AFC Fylde 1 Darlington 0

Goal: Haughton 78 mins

Quakers were beaten by a 78th minute goal at Mill Farm, but they will look back on the impact of injuries to their strikers.

Adam Campbell limped off after 15 minutes, and Luke Charman followed him early in the second half, which meant that Quakers had to reshuffle twice.

But Quakers deserved a point from the game, with a marked improvement on last Saturday's game against Prescot Cables.

They matched their full time hosts for long spells, allowing them just a handful of chances, while Sean Reid, who worked very hard throughout the game, twice went close for the visitors.

Quakers got behind the Fylde defence on the right in the second minute from a good pass by Rivers for Hatfield, whose ball into the middle was too high for Charman.

Adam Campbell caused a problem for the Fylde defence on 7 minutes when he cut in from the left, floated the ball over to the far post, where Rivers was just beaten to the ball by keeper Chris Neal at the expense of a corner.

Quakers had the first chance of the game on 12 minutes when Rivers cleverly played the ball inside for Sean Reid who ran into the box but fired wide of the far post.

There was a blow for Quakers on 14 minutes when Campbell limped off and was replaced by Justin Donawa.

Quakers got a free kick for a foul on Donawa on 18 minutes, but Michael Liddle’s effort went over the top.

It had been a good start for Quakers, who had shown plenty of energy and sharpness throughout the side.

Fylde had their first chance on 26 minutes when Jordan Hulme managed to wriggle away, but keeper Johnny Saltmer got down well to his left to hold his low left foot shot.

And two minutes later a quick break ended with Wheatley blocking a left foot shot by Luke Burgess.

Quakers had a loud penalty shout turned down when Donawa tried to pull the back from the left and several Darlington players appealed for handball when the ball struck a defender, but the ref waved play on.

Nicky Hunt then made a good interception at the other end, getting across the six yard box to put a dangerous low cross by Burgess out of play for a corner.

But Fylde nearly took the lead when they won possession and broke away through Kurt Willoughby, whose low shot was well saved by Saltmer

Half time 0-0

Darlington striker Luke Charman looked uncomfortable as he came off at half time, but was able to carry on for the second half.

Fylde nearly took the lead on 51 minutes with a Willoughby free kick from the corner of the box that struck the bar and bounced wide off the advancing Hulme.

Charman was subbed by Ben Hedley on 53 minutes, so Reid took on a more forward role.

Quakers nearly took the lead with a deflected cross by Michael Liddle on 59 minutes that Neal backpedalling just managed to tip over the bar.

And a minute later, Ben Hedley, on for the injured Charman, crossed from the left for Reid to head just over from eight yards.

Quakers at this point, were looking good for at least a draw, as Fylde struggled to break them down.

Saltmer pulled off another good save on 64 minutes, when Hulme set up sub Haughton, and his low shot was superbly saved one -handed by the keeper on his line.

At the other end, Storey fired straight at the keeper from 12 yards out from a corner.

But Fylde broke through on 78 minutes, when Haughton picked the ball up on the right, stepped inside, and hit a low left foot shot that went just inside the left hand post.

In a good spell of late pressure, Quakers nearly levelled on 86 minutes when Hedley won the ball just outside the box,and fired a low shot that went just wide.

Quakers kept going, but they couldn't create another real opening.

Final score:

AFC Fylde 1 Darlington 0

Darlington: Saltmer, McMahon, Hunt, Storey, Liddle: Wheatley (sub Laing 90), Hatfield; Reid, Campbell (sub Donawa 14), Rivers, Charman (sub Hedley 53)
Subs: Watson, Armstrong

AFC Fylde:
Neal, Burke, Conlan, Pond, Whitmore, Tollitt (sub Shaw 87), Philliskirk, Hulme, Burgess (sub Mondal 63), Perkins, Willoughby (sub Haughton)
Subs: Johnstone, Nolan

Booking: Philliskirk