Lowestoft Town clambered off the bottom of the National League North table and out of the relegation zone with an impressive win over third-placed AFC Fylde last night.
The Trawlerboys made the most of one their games in hand on their relegation rivals, with an early own goal being added to by a brilliant strike from Michael Spillane and a penalty from top scorer Jake Reed in the second half.
Ady Gallagher made four changes to the team that started Lowestoft's last match, a 2-0 loss at Stalybridge Celtic at the end of January.
Norwich City youngster Ben Killip was back in goal after returning to Crown Meadow on loan for the remainder of the season. Spillane also returned to the centre of defence following his suspension, with Reed shaking off his ankle problem to start up front and Andy Fisk returning to bolster central midfield.
The hosts made a flying start, thanks to an own goal by Fylde centre-back Tom Hannigan in the fifth minute. Reed was brought down to the left of the penalty area, allowing Ryan Jarvis to whip in a low, curling set-piece which the defender bizarrely poked into his own net.
Hannigan nearly made amends immediately for the visitors, firing over the bar from close range just three minutes later, after a corner from Richie Barker wasn't cleared.
The Coasters started to come back into a stodgy first half, with striker Danny Rowe almost forcing an equaliser in the 31st minute, blasting a low free-kick from 25 yards straight at Killip. The Canaries' loanee initially spilled the shot down at his feet but pounced to kill the danger as the ball rolled towards his line.
Rowe was then booked for a late challenge on Fisk and remained a central figure, with the former Stockport striker heading home the equaliser in the 36th minute.
He flicked on a cross from the right from Sumner and the ball dribbled low into the net past Killip for 1-1, with the keeper looking to have misjudged the direction of the ball.
Lowestoft almost cancelled it out straight away when a corner from the left from Ryan Jarvis bounced around the box in the 38th minute and landed at the feet of Chris Henderson, who turned his rising snap-shot just wide of the right-hand upright.
The visitors made a double substitution at the start of the second half, moving to a formation with two strikers, but it was the Blues who were next to score.
Adam Smith swung in a free-kick from the right and Rossi Jarvis headed the ball up in the air, forcing a poor defensive header, which Spillane seized on and thumped a curling low volley into the bottom-right corner to reclaim the lead.
Fylde skipper Hannigan then added to his own goal by bringing down Henderson for a penalty in the 77th minute, with Reed gratefully blasting home the spot-kick for his 15th goal of the season.
As the home side celebrated their third goal, Fylde were reduced to 10 men as midfielder Sam Finley was shown a second yellow for his protests about the awarding of the penalty.
The results moved Lowestoft from 22nd place up to 18th, with home games against fellow strugglers Bradford PA and Hednesford up next.
Lowestoft: Killip; Barker, Spillane, Kyprianou, Smith; Fisk, Rossi Jarvis (C); Hodd, Ryan Jarvis (Bammant 67), Henderson; Reed (Crow 84). Unused subs: Jessup (GK), Eagle, Deeks.
AFC Fylde: Urwin; Sumner, Collins (Blinkhorn 46), Hannigan (C), Crainey; Barnes, Baker; Hughes (Hardy 78), Finley, Lloyd (Charles 46); Rowe. Unused subs: Hinchliffe (GK).
Referee: Josh Smith
Attendance: 438
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