Curzon Ashton claimed all three points at Mill Farm in the National League North as the Coasters lost their unbeaten start to 2022.

An Alex Curran first-half goal was enough to see Curzon over the line despite several golden opportunities for the Coasters.

There were two changes to the Coasters side from the 2-2 draw against Chorley in midweek, with Tom Walker & Harry Davis coming in to replace Luke Joyce & Alex Whitmore.

New signing Jorome Slew made the bench after signing on a 28-day loan from National League South side Hampton & Richmond Borough.

After a quiet start to the game, it was the visitors who opened the scoring after a throw from Dan Pike to Bobby Jones got caught up in the wind, and Alex Curran nipped in front to tap into an empty net.

Nick Haughton had the first chance of the game for the Coasters when the ball fell to him on the edge of the area to shoot, but Renshaw gathered well.

Curzon were threatening the most out of the two sides, and when Jordan Richards whipped a teasing free-kick towards Adam Thomas at the near post, his flicked header rattled the bar.

The best chance of the game for Fylde came when a superb lofted ball from Nathan Shaw over the top of the Nash defence found Tom Walker bursting through on goal, who cut back onto his right foot to strike low and hard towards the bottom corner, which Renshaw kept out.

Half chances for Ben Tollitt and Danny Whitehead followed just before the break. Tollitt struck just over the bar, and Whitehead dragged his effort just wide of the post.

Half-Time: AFC Fylde 0-1 Curzon Ashton

Fylde should have been level just after the interval. First, a chance for Whitehead was saved on the line by Renshaw. Walker’s follow up was again saved by Renshaw and tipped onto the bar. Whitehead struck again, but Curzon Ashton cleared.

The visitors were unlucky not to have a second when Luke Conlan miskicked a clearance at the back post, which allowed Thomas bags of space to pick his spot, though Bobby Jones raced off his line to deny him brilliantly.

New signing Jorome Slew looked lively after coming off the bench and he had a great chance to level the score with a lob over Renshaw, who ventured off his line, but the Curzon shot-stopper recovered well to gather.

Time was ticking down, and another chance presented itself to Slew when Tollitt found him inside the 18-yard box, though he fired inches wide.

In the dying embers of the game, Sam Osborne turned on a sixpence and struck goalwards, and as the effort looked destined for the back of the net, Renshaw sprung across his line to tip the ball away from danger.

Full-Time: AFC Fylde 0-1 Curzon Ashton

AFC Fylde: Jones, Pike, Davis, Stott, Conlan (82’ Osborne), Philliskirk, Shaw, Whitehead (58’ Perkins), Tollitt, Walker (58’ Slew), Haughton.

Unused subs: Neal, Obi.  

Curzon Ashton FC: Renshaw, Thomas, Curran (74’ Dunn), Nolan, Wilson, Lussey, Richards, Cooke (82’ Knowles), Mahon (82’ Flowers), Barton, Teale.

Unused subs: Whitham, Hobson