Fylde fire blanks for first time as home form can’t match success on the road

AFC Fylde couldn't build on their weekend win at Boston United as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at home to Carlisle United on Tuesday, writes WILLIAM JONES.

Craig Mahon named an unchanged team and saw them make the brighter start at Mill Farm, Danny Mayor having the first shot in anger when he fired over from the edge of the box.

Luca Thomas then tested the reflexes of Carlisle keeper Adam Desbois on 18 minutes with a low drive.

Carlisle showed attacking intent too as Morgan Feeney fired just wide from a corner and Miguel Azeez curled a shot the wrong side of the far post.

Mayor beat his man down the left and cut the ball back for Corey Whelan, who placed his shot wide.

The visitors broke the deadlock five minutes before the break, when Mayor was caught in possession on the edge of his own box. Jack Ellis had a direct run at goal and slotted the ball past Zac Jones.

The Cumbrians went close to a second five minutes in the second half, when Georgie Kelly headed just wide, then Azeez had Jones scrambling across his goal to keep the ball out.

Thomas and Whelan tried their luck from distance and boss Mahon rang the changes in search of an equaliser.

However, it was Carlisle who scored again on 79 minutes, Regan Linney tapping home a low cross by David Ajiboye.

Substitute Jack Morris looked the most likely to pull one back for the Coasters but Desbois rushed off his line to thwart him, while at the other end Jones denied Linney a second.

Mahon said afterwards: "They're a good team and the first half was a little cagey to say the least, but I thought it was a really good game of football. For us to go toe-to-toe with Carlisle is a credit to the club."

Having failed to score for the first time in 11 matches since promotion to the National League, Fylde have slipped two places to fifth and are now nine points behind leaders Boreham Wood.

The Coasters have won four successive away games but only one out of five at Mill Farm.

This Saturday Fylde visit Southend United, who were above them on goal difference before facing Eastleigh on Wednesday.

FYLDE: Jones, Broad, Mitchell (Upton 68), Merrie (Butterfield 68), Thomas (Morris 78), T Whelan, Mayor (Olley 60), Lancaster, C Whelan, Matthews-Lewis (Main 60), Drewe; Not used: Boyes, Taylor