Match Report: AFC Fylde 2-2 Kidderminster Harriers (0-3 Pens)

AFC Fylde were knocked out of the FA Trophy on Saturday afternoon after losing 3-0 on penalties to Kidderminster Harriers.

Charlie Jolley and Nick Haughton scored in normal time to earn the Coasters a 2-2 draw after coming behind from 2-0 down, but it was penalties which saw Fylde exit the competition.

It was a quick start from the visitors who opened the scoring within five minutes as Amari Morgan-Smith curled home the opener from range.

Minutes later, Kidderminster then doubled their lead as Ash Hemmings broke through and slotted a second past Richardson.

As the half hour mark passed, Fylde had their first real chance and took it to get themselves back into the game. Gavin Massey played an excellent outside-of-the-foot pass to Charlie Jolley who cut inside and slotted home left-footed to get the Coasters back into the contest.

Whilst Fylde looked slightly more comfortable in defence, there wasn’t much more to report on an attacking front for the remainder of the half as the Coasters went in behind at the break.

Kevin Phillips made a triple change at half time with Nick Haughton, Ethan Mitchell and Jon Ustabasi all introduced.

Haughton made an instant impact within five minutes of the second half. After showing some excellent footwork in the middle of the park to beat his man, the number ten fed Bardell down the right whose cross fell back to Haughton on the edge of the box and he picked out the bottom corner beautifully to draw the Coasters level.

As Tyler Roberts was also introduced to the proceedings, Joe Riley went close to putting Fylde ahead with a strike from distance which deflected just wide.

With ten minutes to play, Nick Haughton struck a free kick from 40 yards, using the testing conditions which brought a smart save out of Christian Dibble.

With the scores still even, the contest required penalties to find a winner as neither side could be separated.

However, a miss from Nick Haughton and two saved efforts from Joe Riley and Ethan Mitchell respectively meant Kidderminster earned their place in the fourth round with Zak Brown scoring the decisive penalty.

Next up for the Coasters is a home league clash against Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday night.

AFC Fylde: Richardson, Gamble, Obi, Long (Ustabasi 45′), Bardell, Riley, O’Kane (Mitchell 45′) , McFayden, Jolley (Roberts 67′), Massey (Zanzala 83′), Ormerod (Haughton 45′)

Subs not used: Winterbottom, Hailwood

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