Millar Matthews-Lewis scored twice as AFC Fylde came from behind to beat Hornchurch 3-1 at Mill Farm, securing a third successive home National League victory. The forward cancelled out Angelo Balanta’s early opener before putting the Coasters ahead, with substitute Jack Morris completing the scoring in the second half.
Fylde entered the match looking to build on Tuesday’s 3-1 comeback victory over Hartlepool United, when three goals in the final 13 minutes had overturned an early deficit. Craig Mahon’s side again found themselves behind in the opening stages, with Hornchurch taking the lead in the 17th minute.
Ryan Loft was credited with creating the opening for Balanta, who scored his second goal in successive league matches to put the visitors 1-0 ahead. Hornchurch had made an early substitution shortly before the goal, with Norwich City loanee Theo Adelusi replacing Will Greenidge in the 16th minute.
Fylde responded through Matthews-Lewis, who equalised in the 39th minute. It was the forward’s second goal in successive matches, having opened his account for the Coasters against Hartlepool three days earlier. The equaliser brought Fylde back into the contest after trailing for more than 20 minutes.
Matthews-Lewis then completed the turnaround with his second goal, with Luca Thomas credited with the assist. The structured match feed records the goal in the 47th minute, although another event provider places it in first-half stoppage time. Either way, Fylde had overturned Hornchurch’s early advantage to lead 2-1.
Hornchurch were now looking for a response after suffering consecutive defeats against Hartlepool United and Yeovil Town. Balanta had also opened the scoring at Hartlepool, but the Urchins eventually lost 2-1 despite their opponents being reduced to 10 men. This time, Matthews-Lewis’s double had again put Daryl McMahon’s side behind.
Mahon introduced Jack Morris in the 61st minute, and the substitute added Fylde’s third goal in the 72nd. Dylan Allen-Hadley was credited with the assist, continuing the productive partnership between the two substitutes after they had also combined for the final goal against Hartlepool.
The closing stages brought several cautions, with Fylde’s Matthews-Lewis booked for dissent in the 84th minute. Hornchurch’s Miles Bracking, Frankie Edwards and Adelusi were also cautioned during the second half, but there were no further goals as Fylde completed another home comeback.
The result gave Fylde successive league victories for the first time since September, following wins over Hartlepool and Hornchurch in the space of four days. Matthews-Lewis and Morris both scored in each match, accounting for four of the Coasters’ six goals across the two victories.
Fylde moved to 29 points from 16 National League matches, provisionally climbing to fourth ahead of Saturday’s fixtures. Hornchurch remained on 21 points from 16 games after a third successive league defeat, with their search for a first away league victory since August continuing.
