AFC Fylde 3 Darlington 2

Attedance 1274

Nelson 23 mins, 0-1, Ligendza 32 mins 1-1, Nelson 39 mins, 1-2, Charman 50 mins, 2-2, Rowley 65 mins, 3-2

Two goals on his return to the starting line up by Andrew Nelson weren't enough for battling Quakers to earn a point at the league leaders.

Nelson put Quakers into the lead twice, but on each occasion Fylde hit back, and eventually won the game through sub Joe Rowley.

The result leaves Quakers in sixth place, a point ahead of eighth placed Gloucester.

Here are the goals and reaction to the game

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/goals-and-reaction-to-defeat-at-fylde

Manager Alun Armstrong was forced to make changes before the game, with Kallum Griffiths and Jack Lambert both injured.

Quakers, playing with three centre halves, had the first chance, Andrew Nelson laid the ball off first time for Jacob Hazel to hit a left foot shot that went straight at Fylde keeper Chris Neal.

Fylde replied with a right foot shot by Connor Barrett that went well wide from the edge of the box.

Quakers, with the cold breeze behind them, had a half chance when Ben Hedley played the ball inside for Jassem Sukar, who put a left foot shot over the top.

Fylde got away down the right through Barrett, but Taylor held on to his high cross.

Taylor was called into more serious action on 20 minutes when he dived to his left to push away a curling effort by Nick Haughton.

Taylor then stopped a close range effort by Ligendza at the foot of his post,

Quakers broke away in 22 minutes when Rivers found Hazel bursting through, and when Hazel got into the box, he was brought down by Neal, so Nelson, starting his first game for well over a year, scored from the spot. He immediately ran to the home dugout and thanked physio Danny O'Connor.

Quakers had to withstand some pressure ,and after a cross came in from the right, there was a scramble in the six yard box before Luke Conlan tried an overhead kick that bounced off the top of the bar.

Then there was a mix up in the Darlington defence and Taylor saved at the feet of Barrett.

But Quakers replied with a break by Rivers, and his pull back was just intercepted by a defender in front of Hazel.

 Fylde levelled on 33 minutes when Ligendza got away on the left hand side on the end of a long ball, and lifted the ball over the advancing Taylor.

But Quakers went back in front in 39 minutes when Hazel won possession on the Darlington left , ran into the box and squared the ball for Nelson to slide in!

Fylde nearly levelled when Luke Charman headed a right wing cross just wide on 43 minutes.

Taylor pulled off an excellent save just on half time, when a free kick by Haughton was headed down at the far post and the ball bounced off Newall, and Taylor threw himself to his left to push the ball one-handed away.

Half time 1-2

Fylde had to make a sub at the start of the second half, Rowley coming on for the injured Ligendza.

Quakers had a chance on 48 minutes, when Rivers cut in from the right and curled a right foot shot that Neal saved at his near post.

Fylde won a corner on the right on 49 minutes ,and the ball was curled into the six yard box where Taylor made a point blank save, but the ball came out to Luke Charman, who fired into the top corner of the net. The former Darlington striiker made a point of not celebrating.

Quakers created a chance on 55 minutes when Nelson headed a Sukar ball down for Rivers to strike from the corner of the box, and Neal held on.

And then Hedley floated a free kick for David Wheater to glance just wide of the left hand post.

Kaine Felix came on for Nelson on 61 minutes, but it was 3-2 on 65 minutes when the ball was crossed into the box from the right for Joe Rowley to volley past Taylor.

Quakers, who switched to 4-4-2, won a corner on 71 minutes, but Liddle’s corner was headed away at the near post.

Taylor made a brave save at the feet of Pike after the full back dribbled through.

Sukar found Hazel just outside the Fylde area, Hazel brought the ball down well, turned and fired over the top.

Quakers sent on their third sub, Junior Mondal for Wheater, on 83 minutes, but Fylde managed to hold on and take the points.

Fylde 3 Darlington 2

Team: Taylor, Newall, Suker, Wheater (sub Mondal 83), Cooper, Hedley, Moke (sub Liddle 68), Purver, Rivers, Nelson (sub Felix 61), Hazel

Subs: Rose, Brookwell

Boking: Sukar (foul 14), Rivers (foul 36)

Attendance 1274

Fylde include two former Darlington players in their squad, Luke Charman and Will Hatfield.

Fylde:Neal, Barrett (sub Cranston 83), Obi, Whitmore, Haughton, Whitehead, Ligendza (sub Rowley 47), Philliskirk, Conlan, Charman, Bird (sub Pike 65)

Subs: Rowley, Cranston, David, Hatfield