Tamworth 1 AFC Fylde 2: Coasters deliver first win back in football’s fifth tier
Late first-half goals from Danny Ormerod and Cedric Main proved the difference as the Coasters earned a hard-fought first win of the National League season at Tamworth.
It was almost a dream start for the Coasters, who looked to work an opportunity inside the opening 30 seconds. After playing their way out of trouble, a couple of neat flicks saw Tom Whelan almost work a scoring chance, but it was just nicked away at the crucial moment.
But it was the hosts who broke the deadlock inside 10 minutes. As Kieran Donnelly beat the offside trap, he struck past Zac Jones to put the Lambs ahead in the Midlands.
Tamworth grew in confidence with Zac Jones being forced into a couple of saves, producing a great stop to deny Jordan Cullinane-Liburd, who met a dangerous free kick on the volley.
But towards the end of the half, Fylde could have felt hard done by after Whelan knocked a ball around what was originally the last defender; the covering full-back meant it was only a yellow card.
With the resulting set-piece, Craig Mahon's side were level. Whelan's delivery was met initially by a Fylde head before Ormerod was on hand to tap in the second ball with a close-range header to beat Jas Singh at his near post.
In the third minute of injury time, the Coasters turned the game on its head. Main was allowed a yard of space to turn before he hit an effort on the spin which was spilt by the Tamworth keeper, handing Fylde the lead.
Fylde again felt hard done by when it looked like Will Lancaster was caught with a late elbow, but with the defender staying on his feet, nothing was given from the referee.
Jones was then called into action and produced a sensational double save to deny the hosts from close range.
Tamworth continued to put pressure on in the latter stages, with Dan Creaney going close with a header which fell the right side of Jones' post from a Coasters point of view, before the hosts struck the inside of the post.
With six minutes added on, Main drew a foul which resulted in centre half Rye being given a second yellow, and Tamworth reduced to 10.
The Coasters held on with a great show of character to seal their first win since their return to the fifth tier.