AFC FYLDE 7, ALDERSHOT TN 1

ALDERSHOT Town’s abject capitulation at the hands of a rampant AFC Fylde was in stark contrast to the efforts of the boisterous 525 away fans who endured a sobering Saturday afternoon in Lancashire.

The club’s tenth-annual Tour of Duty, which encourages supporters to turn a long-distance away game into something approaching a home match, fell flat within seconds of kick-off, prompting Shots manager Gary Waddock to admit that the passion of the supporters wasn’t matched by his players.

Danny Rowe, the National League’s top scorer, took advantage of some horribly lack-lustre defending to score a hat-trick inside the opening 20 minutes, and he was ably abetted by some equally strong finishing on a day when Fylde might have reached double figures.

“The bottom line is I got the team selection wrong and I’d like to apologise to the supporters for our performance,” said Waddock. “AFC Fylde were outstanding, but the goals we’ve conceded are nothing short of an absolute shambles. But I’ve seen the danger signs for a little while now – it’s been coming and we got what we deserved – nothing.

“Goal difference could be a big factor in the final reckoning, and our ‘goals for’ column was maybe worth an extra point, so you could say that we’ve lost four points today. It’s been a disaster.”

The first goal came in just 75 seconds as Fylde were allowed to break into the penalty area and create space for Rowe’s fierce shot which beat Jake Cole at his near post.

The Shots were immediately resurgent and there was no sign of the rout to come as Josh McQuoid’s deft finish brought them level in the fifth minute. But thereafter they were second best in every department.

Sam Finley’s superb 22-yard shot fizzed into the roof of the net on 10 minutes and Cheye Alexander had to clear Simon Grand’s header off the line before two goals in 90 seconds killed the game as a contest.

Rowe rose above Will Evans to head in Jack Muldoon’s 18th-minute cross, and Rowe completed his lightning hat-trick by racing on to James Hardy’s pass to shoot across Cole.

In stoppage time, Grand out-muscled Scott Rendell at the far post to head in from close range and it was 5-1 at the interval.

Even though the chastened Shots began the second half with a degree of momentum, they still looked likely to concede with every Fylde attack.

On 63 minutes, Finley ran unchallenged for 30 yards before firing a swerving, looping shot over Cole’s flailing hand. But the scorer then foolishly picked up a second yellow card for goading the away end with his celebration.

Still, though, Fylde’s ten men were able to add a delicious seventh goal just three minutes later. Lewis Kinsella’s wild tackle on halfway failed to halt the hosts and Muldoon picked up the loose ball to deftly lob Cole from 16 yards.

Fortunately, Fylde were largely sated by that stage and Aldershot were spared further ignominy, but Waddock’s closing words should stay with his side at least until kick-off against Chester this weekend.

“You’re only as good as your last game, and that wasn’t good enough,” he warned anybody who thought a play-off berth was guaranteed. “Next week I will pick a team with some hunger and desire, people that want to run and tackle. Any successful team will run harder, faster and stronger than the opposition.”

AFC Fylde: Lynch, Montrose, Tunnicliffe, Grand, Bond, Francis-Angol, Hardy (Burke 58), Finley, Rowe (Smith 73), Muldoon, Tasdemir (Chettle 67). Subs (not used): Blinkhorn, Jones. Sent off: Finley.

Aldershot: Cole; Alexander, Fowler, Evans, Kinsella; McDonnell (Gallagher 46), Oyeleke; Rowe (Taylor 46), Robert (McClure 55), McQuoid; Rendell. Subs (not used): Reynolds, Fenelon. Booked: Oyeleke, Robert, Kinsella.

Referee: Andrew Miller.

Attendance: 2,081 (525 away).