Phil Parkinson’s Nantwich Town continued their pre-season with a fine 1-1 draw at home to Vanarama National League north side AFC Fylde.
The Dabbers took the lead through Matty Kosylo (pictured) before Dion Charles levelled midway through the first half.
The first chance fell to Nantwich on eight minutes, Steve Jones cut inside the area before his shot was well gathered by Fylde keeper Ben Hinchcliffe.
Nantwich started with free-flowing attacking football and they had the ball in the net on nine minutes when a looping cross from Jones was dropped by Hinchcliffe and Short tapped home.
But the whistle was blown for a foul on the Fylde number one.
Kosylo was a thorn in the Fylde half throughout and he could have scored on 11 minutes when he was inches away from connecting with a Jones cross.
Fylde’s first chance came when a ball into the area fell to Joe McGee, but he was only able to fire wide.
The Dabbers took the lead on 17 minutes when a through ball found Kosylo who shrugged off two defenders before beating the onrushing Hinchliffe.
The Lancashire side could have been level just six minutes later when Richie Baker’s free kick cleared the wall and cannoned back off the bar.
Nantwich defender Darren Thornton went close with an effort from a free kick.
Moments later the Coasters were level. A corner fell back to Charles, who whipped it in from the edge of the area through a crowd of bodies into the net.
Charles lashed another effort from outside the area, but Dabbers keeper Terry Smith was equal to it.
Jones and Kosylo combined on 32 minutes, and Kosylo turned his man and produced a deft flick over the advancing Hinchliffe but agonisingly inches over.
Former Nantwich man Casper Hughes went close for Fylde, smashing his effort wide of the mark.
Then Kosylo could have put Nantwich ahead on 44 minutes when he went clear on goal but was denied by the keeper.
Elliot Osborne, Liam Shotton and PJ Hudson came on for the second half for Matt Bell, Lewis Short and Josh Gordon.
Andy White’s electrifying pace drove him into the Coasters area on 54 minutes, but he volleyed his effort wide.
Fylde had a penalty on 56 minutes for an apparent handball by Chris Smith, but Lloyd’s effort was well saved by the Dabbers keeper.
Moments later on the break, Jones was dragged down in the area and this time Nantwich were awarded a spot-kick.
But the former Northern Ireland international blasted the effort over the bar.
Jones was denied from five yards out later in the half, his shot somehow saved by the legs of Hinchcliffe.
Sub Chris Speed, on for Kosylo, hit a volley from a Shotton knock down but again it was saved.
Then Smith denied Baker at the other end before the ever-impressive Jon Moran was able to clear.
Fylde sub Danny Rowe had a chance 10 minutes from time, but unmarked in the Nantwich area he fired wide.
Smith and Jones both had chances for Nantwich towards the end of the game which ended in credible draw against a team that narrowly missed promotion to the Conference Premier last season.
The Dabbers have a week off before a pre-season trip to Kidsgrove Athletic next Saturday August 1.
Nantwich Town: Smith, Gordon, White, Thornton, Moran, Hall, Kosylo, Bell and Short.
Subs: Osborne (on for Bell), Shotton (on for Short), Speed (on for Kosylo), Hudson (on for Gordon), Bourne and Hawkins.
(Pic by Simon J Newbury Photography)
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