AFC Fylde maintained their terrific home record in the National League with a convincing 3-0 win over struggling Braintree Town at Mill Farm.

Goals from Serhat Tasdemir, Danny Philliskirk and Danny Rowe secured the points for the Coasters against their Essex opponents.

Dave Challinor kept faith with the same team that drew 0-0 at Halifax on Tuesday night and his faith was rewarded after 11 minutes.

Serhat Tasdemir picked up the ball on the edge of the box, nutmegged a Braintree defender before placing the ball nicely into the bottom left corner out of the reach of Killip.

Braintree responded and went close through Christie Pattison’s 25-yard strike which swerved just over the crossbar and just a few minutes later a wonder save from Jay Lynch denied a powerful header from Ellul from six yards.

A poor touch from Ryan Croasdale gave Mohammed Bettamer a huge chance to level on the half-hour mark but his quickly taken shot was pounced on by Lynch.

A change in referees just before the break due to illness couldn’t halt the Coasters’ momentum and they doubled their lead five minutes after the break. A superb cross from the right from Arlen Birch was met perfectly by Philliskirk who guided his header past Killip from 12 yards.

It could and should have been three just a few minutes later. A well-weighted cross from the left wing by Rowe was stabbed just wide of the near post by the onrushing Jim Kellermann.

Braintree had a golden opportunity to half the deficit as Bettamer was slipped through one on one but he slid the ball narrowly wide of the far left post.

Goalscorer Tasdemir was then replaced by Ash Hemmings before the Coasters made it safe a few minutes later. This time a cross from the left from Joe Cardle found Danny Rowe who powered a header into the near left corner from 8 yards.

Rowe almost doubled his tally when he turned his marker on the left-hand side of the penalty area before curling his shot just wide of the far right post with Hemmings just out of reach.

The Coasters have looked a threat from corners this season and the aerial ability of Neill Byrne caused the visitors problems as he twice headed narrowly wide from corners in the latter stages.

Half chances for Francis-Angol and Cardle followed with the game reaching its conclusion whilst up the other end Braintree used their aerial advantage to test Lynch from several corners.

The final whistle signified another three points at Mill Farm for the Coasters who move back into the final play-off place and close the gap to leaders Salford City to just five points.

Fylde will be hoping for a second away win of the season when they travel to Derbyshire next Saturday to face Chesterfield.

Manager Dave Challinor commented:

“It was a poor first half by our standards, about as bad a first half as it’s been but in the second half the lads took on board what we said and I thought we managed the second half really well. We’d been working on crossing and finishing from crosses on Thursday and it’s paid dividends today with two good goals.”

AFC Fylde:

Lynch, Birch, Byrne, Tunnicliffe, Francis-Angol (72), Croasdale, Kellermann, Philliskirk, Tasdemir (64), Rowe, Cardle (86)

SUBS: Bond (72), Hardy (86), Hemmings (64)

NOT USED:
Brewitt, Kane

Braintree Town:

Killip, Muleba, Nieskens, Gabriel (C), James (60), Pattison, Allen, Sagaf, Bettamer (69), Rowe (53)

SUBS: Grant (53), Della Verde (60), Thompson (69)

NOT USED:
Clarke, Webber