AFC FYLDE 2 CORBY 1: Report and reaction

The Coasters top scorer opened his account for the evening shortly before half-time and sealed the points two minutes from time, though Kalern Thomas nicked a last gasp consolation for the bottom club.

Manager Challinor made just one change from the side that put five past Boston on Saturday, with fit-again Tom Hannigan replacing Stephen Crainey at the back.

Richie Baker spurned a glorious chance just three minutes in, when goalkeeper Sam Donkin spilled Bohan Dixon’s cross, but the midfielder was thwarted from six yards by a reaction save.

New man Dixon was next to try his luck but he skied his effort from close range following Rowe’s fierce drive across goal.

Baker missed another gilt-edged opportunity, striking Rowe’s delightful cross inches wide from just a few yards out.

It wasn’t proving to be Baker’s day as he wasted perhaps the easiest chance of his three on 15 minutes. Dixon played a quick one-two with James Hardy before smashing a shot that was too hot for Donkin to handle. However, Baker looped the rebound over the bar from inside the six-yard box.

The hosts were running riot and should have taken the lead justafter the 20-minute mark , when Rowe raced through from Matty Hughes’s pass and dinked his delicate effort over the keeper but agonisingly wide.

played Rowe in down the line and the frontman raced through before dinking a delicate effort over the keeper and agonisingly wide of the far post.

Rowe had further half-chances, Donkin getting down well to keep out the best of these.

After a lull in play, full-back Adam Sumner looked to reignite the home side but he drove well over from 20 yards five minutes before the break.

The deadlock was deservedly broken two minutes later, when Dixon raced down the right and delivered a superb ball across goal for Rowe to tap into an empty net.

The impressive Dixon looked to score himself with the last real chance of the half but he shot a foot wide from the edge of the box.

Corby came out after the interval with more purpose and Cleveland Taylor hit a shot straight at Matt Urwin.

Challinor’s side seemed to have lost their cutting edge until the hour-mark, when Baker pounced on a loose ball and crossed but Rowe headed wide at the back-post.

Rowe had the crowd on their feet after 66 minutes, but his 25-yard free-kick aimed at the bottom corner drifted just the wrong side of the post.

Another vicious free-kick by Baker eight minutes later was parried by Donkin and just eluded Matty Hughes.

Corby had a chance to equalise 10 minutes from time, when substitute Ben Milnes nicked the ball off Josh Langley but shot wide when clean through.

Goalscorer Rowe almost put the game out of reach following Hardy’s fast break but Donkin was equal to his low shot.

But the striker wrapped up the points when substitute Danny Lloyd’s 30-yard strike was spilled by Donkin spilled and Rowe lapped up the rebound.

Thomas’ consolation came from virtually the last touch after a goalmouth scramble.

The win lifted Fylde two places thanks to Harrogate’s defeat at Tamworth.

Fylde had Richie Baker sent off after the final whistle, while fellow midfielder Dixon will miss two games after collecting his 10th booking of the seaon.

Boss Challinor said: “Our lack of discipline is very disappointing and the penny needs to drop sooner rather than later. It could potentially affect our chances of promotion and I feel very strongly about it.

“We have ended up with five bookings . I can’t afford to have players missing and I won’t tolerate cheap yellow cards.

“We came flying out of the traps in the first 15 minutes and we cut them to pieces but we didn’t take the chances.

“We didn’t kill them off and it made it difficult for us. Results at this stage are more important than performances but the way we went about our business tonight was worrying.

“We asked the lads to carry out a simple game plan and they failed to do that for much of the match and it has almost cost us the game.”

DANIEL AGNEW

Fylde: Urwin, C Hughes (Charles 45), Sumner, Langley, Hannigan, Baker, Barnes, Dixon, Hardy, M Hughes (Lloyd 76), Rowe; Not used: Hinchliffer, Crainey, Blinkhorn.

Corby: Donkin, Myles, Thomas, Courtney, Appleton, Brown (McDonald 78), Mills, Taylor, Evans (Milnes 79), Hicks, Marshall (Robbins 79).