The points were shared at the Northolme Stadium as it finished goalless between The Coasters and Gainsborough with neither side being able to take their chances.

Both Josh Langley and Tom Hannigan hit the bar in the closing stages of the first half but that’s as close as The Coasters got to scoring a goal which would have taken them back to the top of the league table after Barrow also drew 0-0.

There really wasn’t much in the game, although Danny Rowe had a number of efforts but none of them really tested the Trinity keeper Rory Watson who saw many shots fly past both of his posts.

Fylde started brightly enough, Josh Wilson firing the first shot at goal after a couple of minutes for The Coasters but it was well held by Watson.

Danny Rowe produced a magnificent bit of skill as he manoeuvred the ball around several Gainsborough defenders before firing a 30 yard shot at goal, it took a bounce before Watson smothered it at the first attempt.

Rowe then went close for a second time in as many minutes as he had another powerful shot at goal from outside the box, but his second shot of the game had the same outcome as his first.

Paul Beesley and Stephen Brogan managed to get in behind the Coasters defence in the opening part of the game but that ever reliant back four for Fylde thwarted any attempts. Liam Davis tried his luck from 25 yards out after some good build up play in the middle of the park for the home side but Hinchliffe was more than equal to the shot.

Rowe then tried again on the turn from 25 yards out but it sailed over the bar, before Richie Baker tried his luck from a similar position but his effort went way wide of the target.

The best chance of the first half fell to Stephen Brogan around the 20 minutes mark as he was fed through, he advanced into the box before firing his shot out of the stadium.

With five minutes left of the first half, Tom Hannigan connected excellently with his head from a Richie Baker corner but his header cannoned off the bar. Just after that, Josh Wilson tried another long range attempt for The Coasters but again, like most of the previous shots in the first half, it was just wide.

Just before the half time whistle, The Coasters won a corner which was delivered well by Lloyd and Josh Langley met it as well as Hannigan did earlier and it was the same outcome as earlier as Langley’s header hit the bar. The two golden chances in the first half fell to The Coasters and the two centre halves for Fylde were both denied by the crossbar.

Some good early play in the second half from The Coasters resulted in a corner after the ball was switched from right to left across the box, before the corner eventually found its way to Danny Rowe who headed just wide of the left had post.

A huge kick downfield evaded the entire Fylde defence, Brogan ran through on goal but Hinchliffe got down well to block his near post shot just after.

The industrious Danny Rowe marvelled his way into the penalty area again and this time he found Richie Allen with a great through ball and Allen hit it towards goal but it was cleared off the line by Gainsborough’s left back, Josh Lacey.

Brad Barnes hit a 25 yard rasper towards goal but it sailed just wide of the right hand post and the Coasters were on top going into the last 20 minutes of the game. The Coasters then won a free kick about 25 yards out, but Danny Rowe couldn’t convert as his attempt hit the back of the stand.

A minute later, Trinity won a free kick in a very similar position down the other end of the pitch which Brogan fired straight into the wall and out for a corner which was eventually cleared. That sequence of play summed up the game really, as both sides tried and tried but couldn’t get the ball over the finishing line.

Danny Rowe went very close to winning it for The Coasters with just a couple of minutes left as his left foot shot was heading into the back of the net but it took a late deflection to go out for a corner, which was well cleared by the home side.

Substitute Chris Hamilton had Gainsborough’s best chance of the game and should have won it for the home side as he raced through on goal but he dragged his left footed shot just wide of the target and the game finished goalless.

Another point gained for The Coasters and with five games left, The Coasters are still firmly in the title chase.

 

Gainsborough Trinity: Watson, Roma ©,Lacey, Binns (85), Quinn, Picton, Russell, Davis, Beesley, Brogan (82), Yates (64)

Subs: Stamp, Toner (85), Salt, Hamilton (82), Davie (64)

 

AFC Fylde: Hinchlffe, Hughes, Sumner, Langley, Hannigan, B. Barnes ©, Baker. Wilson (73), Rowe, Lloyd, Allen (82).

Subs: Booth (73), Dootson, Denson, Tomsett, Charles (82)

 

Man of the Match – Tom Hannigan

Attendance: 432