor demanded an early goal in the second half and two minutes in the home side were ahead thanks to some outstanding build-up play resulting in McCarthy scoring his third goal for the club, firing into the right side of the goal from the edge of the area.

Holding on to a slender lead, the Coasters knew Brig were capable of nicking one back, so immediately went in search of a second but not before Bell and Matt Mahoney attempted to level the score.

The second goal eventually came with 68 minutes gone.

Some good passing play saw the ball end up at the feet of Jarvis and this time his cross was inch perfect as Barnes was able to direct his header back at goal, wrong-footing Dovey and double the Coasters’ lead. Michael Barnes was introduced just before that and had a couple of chances to extend Fylde’s lead late on.

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First he had a shot saved by the keeper before hitting the bar with a sublime effort on 77 minutes.

Despite pressing men forward, the visitors couldn’t pull a goal back meaning Fylde have now won their last seven games and recorded a sixth consecutive clean sheet.

Challinor was happy with yet another three points but not with the overall performance - he said: “I had a right go at the lads at half time as they weren’t passing the ball around like they should have been.

“I said afterwards that we’ve won again but I don’t want to be winning the last three games by limping over the line.“

We’ve got three games left and I want to win them and win them convincingly.”