Whitham strike is enough to thwart dominant Fylde
AFC Fylde fell to defeat on the road on Saturday as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Worksop Town.
A goal late in the first half from Lewis Whitham proved the difference as Fylde dominated in Nottinghamshire but left with nothing to show for their efforts.
Zac Jones was called into action inside 15 seconds and made a smart save down low to deny the hosts, who started fastest in the sunshine.
But the Coasters took full control of the early stages from that moment with a handful of half-chances and plenty of set-pieces.
Danny Mayor was dictating much of the play as Fylde looked to play in the final third, giving the hosts plenty of defending to do.
Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile saw a snapshot blocked on the edge of the area before Luca Thomas was inches away from giving Fylde the lead with a first-time curling effort which dipped just over the bar.
Will Lancaster then looked to create an opening with a drilled ball across the box, which was somehow kept out by Deegan Atherton on the line as Thomas looked to capitalise.
But completely against the run of play, the home side broke the deadlock. After Whitham won his battle in the middle of the park, he hit a wonder strike from distance and picked out the top corner, leaving Jones with no chance as Fylde fell behind.
Moments before the half-time whistle, Jones was called again into action with a huge save to deny Hamza Bencherif from the corner, but despite all of Fylde's possession, they went in behind at the break.
Craig Mahon made a half-time change with Luke Hunter replacing Rodriguez-Gentile with Danny Ormerod shifting out to the left-hand side.
Worksop began to sit deeper and deeper with Fylde again dominating possession without being able to create too many clear-cut chances.
Tom Whelan went close to scoring directly from a corner with his set-piece being clawed out from under the crossbar by Lewis Forshaw before the following set-piece went unconverted.
George Wilson was introduced with just under 20 minutes remaining, replacing Fylde No.10 Mayor as he looked to change the outlook.
Vaughan Redford had a golden opportunity to double the hosts' lead as he managed to knock the ball around Jones, but he couldn't convert into the open goal.
Ormerod then had a chance to equalise as he met George Wilson's cross, but it was brilliantly charged down with six minutes to go as Worksop put their bodies on the line.
With nine minutes added on, Jack Morris came on to replace Thomas as Fylde threw everything into the cause.
Max Taylor had a half chance at the death as Mitchell's long ball well to the centre-half, but his header dropped just wide of the post as Fylde fell to defeat.
It's another quick turnaround for Fylde who face a Mill Farm double header next week as they host Marine and Darlington in PR4.