Match Report: AFC Fylde 3-1 Blackpool

Goals from Jon Ustabasi, Adam Long and Nick Haughton earned AFC Fylde an excellent 3-1 win over Blackpool at Mill Farm on Friday evening.

In an entertaining first-half, Ustabasi and Long struck Fylde ahead after Jake Daniels’ opener.

Haughton added a third for the Coasters from the penalty spot on 55 minutes, which completed an impressive victory over their Fylde Coast neighbours.

Six academy graduates were named in Chris Beech’s matchday squad for the friendly.

Fylde created the first opportunity of the game inside the first five minutes, when Jesse Hailwood cut inside to cross which deflected off James Husband before Richard O’Donnell tipped over the crossbar.

Haughton’s resulting set-piece was comfortably claimed in a crowded box by O’Donnell.

Neil Critchley’s visitors were in front on nine minutes when Daniels met Albie Morgan’s cross on the left-side of box to strike right-footed into the top corner.

Fylde levelled on 13 minutes. Captain Haughton’s lofted pass over the top of Pool’s defence was chased onto by Ustabasi down the right, who rounded a stranded O’Donnell to roll his right-footed strike into the far corner from a tight-angle

And the Coasters turned the game on its head six-minutes later, when Haughton’s corner was headed out, but only to a trialist on the left, who whipped in an excellent cross to the back post, with Long converting under pressure beyond O’Donnell into the bottom left-corner.

Minutes later, Jesse Hailwood did well to block Zak Ashworth’s cross from the left, as the Tangerines pressed.

Blackpool went close to an equaliser following a swift breakaway up field, CJ Hamilton profited from good build-up play from Ashley Fletcher to arrow an effort across goal which the Trialist goalkeeper pushed away, with Ashworth unable to find the target with his follow-up.

The Coasters nearly added a second. Ethan Mitchell won possession to find Ustabasi, who played a neat one-two with skipper Haughton, but his shot did not trouble O’Donnell.

Half-Time: AFC Fylde 2-1 Blackpool

Beech made several changes to the side after the interval, as the Head Coach looked to give his players valuable minutes.

Substitute Charlie Jolley then struck a fierce effort across goal which evaded everyone in the box.

Eight minutes into the half, Jordan Rhodes headed Hayden Coulson’s cross over.

Chances fell to Haughton, Danny Ormerod and Joe Riley as the Coasters aimed for a third in front of their own fans. After a scramble in the box, Dan Sassi fouled Ormerod to give the Coasters an opportunity to score a third, with referee Leigh Doughty awarding a penalty.

Haughton stepped up to take the spot-kick, and confidently converting right-footed from 12-yards into the bottom right-corner, sending Mackenzie Chapman the wrong way.

Ormerod’s fine run from a through ball nearly added a fourth, though he was denied with a late tackle.

In the 78th minute, a minute’s applause was superbly acknowledged following the passing of lifelong Blackpool supporter Malcolm Mason.

Blackpool threatened to pull one back, however Kyle Joseph’s snapshot was charged down by Cullen Meadowcroft, before Harry Davis headed Jack Moore’s looping header at the back post.

After pouncing on a loose ball, Jolley tried his luck from the half-way line, with his ambitious attempt going wide of the bottom right-post.

Late on, Apter’s fizzing effort from 20-yards through a crowd was well-watched and held by Richardson down to his left.

The Coasters navigated the final minutes to secure an impressive win in their second per-season outing. 

AFC Fylde first-half team: Trialist, Hailwood, Obi, Long, Trialist, Mitchell, Whelan, Trialist, Ustabasi, Trialist, Haughton

AFC Fylde second-half team: Trialist (Richardson 60), Hailwood, Obi (Davis 45), Long (Meadowcroft 75), Trialist (Evans 60), Mitchell (Riley 45), Whelan (O’Kane 45), Trialist (Morris 60), Ustabasi (Ormerod 45), Haughton (Holder 75), Trialist (Jolley 49)

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