It was defeat at Mill Farm for the Coasters as a first-half Michael Coulson brace gave Scarborough Athletic all three points.

Coulson got the scoring underway after picking up a loose pass in the middle of the park and striking low into the bottom corner before grabbing a second from close range after confusion in the Fylde box.

James Rowe made just one change to the Fylde side, with Danny Whitehead coming in to replace Keenan Patten. Curtis Weston was a notable addition to the bench, returning from a medium-term injury.

Scarborough started the game well, coming out of the traps firing, which brought a perfect opportunity for Kieran Glynn when he burst through the Fylde back line and was one-on-one with Chris Neal, though ending up flicking wide of the post.

On the break down the other end, the Coasters got forward quickly, with Haughton nodding into the path of Joe Rowley, who switched play and found Sam Osborne running through on goal, but he blasted over from the edge of the area.

However, it was the visitors who took the lead after a loose pass from Danny Whitehead was picked up 25 yards from goal by Coulson, who drilled past Neal into the bottom corner.

The visitors gained momentum from their opener and grabbed a second moments later when confusion in the Coasters box led to Coulson latching on to another loose ball and slotting into the net.

Half chances were to follow for the Coasters as they looked for a route back into the game.

First through Cranston, whose free-kick evaded everyone and ran out for a goal kick before Osborne and Fylde’s protests for a penalty were waved away after the striker was brought down in the area.

Half-Time: AFC Fylde 0-2 Scarborough Athletic   

The interval came at a good time for the Coasters, and they came out for the second half on the front foot, with chances for both Osborne and Weston.

Haughton did superbly to skip past three men and feed Osborne inside the area, but Cracknell was out quickly to deny him before Weston lined one up from 20 yards out, skidding the ball off the surface and forcing the Boro keeper into a smart stop.

Scarborough were wanting more when they broke quickly from a Fylde attack, with William Jarvis having the chance to cut inside and curl towards the bottom corner, which Neal saved well down to his right.

There was an opportunity of his own for Haughton minutes later when he drove a powerful right-footed strike towards the top corner, which Cracknell sprung across his line and palmed away.

The Coasters’ leading scorer in the league so far, Nick Haughton, was looking most likely to at least pull one back for James Rowe’s men after he let fly towards the top corner, but standing in his way again was Cracknell, who was proving to be Boro’s star man.

Aiming to round the game off for the Seadogs was Daniel Bramall as he travelled down the line, cut inside and shot just wide.

Full-Time: AFC Fylde 0-2 Scarborough Athletic    

AFC Fylde: Neal, Whitmore, Davis (62’ Holmes), Morrison, Cranston (46’ Barrett), Conlan, Whitehead (46’ Weston), Philliskirk, Rowley, Haughton, Osborne.

Unused subs: Bird, Patten.

Scarborough Athletic: Cracknell Jackson, Maloney, Thornton, Gooda, Coulson (58’ Burton), Watson, Charles, Glynn, Dom Tear, Jarvis (75’ Bramall).

Unused Subs: Weledji, Plant, Cogill.