A thrilling five-goal contest unfolded at Mill Farm as AFC Fylde narrowly defeated Solihull Moors. The match, punctuated by significant momentum shifts and a hat-trick by Nick Haughton, delivered a captivating spectacle for National League fans.
AFC Fylde began strongly, with Nick Haughton scoring the opening goal in the 10th minute. While the home side sought to extend their lead, Solihull Moors gradually fought their way back into the match.
The Moors equalised in the 29th minute through an own goal by Owen Evans. Momentum then swung in favour of the visitors as Jack Stevens, assisted by Matthew Warburton, put Solihull ahead in the 39th minute, giving them a 2-1 lead going into half-time.
The second half saw a resurgent AFC Fylde. Haughton scored again in the 57th minute, levelling the score. Just a minute later, Solihull Moors’ Joss Labadie received his second yellow card and was sent off, reducing his team to ten men and altering the match’s complexion.
AFC Fylde capitalised on their advantage. In the 69th minute, Charlie Jolley was replaced by Joe Riley. Riley subsequently assisted Haughton in completing his hat-trick in the 83rd minute, securing a memorable victory for the Coasters. The closing stages included a series of substitutions as both teams sought to influence the final outcome, but Fylde maintained their lead to secure the three points.
The match saw a total of seven yellow cards issued. John Bostock, Charlie Jolley, Jonathan Ustabasi, James Gale, Alex Whitmore, and Joe Riley were all cautioned.
This win provides AFC Fylde with a promising start to the league season, positioning them in the upper part of the table. For Solihull Moors, the defeat is a setback, leaving them with work to do in the coming weeks to improve their standing.
