Macclesfield Town vs AFC Fylde

National League
vs
Tue 12th September 2017
Score: 2 - 1

Match Report

AFC Fylde suffered last-minute heartbreak once again in the National League as they went down 2-1 away at Macclesfield Town.

Scott Wilson opened the scoring in shocking conditions at The Moss Rose however Jack Muldoon levelled up shortly after the break with his second goal of the season. 

The Coasters were made to pay for missed chances during a rejuvenated second-half display when Wilson raced through to clinch the points in added time.

Manager Dave Challinor made just one change to the side that came from two goals down to earn a draw against Bromley at the weekend with Jonny Smith replacing Henry Jones on the left flank.

The unlikely figure of Lewis Montrose was the first to threaten when he was teed up by Muldoon on the edge of the area however his fierce first-time effort was deflected narrowly wide. 

Sam Finley unleashed a wicked swerving strike in the aftermath of the resultant corner that flew inches wide of the upright. Andy Bond dragged one wide of the opposite post moments later as the Coasters kept up their early pressure.

However, against the run of play, Macclesfield took the lead. Out wide on the right, Elliott Durrell crossed low into the six-yard box for Wilson to slide the ball home ahead of Simon Grand.

The goal had woken up the hosts and only a last-gasp challenge from Jordan Tunnicliffe prevented Scott Burgess from firing home as he bore down on goal. 

Danny Rowe was close to bagging one of the goals of the season midway through the half when he met Bond’s inch-perfect cross with a thunderous volley from 15 yards that was a whisker away from finding the top corner.

Former Coaster Kieran Kennedy almost had a hand in putting Fylde back onto level terms when his back pass eluded goalkeeper Shwan Jalal but was relieved to see the ball roll wide of the post and out for a corner.

Veteran Macclesfield midfield man Danny Whitaker should have put daylight between the sides on the half-hour mark when he was picked out by Durrell within six yards however he somehow managed to slice his effort wide of the far post.

The visitors were struggling to cope with the lively Durrell and Rhys Taylor had to make sure with his save from the midfielder’s long range drive that skipped up off the zippy surface.

Fylde full-back Zaine Francis-Angol fashioned a chance after a quiet spell from the side in orange, flashing a low strike narrowly wide of the far post as the half drew to a close.

The half-time team talk from Challinor must have worked a treat and within four minutes of the restart the Coasters were level. Montrose capitalised on a poor clearance and played in Muldoon who lashed a strike at goal that was deflected into the bottom corner by Jalal.

Fylde had the wind in their sails and Rowe was unlucky to see a thunderbolt from the left arrow agonisingly wide of the far post.

Montrose was controlling play in the final third and his cute pass inside the full-back found the advancing Bond who really should have done better with his final strike when one-on-one with Jalal.

There was very little between the sides as the half progressed and a tame header from centre-half over Keith Lowe was the best the hosts could muster. 

However, a quick attack with 15 minutes to play almost saw the Silkmen restore their lead. Ryan Lloyd’s cross from the left picked Whitaker who in turn found goalscorer Wilson, however his first time volley was just over the bar.

Fylde almost found a winner of their own five minutes later when the pacy Smith raced on to a forward ball, knocking the ball past Lowe before slamming a shot into the side netting.

But just as it looked as though the sides would share the points, Macclesfield nicked the winner. Wilson latched onto an incisive through ball with seconds remaining and rounded Taylor before sliding the ball into the gaping goal.

Macclesfield: Jalal, Fitzpatrick, Lowe, Durrell, Wilson (Marsh 90), Baba, Kennedy, Hancox, Toure (Lloyd 66), Burgess (Arthur 82), Whitaker.

Subs not used: Pilkington, Richards.

AFC Fylde: Taylor, Burke, Tunnicliffe, Grand, Francis-Angol, Montrose (Tasdemir 81), Bond, Finley, Muldoon, Smith (Jones 88), Rowe.

Subs not used: Lynch, Ezewele, McCready.

Att: 1,065

Ref: M Donohue