Worcester City 1 AFC Fylde 2

NOT many teams in the bottom half of the Vanarama National League North table have made high-flying AFC Fylde sweat this season.

As Boston United, Altrincham, Stalybridge Celtic, Bradford Park Avenue and Curzon Ashton have all found out, it’s difficult to even stay in touch with the leaders who condemned them to crushing defeats.

But in the final throes of this hard-fought contest at the Victoria Ground Fylde were hanging on against 13th-placed Worcester City.

In the end, the Lancashire outfit clinched a 14th victory of the campaign to move them seven points clear at the top.

And once again it was Danny Rowe who produced the goods as he netted twice just before the break to increase his phenomenal goal tally to 30.

But manager Carl Heeley can take huge heart from the way his players fought back in the second half with Cieron Keane scoring from a free-kick and they almost nicked a point.

With five minutes left, captain Josh Langley gifted the ball to Colby Bishop, who only had Rhys Taylor to beat but the Fylde stopper came off his line to smother the 20-year-old’s shot.

The striker was leading the line in the absence of Lee Hughes, who was ruled out with a knee injury.

Worcester had bolstered their squad with the signing of versatile player Jordan Keane from Nuneaton Town.

But, without Hughes’ ability in front of goal, the Blue and Whites’ chances of pulling off a shock seemed slim.

Fylde also fielded an offensive line-up with Rowe playing with Darren Stephenson and Brendon Daniels in a three-pronged attack.

But it was defender Steve Williams who came close to scoring on 16 minutes when he hit the crossbar with a back-post header.

The visitors had another good opportunity 10 minutes later when Dan Bradley sent the ball across the six-yard area only for Daniels to fire over.

Worcester’s first chance came moments before going 1-0 down as Bishop forced a save from Taylor before Fylde launched a counter-attack with Bradley bursting into the box.

His shot was blocked by Tom Sharpe but Rowe was on hand to smash the ball into the bottom corner.

Fylde were now in full flow as Bradley struck the upright with a curling shot before Rowe netted on the stroke of half-time.

Ethan Ross showed great reflexes to tip Darren Stephenson’s delivery, which was diverted goalwards by Graham Hutchison, onto the crossbar but the ball fell kindly to Rowe who bundled it home.

With a 2-0 lead and the slope in their favour after the interval, many spectators expected Fylde to push on.

But Heeley’s men refused to roll over and cut back the deficit on 54 minutes when Cieron Keane’s free-kick took a deflection to go beyond the diving Taylor.

Fylde still caused Worcester problems as Andy Bond’s long-range effort was palmed away by Ross.

But the hosts, led magnificently by skipper Danny Jackman who kept his team ticking throughout, were playing with more belief.

Sensing an equaliser, Heeley made positive changes with Chekaine Steele and Jordan Murphy coming on but Fylde dug in before breathing a sigh of relief when the final whistle was blown.