Match Report: AFC Fylde 4-1 Altrincham

The Coasters have only lost once at home this season, by contrast Altrincham have only won a single away game, their only victory in the league this season. With their tidy draw against Brackley Town last week there was a tiny beacon of hope for the Robins.

That did not stop the supporters letting the team know their frustration, with chants and ironic cheers, as Altrincham tried their best to grab a goal in the opening stages. The most prominent of these chances coming from winger Elliot Newby’s whipped a shot which cracked against the post.

Fylde opened the scoring when Danny Rowe manoeuvred a yard of space and clipped the ball into the top corner. 

Speaking after the game Altrincham's manager, Matt Doughty, said the marking should have been tighter on Danny Rowe, whose reputation as a deadly finisher is well known: “I don’t know how you can let a 36-goal striker free like that in the box. How can that happen? If you’re a clever defender you should be tighter.”

Rowe then doubled the hosts lead when a free-kick found its way in, with question marks raised about keeper Tim Deasy’s positioning.

Looking for his 39^th goal of the season, Rowe almost made it a hat-trick half way through the first 45 minutes after his strike was saved, however, Macauley Wilson was there to tap in the rebound making it 3-0.

Just before half-time, James Lawrie drew one back after a great passage of play from the visitors.  

Approaching 70 minutes the game was sealed with Matty Hughes side-footed home from close range.

Jake Moult’s set-piece summed up Alty’s afternoon, as his free-kick turned skied high over the crossbar in Jonny Wilkinson style fashion.

At 4-1 down, Altrincham's fans joking turned on their own player, John Cyrus, chanting for him to be sent off after he committed a foul. The referee produced only a yellow card.

After the game Doughty said: “The players in the dressing room need to understand that you have to start showing up from the start of the game. We have gifted Fylde goals today.

“Maybe we just need one win for our own sake. I certainly need one win for my own sanity, it's killing me.”

@Jac_Talbo