Dorking Wanderers 2 – 4 AFC Fylde
McShane 22′, Briggs 60′ – Haughton 35′, Byrne 55′, Williams 76′, Haughton 83′
AFC Fylde booked their place in the quarter-final of the FA Trophy, as Nick Haughton’s double helped the Coasters power past Dorking Wanderers.
Jim Bentley made four changes to the side that lost to Boreham Wood – with Jameson, Philliskirk, Bradley and Kosylo all starting.
Jamie Proctor missed out, with one eye on Tuesday’s trip to Eastleigh, whilst Tom Walker’s cup-tied status ruled him out.
The Coasters started well, with Matty Kosylo in particular looking bright for the Coasters – whilst Jordan Williams worked tirelessly through the middle.
The game started with a quick tempo, with both sides creating half chances – McManus darting in off the left wing to fire a deflected effort just wide.
Despite the early foothold, the Coasters fell behind in the 28th minute, as James McShane fired Wanderers ahead.
It came after good work on the right hand side from Matt Briggs saw him whip an inviting ball into the back post – where McShane was poised to slide it in underneath Sam Hornby.
The Coasters responded well, and soon found themselves level through a fantastic piece of work from Nick Haughton.
After a dazzling run saw him chopped down outside the box, the Coasters playmaker stood up to take the free-kick.
His connection with the ball was sweet, sending a low, swerving effort goalwards – whistling past Slavomir Huk, and into the back of the net.
Half-time: Dorking Wanderers 1 – 1 AFC Fylde
Soon after the restart, the Coasters had got themselves in front – with Nick Haughton once again at the centre of it.
A free-kick from the edge of the box was clawed away by Huk in the Dorking net, and although it looked like it may have gone in, the Coasters soon made sure.
Kosylo was alert to fire the ball back goalwards, with it kindly falling to Neill Byrne, who powered a thumping effort into the roof of the net from close range.
The lead didn’t last for too long, however, with Dorking Wanderers soon giving the bumper home crowd something to get excited about.
After failing to clear a routine ball into the box, Briggs reacted fastest to it, and struck a fantastic first time effort that gave Sam Hornby no chance.
The Coasters had to weather a storm, with the tails up for the home side – Matt Briggs continuing to be at the heart of it.
Jim Bentley decided he’d seen enough, and made a double change – with recently recalled Sheldon Green and newly signed Tom Miller entering the fray.
They came in at the expense of Kosylo and Jameson – and had an instant impact, combing well to earn a corner.
Eventually, Fylde got themselves back in the lead, after sublime work from full-back Luke Burke.
His direct run opened up space in the box, which allowed him to fire an effort goal wards – which Huk could only parry into the path of Jordan Williams.
Williams couldn’t have asked for an easier opportunity to fire his 13th of the season, slotting calmly into the empty net and restoring the lead.
With ten minutes left on the clock, Nick Haughton put the game to bed with a sublime strike from the edge of the box.
Good work from Sheldon Green saw the ball recycled to Luke Burke, who slipped Haughton in – with one thing on his mind.
His strike was another swerving one, nestling inside the far post and giving the outstretched Slav Huk no chance.
Whilst Dorking knocked on the door late on, they couldn’t reduce the deficit – and were nearly made to pay the price when Sheldon Green slipped one just past the post.
The whistle went, and with it, the Coasters continued their fantastic record in the FA Trophy final, and in the hat ahead of Monday afternoon’s draw.
Teams
Dorking Wanderers: Huk, Philpot, Beard, Harris (C), Gallagher, McManus, Barham, Muitt, McShane, Gallagher, Briggs.
Subs: Dyett, Moore, Sole, Richards, Membrillera, Barnett.
AFC Fylde: Hornby, Jameson (Miller 68’), Whitmore, Byrne, Burke, Croasdale, Philliskirk, Bradley (Montrose 77’), Haughton, Kosylo (Green 68’), Williams
Subs unused: Lavercombe, Taylor, Stanley.
