Recap: AFC Fylde 2-1 Harriers

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HARRIERS suffered a first defeat of the season as they were beaten 2-1 at AFC Fylde in National League North.

Seb Thompson’s first goal of the campaign had deservedly brought Adam Murray’s men level early in the second half, but the hosts finished the stronger at Mill Farm.

Harriers began on the front foot and might have led inside the opening ten minutes. Jason Adigun slipped in Thompson whose low strike was saved by Zac Jones, before Kai Innocent drove into the area and drew another stop from the home goalkeeper with Thompson close to turning in the rebound.

The chances kept coming. Thompson saw a close-range effort pushed away before Reece Devine struck the underside of the bar with a rising shot, while Innocent threaded a fine pass through for Thompson who was again denied by Jones’ legs.

Fylde carried their first real threat on the half-hour mark when Chris Merrie fired across goal and wide, Max Taylor then forcing Christian Dibble into a sharp save from distance. The home side made their breakthrough just before the interval, Luca Thomas turning in from close range after a corner fell loose in the six-yard box.

Parity was restored almost instantly after the restart as Thompson’s inswinging delivery from wide  evaded everyone and found the far corner.

But the hosts responded quickly themselves, Jon Ustabasi finishing low from a break after Harriers had lost possession from their own corner. The same player later drew a good save from Dibble, while Danny Mayor drove wide as Fylde pressed.

Amari Morgan-Smith and Jack Clarke were introduced on the hour after the game was paused for around 25 minutes due to a medical emergency in the stands.

When play resumed, however, Harriers were unable to mount sustained pressure. Dibble was called upon to gather a late header before Kurt Willoughby was denied from close range, Jones saving instinctively.

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