AFC Fylde suffered a disappointing 4-0 defeat as they crashed out of the FA Trophy at the hands of Brackley Town.
The Coasters found themselves two goals down inside the opening eleven minutes of the first round replay after goals from Glenn Walker and James Armson, before further strikes from Matt Lowe and David Moyo condemned Dave Challinor’s side to their third defeat of the season.
Manager Challinor made two changes to the side that were held by Brackley at the weekend with Dom Collins and Dan Bradley replacing Steve Williams and Brendon Daniels.
The Coasters got off to the worst possible start, falling behind inside the opening five minutes. Richie Baker took down his man 25 yards from goal and Walker stepped up to fire a sensational set-piece into the top corner.
Things went from bad to worse just six minutes later when Matty Hughes cynically tripped Ellis Myles in the box and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Armson made light work of the resultant penalty stroking the ball high into the top right corner.
Fylde were out of sorts and Armson almost capitalised again, but goalkeeper Rhys Taylor was equal to his low strike after he had found himself in acres of space in the box.
Lee Ndlovu wasn’t far from making it three in the 20th minute when he met a cross from the right, but his cushioned header was straight at Taylor.
The first real chance for the visitors came by the way of a hooked Bohan Dixon strike that was comfortable for Laurie Walker before Darren Stephenson attempted to divert home Matty Hughes’ left-footed shot however he couldn’t find enough power in an improvised chested effort.
Stephenson, on loan from Tranmere Rovers, had a glorious chance to halve the deficit shortly before the half-hour mark when he was played through by Hughes, but his attempted lob was well over the bar.
Stephenson was looking the main threat for the Coasters and carved out another shooting opportunity after beating his man on the edge of the area and lashing the ball narrowly wide.
Taylor had to be at his best as Brackley continued to pile on the pressure, pulling off a fantastic reaction save to deny Lee Ndlovu from point blank range.
Centre-half Alex Gudger and Armson should have extended the advantage further still, both missing glaring headed chances within a minute of each other as the Coasters struggled to cope.
However, just a minute before half-time the hosts had their third. Armson played Matt Lowe clean through the middle and although Taylor saved the initial effort, the ball bounced up kindly for the midfielder to nod home into an open goal.
Coasters midfielder Dan Bradley hit a fizzing shot from 20 yards that was tipped around the post as the half drew to a disappointing close.
Half-time substitute Danny Rowe went close to pulling one back with his first contribution, twisting and turning before firing narrowly over the bar.
The scoreline was becoming embarrassing for the bewildered visitors as Steve Diggin raced through unmarked and crossed for David Moyo who had the simple task of heading home from a yard.
Diggin almost turner scorer himself and Taylor was once again on hand to keep the scoreline down, tipping the striker’s acrobatic shot over the crossbar.
Rowe fashioned a rare chance for the Coasters when he hit a sensational drive from fully 35-yards that was palmed over the bar by the goalkeeper.
Winger Stephenson turned his man on the edge of the area as Fylde looked for some way back into the game, but his final effort drifted the wrong side of the post.
Rowe headed another opportunity wide as the visitors enjoyed the better of the closing stages but there never looked any real threat to the Brackley goal.
Brackley: L. Walker, Myles, Gudger, Lowe, Graham, Dean, G. Walker (Byrne 88), Armson (Cox 89), Ndlovu (Moyo 46), Diggin, A. Walker.
Subs not used: Pit, Noon
AFC Fylde: Taylor, C. Hughes, Langley, Collins, Kennedy, Baker (Bond 46), Bradley, Dixon, M. Hughes (Daniels 46), Stephenson, Blinkhorn (Rowe 46).
Subs not used: Thompson, Williams.
Ref: Lloyd Wood
Att: 164
