Having looked comfortable or a large part of the game, the Bucks eventually slipped to a 3-1 defeat against title-chasing AFC Fylde.

The visitors looked to make a quick start, but it was the Bucks who took an early lead. After Adan George was flagged offside, the home side looked to play out from the resultant freekick. But some quick thinking and good pressing by Remi Walker saw the Bucks’ midfielder force an error that left him one-on-one with Zac Jones, and Walker beat the Coasters’ keeper with a neat finish to Jones’ left.

That gave Kevin Wilkin’s men a 1-0 lead in the 7th minute, and truth be told there wasn’t too much more by way of goalmouth action for either side in the the rest of the first half. On 36 minutes Jordan Piggott denied Max Taylor with an excellent block, while Josh Gracey made a great save to stop Luca Thomas’ curling effort on the stroke of half time. The Bucks went in 1-0 up at the break.

The second half began is a similar fashion, with neither side particularly troubling the other. But after a small break in play to allow Piggott to receive some treatment, the Coasters got themselves back on level terms in the 57th minute. A good ball out to the left found Thomas, who fired it across to the back post, and Charlie Jolley was on hand to turn home from close range.

The game then fell back into its regular pattern of both sides cancelling each other out. The Coasters had plenty of possession and looked good on the ball, while the Bucks looked to hit the visitors on the counter.

Piggott nearly connected with Jordan Cranston’s 70th minute corner, but Fylde’s patient possession was beginning to reap its rewards, and they took the lead in the 79th minute. When substitute Jon Ustabasi picked up the ball some way from goal there didn’t seem to be much danger, but the Fylde front man took aim and rifled a shot into the top corner from 25 yards to give the Coasters a 2-1 lead.

With their noses in front, Fylde began to take control of proceedings. The Coasters forced a number of corners, and when Taylor’s header came back off the bar, the Bucks couldn’t clear, and Corey Whelan was on hand to fire home to make it 3-1 to the visitors in the 86th minute.

Craig Mahon’s team had been the better side after the break, but the third goal felt slightly harsh on the Bucks. For the first 80 minutes or so this was an even game in which a draw had felt about right. Fylde’s quality eventually won out though, and the Coasters’s clinical finishing got them over the line to condemn the Bucks to third league defeat in a row.