Match Report
AFC Fylde turned in the performance of the season as they blew away National League leaders Macclesfield Town.
The Coasters hit their high-flying visitors for six in a clinical display as they continued their own promotion push.
Lewis Montrose opened the scoring early on and further strikes from Jack Muldoon, Sam Finley (2), Jonny Smith and Andy Bond secured Fylde’s biggest ever National League win.
Dave Challinor made one change from the side that netted a last-gasp winner against Guiseley a week ago with Muldoon replacing Simon Grand.
The Coasters went close to making the dream start when Smith found himself clean through just three minutes in however goalkeeper Sam Ramsbottom stood firm and blocked the winger’s low shot.
Macclesfield failed to take heed of Fylde’s early warning shot as the hosts took the lead after just six minutes. Smith whipped in a teasing corner from the left that was flicked home with ease by Lewis Montrose straight through the goalkeeper.
The home side should have doubled their lead when Danny Rowe slipped a reverse pass through to Muldoon who took a touch before firing a low cross a foot behind the lurking Smith.
Tyrone Marsh was the first in red and black to test Jay Lynch when he acrobatically met a cross in from the right that flew straight into the arms of the Fylde stopper.
It was one-way traffic as the half reach its midway point – Muldoon the next to chance his arm with a low 20-yard drive that was turned around the post by Ramsbottom. Jordan Tunnicliffe headed into the keeper’s arms from the resultant corner kick.
The early pressure was paying dividends for the Coasters who added a second just 23 minutes into an electric opening period. Sam Finley nudged the ball to Muldoon and the in-form forward curled a sublime strike into the top corner from fully 25 yards.
Danny Whitehead dragged a speculative strike wide as the stunned visitors desperately searched for a way back into the contest.
Their task was made all the more difficult ten minutes shy of the break when Fylde grabbed a third. Finley took aim with a hopeful effort from 30 yards that squirmed underneath Ramsbottom, who looked desperate for the ground to swallow him up.
Fylde kept their foot on the gas after the restart, enjoying the lions share of possession whilst Finley wasn’t far away with an ambitious strike from range.
Rowe, surprisingly not on the scoresheet already, flicked a header goalwards that was comfortably claimed by substitute stopper Shwan Jalal.
However, shortly before the hour the unstoppable hosts made it five. Smith took on a effort from the right looped over Jalal before being stroked home from a yard out by Finley.
George Wilkinson almost gave the visiting supporters something to cheer when his well-struck volley in acres of space arrowed towards goal, but Lynch was eager to keep his clean sheet and made an outstanding reaction stop.
Substitute Serhat Tasdemir should have put the icing own the cake for the Coasters when he burst forward, skipped past several challenges before seeing his strike deflected agonisingly wide of the post.
The away fans were flooding out of the exits by the time Fylde netted an unprecedented sixth. Rowe did fantastically well to dig out a cross from the right that Andy Bond met perfectly to volley into the bottom corner.
Bond could have had his second in the dying seconds when a loose ball fell to him eight yards out however he lashed his effort over the top.
AFC Fylde: Lynch, Burke, Tunnicliffe, Stubbs, Francis-Angol, Montrose, Bond, Finley (Taylor 80), Muldoon (Chettle 72), Smith (Tasdemir 63), Rowe.
Subs not used: Grand, Blinkhorn.
Macclesfield: Ramsbottom (Jalal 46), Pilkington, Lowe, Kennedy, Fitzpatrick, Whitehead, Lloyd, Whitaker, Durrell, Burgess (Wilson 37), Marsh (Blissett 67).
Subs not used: Evans, Hancox.
Ref: Matthew Diacco
Att: 1,982