Home/Match/News/Recap: AFC Fylde 1-1 Harriers (2-4 Pens)

Recap: AFC Fylde 1-1 Harriers (2-4 Pens)

A look back at Tuesday night’s victory at Mill Farm

By Matty Paddock - 21/12/2022

Posted 3 years ago

Harriers in the FA Trophy at AFC Fylde. Pic (C) KHFC

HARRIERS bagged themselves a place in Round Four of the Isuzu FA Trophy after winning on penalties at National League North rivals AFC Fylde.

Russ Penn’s men won 4-2 on spot-kicks at Mill Farm after an ideal shootout that saw all four Harriers efforts converted, Tom Palmer making the crucial save from Pierce Bird with the final kick.

The shootout followed a very watchable 1-1 draw, with Harriers leading at the break before being pegged back in the second period.

Palmer had good night of it, denying Fylde as Nick Haughton Luke Burke both tried their luck early on, before Jack Bearne went close to an opener with 16 minutes gone, striking inches wide.

Three minutes later the Liverpool loanee netted his third goal of the season and, as with his previous two, it was a good finish – he turned on the edge of the area and sunk a low finish, arrowed into the bottom corner of the net.

Harriers went close to going two up on the half-hour mark and again Bearne was involved. He laid the ball off to Zak Brown in the area who forced a smart save from Chris Neal.

Nine minutes later it was almost 2-0 again as Joe Leesley went for the spectacular, chipping Neal from distance and almost finding the top corner, only for the ball to fall just over.

Palmer kept out an effort from the lively Will Hatfield before the break while Nick Haughton drove a free kick over the bar soon after the restart, crashing another effort off the underside of the bar before the hour.

On 67 the Coasters were level, and it was their main man Haughton who got it as he fired home an excellent finish from outside the area. Haughton might’ve thought he’d got the chance to win it 15 minutes or so later, but his low effort was met by a strong save from Palmer as the tie edged out into penalties.

After Shane Byrne scored for Harriers, Haughton fired Fylde’s first effort over the bar to give the visitors the advantage, one they solidified as Ashley Hemmings, Amari Morgan-Smith, and Ben Margetson all scored. The night came down to one kick as Bird stepped up for the hosts’ final attempt – the Harriers stopper guessing right and making a strong save to bring an end to the affair.

Get full team line-ups and key match facts at The Match Centre.

This article is about: Match