AFC Fylde were held to a 3-3 draw against Dorking Wanderers in the Vanarama National League in front of the TNT Sports cameras at Mill Farm.

Nick Haughton, Luke Charman and Jon Ustabasi all scored before half-time to put the Coasters in command on a sun-kissed but crisp Fylde Coast afternoon, either side of James McShane’s leveller.

Dorking added a further two goals late in the second half through Josh Taylor and McShane again to earn a point.

Chris Beech made two changes to the side that earned a late draw against FC Halifax Town, with Max Conway & Nick Haughton replacing Emeka Obi & Danny Whitehead.

Early openings for Fylde came when Taelor O’Kane struck wide and Charman’s snapshot was blocked.

Fylde were ahead with just three minutes played when Haughton arrowed a left-footed strike across goal, which found the bottom-right corner and beat goalkeeper Harrison Male.

However, Marc White’s visitors equalised three minutes later. A free-kick deep into the Coasters box was turned in by McShane, who reacted quickest to level matters.

Aiming to regain their advantage, Fylde had opportunities at goal, with Josh Kay’s effort from the left well-watched and held by Male, whilst Connor Barrett and Ustabasi sent efforts off target.

The Coasters then had defending to do, as Nelson Khumbeni had to charge down an effort from the edge of the box after a combination of Sam Graham and Harry Davis ensured a free-kick didn’t reach Theo Richardson’s goal.

Fylde went close again when build-up play from Barrett and Ustabasi saw a cross sent into a dangerous position, with visiting defenders Barry Fuller and Tony Craig forced to clear the ball to safety.

Half an hour in, and Fylde were back in front. Excellent play down the right from Ustabasi found Charman in the box, who steered beyond Male at the near post.

A quickfire breakaway led to Fylde’s third on 35 minutes. Started by Conway, who fed the ball to Kay, he drove forward and switched play to Haughton, who in turn, set Ustabasi to shoot low into the bottom left corner.

Up the other end, Richardson had to be alert when he rushed out of his goal to thwart Alfie Rutherford before Kay sent a powerful, low strike at goal, which Male managed to hold onto as Charman lurked for any spillages.

Half-Time: AFC Fylde 3-1 Dorking Wanderers

Beech’s men nearly scored their fourth minutes after the restart. Barrett was given space on the right before unleashing a dipping shot goalwards that Male had to tip behind for a corner.

Haughton’s resulting corner was met by Graham, who rose highest in a crowd of players to head over the crossbar.

The Coasters were enjoying themselves and threatened again when Ustabasi skipped past Jimmy Muitt and into the box, though his shot was blocked by Craig’s sliding tackle.

Further chances followed for the lads in all white, with O’Kane weaving his way into the box, only for his lofted effort to be pushed onto the crossbar by Male before Haughton’s drive after his individual run into the box was straight at the Dorking stopper.

Dorking pulled one back on 69 minutes when Taylor’s shot inside the box squeezed under Richardson and into the bottom left corner.

Taylor then threaded substitute Harry Ottaway down the right, with the Fylde defence standing firm as a collective to clear for a corner.

Dorking then levelled with 10 minutes to play through McShane’s powerful header into an empty net after Taylor’s free-kick thumped back off Richardson’s crossbar.

Both teams had chances to win it in the closing minutes. First, Rowley’s shot was blocked before Francomb’s strike on the turn in the box was gathered at the second attempt by Richardson.

In a frantic finish, Fylde had the ball in the net ruled out after Charman fouled Male and Barrett’s goal-bound shot was blocked by Dan Gallagher, whilst Graham headed away a late Dorking free-kick, leaving the Coasters frustrated at home.

AFC Fylde: Richardson, Barrett, Graham, Davis, Conway, O’Kane, Khumbeni (Glynn 70), Haughton (Ormerod 75), Kay (Rowley 58), Ustabasi, Charman

Subs not used: Obi, Omotayo.

Dorking: Male, Fuller, Hollis, Craig, Pybus, J Taylor, McShane, Muitt, Rutherford (Moore 45), McManus (Ottaway 31), Francomb.

Subs not used: Kennedy, B Taylor.