AFC Fylde suffered back-to-back defeats on Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss away at Hereford FC, despite Danny Whitehead equalising midway through the second half.  

Things got off on the wrong foot when Harry Davis got the wrong side of his man to concede a penalty after 23 minutes, leaving Tyrone Barnett to slot in from 12 yards.

However, with the Coasters dominating possession, Whitehead popped up with an equaliser when his effort deflected off a Hereford shirt and in past Dale Eve.

The game took a turn for the worse on 73 minutes when Connor Barrett saw a second yellow card and then red brandished in his direction for kicking the ball away after fouling out wide.

Following the decision by referee Jonathon Maskrey, Hereford pushed forward and found a winner when Jared Hodgkiss crossed into the six-yard box for Orrin Pendley to nod into the bottom corner.

Andy Taylor made two changes from the defeat at Leamington FC, with Alex Whitmore returning from suspension and Curtis Weston coming in to replace Pierce Bird & Siya Ligendza.

The first bit of action came for the Coasters when after Nick Haughton was tugged back on the edge of the area, he stepped up to the free-kick awarded and smashed it off the post, almost getting the Coasters off to a flyer.

A few half chances were to follow for the Coasters as first Haughton dropped a shoulder after receiving a pass from Danny Philliskirk to fire inches wide of the post before Luke Charman took the ball in his stride on the half-turn to strike well over the bar from 25 yards.

However, despite all the early domination, Hereford found the opener after Davis was dispossessed by Barnett before proceeding to pull at the Hereford frontman’s shirt, leaving the referee with no option but to point to the spot.  

With a yellow card brandished in the direction of Davis, Barnett stepped up, sent Chris Neal the wrong way and slotted into the back of the net.

Fylde continued to move the ball well without creating any clear-cut opportunities as half-time approached, with Danny Philliskirk and Danny Whitehead both having shots blocked.

Half-Time: Hereford FC 1-0 AFC Fylde  

Andy Taylor sent his side out in the second half with work to do, and that sparked the Coasters into their first attack of the half just three minutes in when Connor Barrett got a cross into Luke Charman, who flicked at goal but into the hands of Eve.

The half-time team talk must have worked, though, as the possession-based football that the Coasters were putting on display paid off after Danny Whitehead worked some space to shoot at goal, seeing the effort deflect off a Hereford leg and past Eve.

There wasn’t time for letting up, as Hereford reminded Fylde. After a mistake in the Fylde backline, Barnett, searching for his second of the evening, laced at goal, and from point-blank range, Neal sprung across his line to keep him out.

For the second game in a row, the Coasters looked in control, but the game was turned on its head by another Connor Barrett red card after the defender received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.

Moments later, the sucker punch landed when a Hereford ball in from the right was met by the rising Pendley, who headed down into the wet surface and then the bottom corner.

Hoping for an instant response, the Coasters attacked with pace with just minutes left on the clock

, which led to Joe Rowley picking the ball up inside the 18-yard box to clip a ball to the back post, where Curtis Weston was there to nod just wide.

Full-Time: Hereford FC 2-1 AFC Fylde  

Hereford FC: Eve, Hodgkiss, Evans, Haines, Amadi-Holloway, Pinchard, Storey, Hanson, Pendley, Barnett (87 Caton), Holmes (56’ Thompson-Syers).

Unused subs: Tyler, Derricott, Campbell.

AFC Fylde: Neal, Barrett, Whitmore, Davis, Conlan, Weston, Philliskirk, Haughton, Walker (58’ Rowley), Whitehead (86’ Rowe), Charman (80’ Ligendza).

Unused subs: Bird, Hatfield.