AFC Fylde manager Dave Challinor was a happy man after his side returned to winning ways in the National League with a 3-1 victory over Dover Athletic.  

The win moved Fylde back into the play-off places at the expense of Dover, who had started the day in the top seven. 

Striker Danny Rowe levelled the scores at Mill Farm after Mitch Pinnock had put the south coast outfit ahead, before substitutes Serhat Tasdemir and James Hardy turned the game on its head during a rousing second-half display. 

Speaking after the game, Challinor said: “We didn’t deserve to go behind. I thought we played well in the first half without ever creating any real chances. 

“We were comfortable and then they score with their only real chance after the break. We miss a tackle and it breaks nicely for them to finish it. 

“We didn’t panic and continued to do what I thought would eventually bring us joy and it deservedly did in the last 20 minutes. 

“We more than merited the three points. Some people have maybe asked questions of us over the last two games but Saturday was back to what we do best. 

“We were brave in possession, brought the ball out from the back and I’m really pleased with a massive three points that puts us back where we want to be.

Challinor was also quick to praise game-changers Tasdemir and Hardy: “It looks great as a manager when you bring players on and they score, if only it happened like that all the time! 

“Because of how Dover play, I knew that movement later in the game would cause them problems. Bringing on the likes of James and Tugs towards the end when legs are starting to tire would always trouble them.

“Both of them want to get into the starting line-up and they have done themselves no harm whatsoever.”