Farsley Celtic suffered a first defeat since the end of January as they lost 3-1 to an AFC Fylde side who ended the evening top of the division.

It was a spirited performance from the Celts against a side flying high at the top of the division, and on another day they could have certainly taken something from the game.

Ultimately, Will Hatfield’s goal shortly before the interval would prove to be the game’s critical moment, sending the Coasters into the break two goals to the good after Tom Allan had earlier halved the deficit.

In the opening stages Farsley more than matched Fylde, but the hosts would find the opener 10 minutes in.

Danny Whitehead flighted a superbly-weighted ball over to Siya Ligendza who was adjudged to have beaten the offside trap, and he cleverly floated his header over Max Dearnley.

The hosts would double their lead midway through the first half with a corner routine straight off the training ground.

Nick Haughton fizzed a ball into Connor Barrett as he burst into the right edge of the box, and he drilled a strike inside the near post.

Falling behind 2-0 at the league leaders could have caused plenty of teams to crumble, but not this Farsley side.

Within five minutes the deficit was halved, Tom Allan rising highest at the back post to nod home Bobby Johnson’s corner.

However, with the visiting Celts hoping to get into the break just 2-1 down, substitute Will Hatfield would strike a dagger blow.

Hatfield had been on the pitch just a matter of minutes as a replacement for Mo Faal, and he was quickest on the scene after Dearnley had parried Barrett’s initial effort, pouncing to prod home from close range.

The deficit could have been halved once again within 20 seconds of the restart as Frank Mulhern sent Kian Scales baring down on goal, but his strike was parried to safety by Chris Neal.

Both sides would continue to have chances in the second half, Barrett drilling wide for the hosts, whilst Adam Clayton headed inches over from a Johnson corner.

Dearnley then had to be at his best to keep his side in the game as Fylde broke quickly down their right, Nick Haughton cutting in and forcing a superb save from the Farsley ‘keeper away to his left.

As the game drew to a close it was Russ Wilcox’s side on the front foot, but Kian Scales would blast over from outside the box and Harry Jessop shot wide from a tight angle, with the visitors unable to find a route back into the game.

AFC Fylde: Neal, Obi, Cranston (Davis 77), Whitmore ©, Philliskirk, Haughton, Faal (Hatfield 44), Conlan, Barrett (Walker 73), Whitehead, Ligendza. Subs not used: Malone, Rowley.

Farsley Celtic: Dearnley, Turner, Scales (Wallace 80), Johnson, Butler ©, Allan, Clayton, Atkinson, Ubaezuonu, Mulhern (Williams 60), Devine (Jessop 73). Subs not used: Parkin, Butroid.