Match Report - AFC Fylde v Yeovil Town

Yesterday afternoon saw Yeovil Town come from 2-0 down to earn a draw at Mill Farm thanks to two goals in as many minutes from Courtney Duffus. The game looked to be over after as a freak own gown for the hosts in the first half followed by a well worked goal on 72 minutes appeared to have the points wrapped up for Fylde.

However Yeovil showed their fighting spirit and managed to battle back with 11 minutes left to stretch our unbeaten run in all competitions to 7 matches.

Yeovil returned to a full strength side yesterday following the FA Trophy win over Welling last weekend. Luke Wilkinson returned to the team after an injury he sustained at Wrexham just under a month ago. Matt Worthington and James Tilley dropped to the bench in place of Charlie Lee and top scorer Rhys Murphy.

The match started off very slowly as neither side were enjoying any sustained pressure on the opposite goal. Chances were few and far between and only half-chances came and went.

The first decent chance of the game went to AFC Fylde on 23 minutes as Matty Kosylo produced a thunderous shot on goal but Stuart Nelson was equal to the effort and produced a fine save.

Fylde took the lead on 34 minutes with a freak own goal. With the ball pinging around Yeovil's penalty area the Yeovil defence tried to clear their lines but the ball was smashed against Myles Hippolyte and rebounded into the net to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

The rest of the half passed without incident as Yeovil's confidence seemed to drop after this but they were able to keep the game within reach to set up an interesting second half.

Half Time - AFC Fylde 1-0 Yeovil Town

The second half started with Yeovil looking to pull the match level but they failed to muster up any real opportunities to unsettle the hosts.

The game looked to be over on 72 minutes as AFC Fylde caught Yeovil on the break and a well worked team move saw Dan Bradley calmly slot the ball past Nelson for a 2-0 advantage.

Many of the travelling fans thought the game was beyond reach at this point - especially as Yeovil hadn't been at their best all afternoon. However, on 79 minutes a cross into the box from Gabriel Osho was met by Courtney Duffus who headed the ball into the net to give Yeovil some hope.

Just one minute later Duffus grabbed his second as a misplaced pass by Fylde keeper Sam Hornby was punished and Duffus slammed the ball home to pull Town level again much to the disbelief to both sets of fans.

The remainder of the match saw Yeovil going forward to try and win the game as Fylde were rattled by the comeback. Yeovil piled on the pressure in search of a winner but in the end they had to settle for a share of the points in Lancashire.

Full Time - AFC Fylde 2-2 Yeovil Town

Yesterday afternoon must surely be seen as a point gained rather than 2 points lost as despite the difference in league positions Fylde looked the better side for most of the match. Despite this Yeovil were still able to pull through and return to Somerset with a battling point.

With Barrow's match against Solihull Moors called off due to the weather Yeovil had an opportunity to go level on points with the league leaders but instead we go into the Christmas period only two points behind them. Although they have two games in hand they also have a fixture back-log building which may have a detrimental impact to their season.

Man of the match voting for the 2-2 draw with Fylde is now open. You can cast your vote here.

Match Attendance - 1,427 (Approx 80 from Yeovil Town)

AFC Fylde

31 - Sam Hornby, 12 - Luke Burke, 16 - Andy Taylor, 8 - Ryan Croasdale (replaced by 18 - Kurt Willoughby on 88 minutes), 4 - Neill Burn, 15 - Dan Bradley, 6 - Alex Whitmore, 10 - Danny Philliskirk,9 - Danny Rowe, 7 - Matty Kosylo (replaced by 5 - Kyle Jameson on 81 minutes), 17 - Mark Yeates (replaced by 28 - James Craigen on 88 minutes)

Substitues

5 - Kyle Jameson, 18 - Kurt Willoughby, 21 - Dan Lavercombe, 27 - Nick Haughton, 28 - James Craigen

Yeovil Town

1 - Stuart Nelson, 18 - Albi Skendi, 3 - Carl Dickinson, 26 - Charlie Lee (replaced by 7 - Matt Worthington on 72 minutes), 30 - Gabriel Osho, 8 - Lawson D'Ath (replaced by 4 - Lee Collins on 68 minutes), 6 - Luke Wilkinson, 11 - Myles Hippolyte (replaced by 28 - James Tilley on 61 minutes), 33 - Chris Dagnall, 14 - Courtney Duffus, 9 - Rhys Murphy

Substitues

4 - Lee Collins, 7 - Matt Worthington, 24 - Remeao Hutton, 28 - James Tilley, 29 - Morgan Williams