21st December 2019

Courtney Duffus’ quickfire double was enough to snatch a point away to AFC Fylde.

After conceding a freak own-goal and being caught on the counter by Mark Bradley, Duffus stepped up and scored twice in a minute to snatch a point.

After heavily rotating the side in the FA Trophy, Darren Sarll returned to a more familiar set-up.

Long-term injury absence, Luke Wilkinson returned to the side for the first time since the draw with Wrexham where he limped off in the first half.

Matt Worthington and James Tilley dropped out of the midfield as Charlie Lee returned to the midfield with top scorer Rhys Murphy back spearheading the attack.

Both sides began proceedings at a slow pace, feeling the other out and limiting the chances to pot shots from distance.

As the game grew, so did the number of chances, the first falling to Duffus who had found a way in behind following some great two-touch football, but he couldn’t direct his effort on target.  

Just minutes later, Stuart Nelson was called upon to make a spectacular save! After the Yeovil backline couldn’t clear their lines, Matty Kosylo hammered an effort goal bound but some brilliant goalkeeping from Yeovil’s number one kept scores level.

Despite the hosts enjoying a lot of the ball, Yeovil would have the better of the chances as Duffus again went close, this time with a header, and minutes following Charlie Lee with an effort from distance

Yeovil were made to pay for missing chances as the Glovers conceded a freak goal in the 34th minute. With the ball flying around the box, the ball smashed against Myles Hippolyte who saw the ball fly past Nelson to give the hosts the lead.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of Yeovil for the closing period, as Town looked to see the half out by staying within arms-reach of the hosts.

Yeovil began the second half brightly, with Hippolyte and Chris Dagnall both creating shooting opportunities for themselves but neither caused any significant goal-threat.

Tempers came to a boil out of nowhere as Carl Dickinson and Kosylo were involved in a scuffle which ended with both players booked.

Yeovil continued to be the side applying the pressure, but a clear-cut chance just wouldn’t fall.

Despite Yeovil’s pressure it would be Fylde who scored the second, catching the green and whites with too many men forward as Bradley fired past Nelson to double the Coasters lead.

The second goal kicked Yeovil up a gear, with Gabe Osho moved to right back, the Reading loanee put in an expertly weighted cross which was met by Duffus to give Town a lifeline.

Just one-minute later, Duffus would have his second of the afternoon. After a misplaced pass from Hornby, the Glovers forward capitalised, calmly slotting home to drag Yeovil level.

The closing minutes saw both sides try to claim that all-important winning goal, but neither could get it as the points were shared.

 

AFC Fylde: Hornby, Byrne, Whitmore, Kosylo, Croasdale (Willoughby), Rowe, Philliskirk, Burke, Bradley, Taylor, Yeates (Craigen).

Bookings: Kosylo

Subs not used:  Lavercombe, Jameson, Haughton.

 

Yeovil Town: Nelson; Skendi, Osho, Wilkinson, Dickinson; Lee (Worthington), Hippolyte (Tilley), D’Ath (Collins); Dagnall, Duffus, Murphy

Bookings: Dickinson, D’Ath, Wilkinson.

Subs not used: Hutton, Williams.