A 30 yard screamer from substitute Dion Charles rescued a point for The Coasters as they had to fight back to claim a 2-2 draw after taking the lead.

 It was Danny Rowe who broke the deadlock in the 40^th minute for Fylde with a powerful effort, before two quick second half goals from James Dean and a Tom Hannigan own goal on 72 minutes and 75 minutes respectively saw Chorley take the lead, before the stage was set for Charles to equalize with just two minutes of normal time remaining.

It was a slow and steady start to the game, with Chorley mainly relying on set pieces and long balls into the box for their attacks and in truth the first half was quite quiet.

James Dean had the first attempt, but it ended up way over the bar from 35 yards in what was an extremely ambitious attempt. Matt Flynn then tried a header from just inside the six yard box but it was easy for Hinchliffe.

James Dean broke free and ran past the defence before unleashing a ferocious left footed strike towards goal, but it went just over the bar and Chorley had had the better of the opening ten minutes.

Richie Baker, who was making his league debut for The Coasters after signing from Stockport County, fired a free kick into the box only for it to be cleared before falling to Luke Denson but the Coasters centre half’s effort was well over the bar.

Harry Winter had a 25 yard effort but it was well held by Hinchliffe but a poor kick away Hinchliffe brought unnecessary pressure on the Coasters back four, with the ball eventually falling to Chris Simm who shot at goal but it was blocked by Baker and out for a corner.  From that corner, Whitham’s header was easy enough for Hinchliffe and The Coasters went into counter attack mode.

It was the Coasters turn to have a say in the game, and Matt Flynn managed to clear the ball off the line for Chorley after Richie Allen cut in from the left hand side to fire at goal when it looked like it was in. The Coasters then won a free kick about 30 yards out. Danny Rowe stepped up to take it and although it had plenty of power and pace, it went just over the bar.

There were efforts from Winter, who was playing his first game against The Coasters for his new club and then Whitham fired an effort way over the bar, much like most of the first half opportunities for the home side.

The ever impressive Danny Rowe found the back of the net to open the scoring on the 40 minute mark, firing past Sam Ashton in the Chorley goal after some good build up play down the left hand side from Matt Blinkhorn. Blinkhorn found Lloyd and it came out to Rowe who blasted it into the back of the net for a 1-0 Coasters lead at half time.

The second half provided little until the hour mark, when Danny Lloyd did really well to beat his man down the left hand side before putting a great ball into the box which found Allen, who cut back in on his left foot before firing wide.

In truth, the game didn’t have that much to offer until the final 20 minutes, Lloyd again trying to double the lead with a right footed attempt on target but it was easy for Ashton in the Chorley goal.

What happened next is hard to explain. Somehow, James Dean managed to find a yard of space in a crowded penalty area to fire the ball into the bottom left hand corner to equalize for Chorley on 72 minutes.

 

Just three minutes later, Chorley took the lead in bizarre fashion. A good free-kick into the box took a number of touches before finding the back of the net, and it looked like Tom Hannigan got the final touch. A crazy three minute period for The Coasters as they trailed 2-1 quite undeservedly.  

 

The Coasters had to find a way back into the game, and Danny Rowe hit a ferocious free-kick at goal from a good 30 yards out but it flew just over the bar. Then it was the turn of Richie Baker who controlled well outside the box before volleying the ball towards to top left hand corner, only for the superb Ashton to keep it out and send it over the bar.

 

Then came a moment that Dion Charles will remember for a long time as he equalised superbly, cutting in from right to hit a sweet shot into the top corner from 30 yards out to bring the game all square. Charles had only been on the field for three minutes before scoring and it brought the Coasters level.

 

Either team could have won it in stoppage time, as Aaron Burns went close for Chorley as he put one just wide from 5 yards out when it looked easier to score, and both Blinkhorn and Josh Wilson tried to nick it for Fylde at the end but neither of their attempts were good enough to beat Ashton and that’s the way it finished.

 

Next up for The Coasters is Worcester City away from home on Tuesday night, while Hyde are the visitors to Kellamergh Park next Saturday

 

Chorley: Ashton, Whitham, Mather, Ross, Flynn, Doyle, Winter (70), Roscoe, Dean, Simm (65), Dorney.

Subs: Cottrell, Hine (65), Almond, Burns (70), Jarvis.

Goals: Dean (72) Hannigan OG (75).

Yellow Card: Dean (27) Roscoe (74) Hine (80)

AFC Fylde: Hinchlffe, Hughes, Sumner, Denson, Hannigan, Baker, Blinkhorn, Wilson, Rowe, Lloyd, Allen (85)

Subs: Tomsett, Booth, Mullen, Charles (85), Dootson

Goals: Rowe (40) Charles (88)

Yellow Card: Denson (55)

Man of the Match – Richie Baker

Match Rating: 3/5

Attendance:  1525