AFC Fylde faced a devastating defeat against Sutton United despite leading the match for over 70 minutes. On March 18, 2025, Fylde slipped to a heartbreaking 2-1 loss, conceding two late goals in a thrilling encounter.
The match began with early action as AFC Fylde goalkeeper Ben Winterbottom was called into action when Sutton’s Ashley Nadesan unleashed a low shot following a corner. However, Winterbottom made a straightforward save to keep the score level. Fylde took advantage of their home advantage shortly thereafter, as Ethan Mitchell broke the deadlock with a stunning left-footed strike from 20 yards, finding the top left corner of the net and sending the home fans into raptures.
The first half saw limited opportunities, with the most notable being Corey Whelan’s effort, which was charged down by the resilient Sutton defense. The half-time whistle blew with Fylde in a promising position, leading 1-0.
As the second half commenced, things seemed to move quickly for Fylde. Tyler Roberts was fouled inside the penalty area just two minutes after the restart, which led the referee to point to the spot. Gavin Massey stepped up to take the penalty but had his effort saved by Sutton's goalkeeper Jack Sims, keeping the scoreline at 1-0.
Following this dramatic moment, Sutton began to find their rhythm, and Nadesan had a golden opportunity to seek an equalizer but missed from close range, highlighting the pressure mounting on Fylde's defense. In response, Mitchell came agonizingly close to scoring again, receiving a pass from Will Hugill on the edge of the area. His attempt, however, bent just around the wrong side of the post, leaving the match still finely balanced.
With the clock winding down, Sutton intensified their efforts, knowing a win was crucial for them. Their persistence paid off with just five minutes remaining when Finlay Barbrook managed to sneak the ball under Winterbottom, leveling the match at 1-1. The atmosphere in the stadium shifted as hopes of a Fylde victory began to fade.
The subsequent moments for Fylde turned even more challenging when, moments later, Sutton was awarded a penalty after a foul was committed in the box. Davies calmly stepped up and converted the penalty, putting Sutton ahead 2-1, completing an astonishing turnaround.
In a last-ditch effort, Fylde coach made substitutions, bringing Kain Adom and Ash Boatswain into the fray to attempt to salvage at least a point from the match. However, despite their efforts, Fylde was unable to equalize, ending the contest with nothing to show for their dominant spell.
The match saw Fylde deliver a strong performance, yet the disappointing outcome serves as a reminder of the harsh realities of football, where victory can slip away in the dying moments. This loss leaves the team reflecting on missed opportunities, particularly Gavin Massey's saved penalty and the lack of resilience in the final minutes.
Despite the defeat, the fans were present in numbers, supporting their team throughout the match. The fate of the Coasters will be put to the test again as they prepare to bounce back in their next fixture.
