By James Briscoe
Nantwich Town produced the away performance of the season to topple promotion-chasing AFC Fylde 2-1.
Late goals by Aaron Burns (pictured) and Ben Deegan crowned a superb display by the Dabbers on the Lancashire coast.
Mat Bailey was a rock in defence and Deegan played super sub to grab the winners after top scorer Burns had levelled from the penalty spot.
Nantwich trailed early when they were slow to react to Adam Sumner’s short free-kick, allowing striker Danny Lloyd to finish low past Jack Cudworth.
Burns turned outside to fizz a powerful effort at Fylde’s goal on 16 minutes but keeper Ben Hinchcliffe pulled off a fabulous save.
Burns had another effort on target a minute later but it was easier to deal with.
Fylde substitute Joe Booth did not see the funny side on 33 minutes when Ross Davidson drove the ball at him after the referee had already stopped play. No card was given.
Lloyd stung Cudworth’s palms on 43 minutes with a low shot but the Dabbers ‘keeper held without trouble.
Sam Wilson glanced a header at goal on 45+1 minutes but Hinchcliffe was equal to it with half the ground thinking it was heading in.
The Dabbers showed their first threat of the second half on 62 minutes when Burns was allowed space to turn with the ball and send Steve Foster down the channel but the ex-Witton striker fired wide.
But seven minutes later Burns brilliantly dispatched a spot kick after centre-half Andy Russell pushed strike partner Deegan in the back.
Deegan almost made it 2-1 when he swivelled to blast over the Fylde bar on 72 minutes after a deep cross from Burns.
But he made amends four minutes later. He reacted superbly to poke home a rebound after Max Harrop’s free-kick could only be parried by Hinchcliffe.
The big striker was at it again when he chased down a Fylde defender and won the ball to take a shot, but Hinchcliffe made another great tip over.
Nantwich: Jack Cudworth, Sam Wilson, Andy White, Ross Davidson, Alex Frost (c), Matt Bailey, Matty O’Neill (Osebi Abadaki 65), Mark Jones, Aaron Burns (Russ Courtney 77), Steve Foster (Ben Deegan 68), Max Harrop. Subs: Oliver Devenney, Harry Clayton.
(pic courtesy of Simon J Newbury Photography)
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