Joe kickstarts cup run

A hat-trick from Joe Booth and a Keigan Parker strike saw the Coasters through, and a strong second-half performance could have produced more goals.

The visitors were without talisman striker Lee Thorpe, who has a hamstring strain, and influential winger Michael Barnes (knee) against their Evo-Stik First Division North rivals

Fylde started positively, and the first chance fell to top scorer Richie Allen. J

James Heywood broke down the right and his cross found Allen on the edge of the box. The striker hit a superb first-time shot, which whistled inches wide of the target.

The opener arrived on 24 minutes, when Parker broke down the left and surged into the box, where a clumsy challenge saw the referee point to the spot. Booth, back in the starting line-up, converted with confidence in the bottom right corner.

Fylde’s attacking left-back Paul Jarvis was causing problems down the left, and when he bombed into the box, his cross hit a crowd of players and was scrambled away.

The home adopted a defensive formation and a route one styl,e which paid off on 39 minutes. A long ball forward from the keeper bounced over the defence and Michael Oates got in behind them to fire past McDonald.

A rather lacklustre first half ended at 1-1 after both sides had good spells of possession but created little in front of goal.

The second period was a different story as the Coasters upped the tempo. Parker broke to the byeline down the right and cut inside his marker before firing home with the outside of his boot for his third Coasters goal in the 71st minute.

Booth’s second was a tap-in on 78 minutes, after Parker got beyond the defence. He was felled but Booth picked up the loose ball to score.

It became three goals in 11 minutes when Booth crashed the ball past the keeper to claim the match ball, following an interchange of passes between Allen and Parker.

Fylde created further opportunities in the closing moments. Parker’s delightful 20-yard curler was tipped away and another good save denied Allen from close-range, after the striker had seized on Booth’s pass.

Parker and Allen both tested the keeper again before the finish, the latter showing off his array of tricks in a tight situation to beat a clutch of Trafford defenders.

Manager Kelham O’Hanlon was pleased to see his side so determined after their FA Cup heartbreak.

The Fylde boss said: “The way they played meant we had to patient, but we bossed the game from start to finish and scored some decent goals, including a well-taken hat-trick from Boothy. “It’s another cup competition we want to do well in after losing the way we did in the FA Cup.”

Fylde have been drawn away to Andy Preece’s Evo-Stik premier side Northwich Victoria on Saturday week. This weekend they welcome Farsley to Kellamergh Park for a league game.

Fylde: McDonald, Heywood, Jarvis, Mercer, Steel (Doughty), Beattie, Kay, (Penswick), Booth, Allen, Parker, Kusaloka; not used: Monckton, McNiven.