Words John Edwards | Pictures Jonathan Moore

AFC Fylde 1 Altrincham 2

There was a familiar look to the scoreline - a 2-1 win for the fifth time in six games - but the performance was something else as Altrincham excelled in all departments to inflict title-chasing AFC Fylde's first home defeat in 18 games to the delight of a boisterous away support at Mill Farm this afternoon.

Kane Hemmings fired Alty in front in the 15th minute, and though Fylde equalised soon after, Matty Kosylo restored the Robins' advantage with a spectacular angled finish against his former club.

That came in the 20th minute. Plenty of time, most observers might have thought, for an in-form Fylde to bounce back and reinforce their title challenge by creating more scoring opportunities in what was shaping into an open, free-flowing game.

Sure enough, chances came thick and fast, but it said everything about how well Alty played that a comfortable majority of them were carved out at the home end.

Jimmy Knowles was a constant thorn in Fylde's side and could have had a hat-trick, Hemmings nearly added to his early opener and even when the Robins were under the cosh in the closing minutes, they managed to break free and force a fine save by keeper Zac Jones from substitute Lucas Weaver.

Millar Matthews-Lewis made his home debut for Fylde and figured prominently in a ninth-minute incident that may briefly have caused some anxiety in the Alty camp.

Turning on a through ball, the Fylde forward looked to advance towards goal, only to be held back by Sam Barnes. Matthews-Lewis still had some distance to cover to be within shooting range, and the referee duly settled for a yellow card as punishment for the offence.

Andy Firth had to be alert in the 11th minute to deal with a Luca Thomas cross-shot that was heading inside Alty's near post until the experienced keeper went full length to parry it behind.

Four minutes later, Alty stunned the home crowd with a well-worked opening goal.

Reuben Lopata-White did well to win a duel for a bouncing ball on the right touchline near the centre circle, and when Kosylo crossed low into the area, Hemmings did even better with a first-time shot that was executed to perfection as he swept the ball into the bottom left corner of Fylde's net.

The lead lasted only two minutes, though, due to Fylde hitting back with a well-worked goal of their own as Ethan Mitchell threaded the ball through to Tom Whelan, who turned smartly before firing past Firth from close range.

Undeterred, Alty went back up the field and scored again to round off a remarkable spell of three goals in five minutes.

Aidan Barlow spread the play with a pass out wide to Kosylo, who unleashed a rising drive that packed enough power to force its way through the raised hands of keeper Jones as it flew into the roof of the net.

What a moment for Kossy, and he clearly savoured it as he turned towards home fans and danced a jig of delight with his hands cupped behind his ears.

Credit to the Robins, there was no sitting back trying to safeguard the lead as they continued to take the game to their hosts with a brand of confident, constructive football that produced chance after chance.

Knowles weaved his way into the area and had a shot saved in the 25th minute, and Hemmings went close to doubling his tally three minutes later, lobbing over the keeper and fractionally over the bar after controlling a knock-down on the edge of the six-yard box.

Knowles was narrowly off-target in the 31st minute, and the Alty danger man threatened again in the 43rd minute, latching on to a Hemmings pass and having a shot that Jones smothered.

The Robins lost Barnes to injury in stoppage time, but the first half could otherwise hardly have gone better for Neil Gibson's men against a side who briefly topped the table in midweek until Boreham Wood reclaimed pole position.

There was a further injury setback for Alty when the players reappeared, with skipper Tom Crawford unable to continue after lengthy treatment in the first half and having to be replaced by Jack Hinchy.

It made little difference to confidence levels that were never better illustrated than when Knowles created more danger with a brilliant piece of individual skill in the 50th minute.

Seemingly hemmed in by two defenders, with the ball at his feet near the right corner flag, the Alty frontrunner turned on a sixpence to leave both markers trailing in his wake, as he set off along the bye-line and fired a low ball into a congested six-yard box. It was eventually scrambled clear, but what a manoeuvre by the impressive Knowles.

When Alty again threatened to extend their advantage again in the 53rd minute, there were no prizes for guessing who the instigator was.

Demonstrating that he possesses a sharp turn of pace as well as an eye for goal, Knowles sprinted clear of a defender and looked to have placed his shot to perfection as it evaded Jones' reach, only for full-back Aaron Drewe to get back in the nick of time and clear off the line.

The theme of Alty carving out the better opportunities continued in the 63rd minute when Barlow controlled a pass from Hinchy and whipped in a cross that Knowles so nearly converted at the far post.

As might be expected from a side trying to preserve such a long unbeaten run, Fylde started to pile on the pressure in the final 15 minutes, but it was reassuring to see a well-drilled Alty rearguard stand up to the challenge with such fortitude that Firth was seldom tested as the game headed towards four added minutes.

Indeed, in the closing stages, it was Alty who came closest to finding the back of the net as Weaver won possession and played a one-two with fellow-substitute Charlie Kirk before stinging Jones' palms with a fierce rising drive.

AFC Fylde Jones; Mitchell (Upton, 81'), Merrie (Butterfield, 64'), Thomas (Broad, 81'), T.Whelan, Olley (Mayor, 64'), Lancaster, C.Whelan (c) (Taylor, 64'), Matthews-Lewis, Drewe, Lewis. Subs not used: Morris, Boyes.

Altrincham Firth; Banks, Humbles, Barlow (Kirk, 80'), Knowles, Kosylo, Taylor, Lopata-White (Reddin, 80'), Crawford (c) (Hinchy, 46'), Barnes (Cooper, 45'+3), Hemmings (Weaver, 69'). Subs not used: Breckin, Acquah.

HT 1-2

Goals Whelan 17' | Hemmings 15', Kosylo 20'

Yellows C.Whelan 27', Lewis 85' | Barnes 10', Banks 40', Cooper 78', Reddin 88'

Reds None | None

Referee Ollie Yates

Assistants Paul Newhouse & Matthew Moss

Fourth official James Wilson

Attendance 1,528 (409 away)

Next Up

Next Saturdat at The J.Davidson Stadium against Hornchurch - 3pm kick-off.

General admission tickets are on sale here or if you're after an exclusive hospitality offering seats in our new Club Alty 1891 can be found here.