33 league places separated the two sides at kick off and, despite Chasetown’s excellent recent form, AFC Fylde were in slick form from the start of the game and quickly put the Scholars under pressure.

Even with the strong wind against them in the first half, the Coasters took the lead in the 13th minute. Mike Barnes sprinted down the right and crossed low into the penalty area where Danny Lloyd-McGoldrick (a former Chasetown player of 3 seasons ago) side-footed home from close range.

Seven minutes later it was 2-0 when another former Scholar, Caspar Hughes slid the ball through to Lloyd-McGoldrick who was sent tumbling to the ground by Chris Slater. Despite getting his hands to the ball, the spot kick from Joe Booth was too powerful for Ryan Price who was beaten to his left.

Fylde keeper Ashley Frith kept his side’s two-goal advantage with a tremendous save to keep out a Jono Gould effort which seemed to be flying into the top corner of the net, but it wasn’t long before Fylde extended their lead with ten minutes remaining in the first half.

Even with the wind against him, Dave Hankin sent a pass over the Chasetown back line into the path of Richie Allen who brought the ball under control, rounded Price and tapped into an empty net.

Craig Harris introduced Simon Brown as a half-time substitute and Chasetown’s approach play was much better in the second half. Regrettably, before Chasetown had the chance to try and get back in the game, the impressive Allen battled his way through and notched his second goal of the game with a low shot from 18 yards.

Chasetown did create chances though – Nick Wellecomme had en effort blocked and Richard Teesdale glanced a header a whisker wide of the post, before Chasetown’s persistence finally paid off when Joe Halsall was tripped inside the box and Brown smashed his fourth goal (and third penalty) of the league cup campaign straight down the middle of Frith’s goal.

Chasetown’s second half effort could not be faulted and AFC Fylde got deeper and deeper into their penalty area. Had Chasetown managed to pull a goal back, it may have tested the home sides character a bit more, but instead, for all their efforts, substitute Jazz Luckie’s close range ‘goal’ disallowed for offside was as close as the visitors came to any further consolation.

AFC Fylde: Frith, Hankin, Denson, M Hughes, Russell, C Hughes, Lloyd-McGoldrick (Gregory, 70 mins), Booth (Cooke, 70 mins), Winter, M Barnes, Allen
Other Subs: Blinkhorn, B Barnes, Sumner (not used)

Chasetown: Ryan Price, Chris Slater, Grant Beckett, Joe Halsall, Tesfa Robinson, Richard Teesdale, Luke Bottomer (Simon Brown, HT), Danny Bragoli (Jack Farmer, 73 mins), Nick Wellecomme, Dean Bennett, Jono Gould (Jazz Luckie, 78 mins)

Other Sub: Danny Watson (not used)