It was Boxing Day defeat for AFC Fylde who fell to a second successive defeat at home to Rochdale.
A brace from Kairo Mitchell and a rebound strike from Harvey Gilmour cancelled out Gavin Massey’s opener.
Rochdale applied plenty of pressure in the early seconds of the game as Ben Winterbottom was called into action on a number of times to cut out some dangerous crosses.
But with just four minutes on the clock, it was Fylde who found the breakthrough from a set-piece. A corner from the right saw a short goal-mouth scramble before Gavin Massey stabbed the ball home to give the Coasters the lead.
Kairo Mitchell provided a threat in the forward line for the visitors and after dragging an early effort wide, he made no mistake after a quarter of an hour, scrambling the ball home from a yard out to draw the game level.
With 25 minutes on the clock, Ben Winterbottom produced an unbelievable double-save to keep the Coasters level after Tyler Roberts had also produced a heroic block.
Early in the second half, Rochdale turned the game on its head as they hit the front through Harvey Gilmour who slammed home a rebound after a good initial save from Ben Winterbottom.
Soon after the hour mark, the visitors made it three as Mitchell tapped home for his second and Dale’s third of the evening.
Fylde looked for a way back into the contest as Danny Ormerod sent a header off target before Nick Haughton hit a free kick into the wall.
But the Coasters couldn’t add to their tally for the evening and fell to a second defeat against Rochdale this season.
Next up for Kevin Phillips side’ is a New Year’s Day clash with Halifax Town at the Shay Stadium.
AFC Fylde: Winterbottom, Bardell (Hosannah 39′), Whelan (C), Obi, McFayden, Mitchell, Hugill, Haughton (O’Kane 77′), Roberts, Massey (Ustabasi 62′), Jolley (Ormerod 62′)
Sub not used: Richardson, Gamble, Riley
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