AFC Fylde 3 Witton 1 (From Northwich Guardian)

Keigan Parker scores twice in stoppage time to pinch points for AFC Fylde against Witton Albion

2:32am Wednesday 14th September 2011 in Match reports By Andrew Simpson

WITTON were floored by a sucker punch that was as late as it was painful.

Keigan Parker scored twice in stoppage time, the first direct from a free kick following Paul Booth’s dismissal, to inflict back-to-back league defeats upon Albion for the first time this term.

It was cruel on the visitors.

But Brian Pritchard’s men have now lost three of their past four league matches, two of those against fellow play-offs pretenders.

Swirling wind made it hard to reach a conclusion on how they compared to the Coasters.

The hosts, who had gone close on five minutes when Michael Stringfellow headed over from a corner, edged ahead a quarter hour later.

Joe Booth marked his 150th appearance for Fylde with a goal, tapping in from close range after a free kick floated against an upright with assistance from the elements.

They could, perhaps should, have added to their lead when Michael Barnes picked Ben Harrison’s pocket but Ritchie Allen could not control the winger’s centre.

Allen seemed certain to restore Fylde’s lead in the seconds before the break only for Harrison’s tackle to halt his progress, at least in part, before goalkeeper Matt Cooper tipped to safety the front man’s follow-up.

Witton offered a greater attacking threat in the second half, Buchan swapping passes with Mathew Wood down the left before the latter’s cross was cleared.

Josh Hancock, recalled after sitting out Saturday’s home reverse against Clitheroe, called custodian Danny McDonald into action with a snapshot from the resulting corner.

Top scorer Alex Titchiner and Hancock again went close, but Albion did not score when in the ascendancy.

The contest was three minutes into added time when Booth pulled back Parker as he bore down on goal, the midfielder firing in from the free kick with a rising shot.

Worse was to follow for Witton when Allen robbed Andrews of possession near his own corner flag before teeing up Parker for a simple second.

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AFC Fylde McDonald (GK), Heywood, Jarvis, Stringfellow, Steel, Penswick, Joe Booth, Kay, Allen, Parker, Barnes
Subs not used McNiven, Mercer, Doughty, Wilson
Goals Joe Booth 18, Parker 90(+3), 90(+4)
Booked Parker, Steel, Kay (all fouls)

Witton Cooper (GK), Gardner, Ben Harrison, Paul Booth, Wood, Andrews, James, Sheehan, Hancock, Buchan (Newman 70), Titchiner (Ennion 82)
Subs not used Pritchard, Clampitt, Woolley
Goal Andrews 41
Booked Andrews (dissent)
Sent off Paul Booth (foul)

Attendance 207