Altrincham secured an impressive 2-1 victory over AFC Fylde at Mill Farm, with three goals in five first-half minutes ultimately deciding an entertaining National League encounter. Kane Hemmings and Matty Kosylo were on target for the visitors, who inflicted Fylde’s first home league defeat in 18 matches and continued their excellent recent run of results.
The contest burst into life in the 15th minute when Altrincham took the lead. Kosylo delivered from the right and Hemmings converted from the centre of the penalty area to put the Robins ahead. Fylde responded almost immediately, drawing level just two minutes later when Ethan Mitchell supplied Tom Whelan, who finished from close range to make it 1-1.
Parity lasted only three minutes. In the 20th minute, Aidan Barlow found Kosylo and the former Fylde player produced an excellent angled finish into the top corner to restore Altrincham’s advantage. Three goals had arrived in the space of five frantic minutes, but the visitors continued to threaten rather than simply sitting on their lead.
Altrincham created further opportunities as the first half developed, with Jimmy Knowles and Barlow both involved as the visitors looked to extend their advantage. Fylde remained dangerous themselves, but Andy Firth and the Altrincham defence kept the hosts at bay and the Robins went into the interval leading 2-1.
Neil Gibson was forced into changes around the interval, with Jake Southern-Cooper replacing Sam Barnes late in the first half before Jack Hinchy came on for captain Tom Crawford at the start of the second. Altrincham continued to threaten after the restart and went close to adding a third, with Knowles among those causing problems for the Fylde defence.
Fylde looked for a way back into the contest and made a triple substitution in the 64th minute, introducing Luke Butterfield, Max Taylor and Danny Mayor for Chris Merrie, Corey Whelan and Greg Olley. Altrincham responded with changes of their own as Lucas Weaver replaced Hemmings before Kahrel Reddin and Charlie Kirk were introduced during the closing stages.
The hosts pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Altrincham defended their advantage through the closing minutes. Fylde were unable to find the second goal they needed and the final whistle confirmed an impressive 2-1 away victory for the Robins.
The result ended Fylde’s 17-match unbeaten home league run and left the Coasters fourth in the completed Saturday National League table with 17 points from nine matches. Altrincham moved onto 15 points from nine games after recording their fifth victory in six league matches, an impressive sequence interrupted only by the 5-1 defeat at Woking the previous weekend.
