A double from Ben Tollitt resigned Spennymoor to a 2-0 defeat at league leaders AFC Fylde.

The Coasters were the dominant force for much of the game as Moors suffered their third loss of the league campaign at Mill Farm.

Tommy Miller was without Carl Magnay following his knee injury in the 2-2 draw with Curzon Ashton, so opted to give new signing Aaron Cunningham his first start after signing on Monday.

Jamie Chandler returned to the starting line-up and replaced Frank Mulhern, allowing Rob Ramshaw to move up the pitch alongside Glen Taylor.

Both sides began brightly in the opening exchanges, with hosts Fylde looking to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat at Farsley on Saturday, their first of the campaign.

They responded with an early goal, which, after strong work from Joe Piggott, saw Ben Tollitt loop a shot over Dale Eve via a heavy deflection.

Moors responded well and took advantage of space down Fylde’s left to get into threatening positions, but both Ramshaw and Ryan Hall’s respective low deliveries had no takers.

Fylde, in search of a second early goal, almost capitalised on a punch from Eve which dropped to Tollitt, with his cross just evading Nick Haughton with the goal gaping.

Eve was involved again shortly after, picking up a yellow card after taking Jack Sampson down, however, the referee turned a blind eye to his controversial block from Eve’s attempted kick upfield.

After a period of Fylde possession and Moors looking dangerous on the counter attack, Eve denied a certain second after Sampson’s close range effort before Tollitt blazed over the bar from the rebound.

Moors were then thankful to the width of the post when Sampson found space in the area before thumping a shot against the woodwork.

The dazzling Haughton then tested Eve yet again, with the attacking midfielder’s effort from the edge of the box being well saved.

Miller, an animated figure on the touchline, was thankful for the referee’s half time whistle with Moors still in the contest at the interval.

The opening stages of the second half were a crucial period of the contest with Moors in desperate need of grabbing a foothold in the contest, however, Fylde doubled their lead just four minutes after the restart.

Piggott’s hold up play and subsequent pass to the overlapping Kieran Lloyd allowed the full back to find Tollitt, who after cleverly dummying his initial movement, swept a drive into the bottom corner.

The league leaders stamped their authority on the second half, showing their quality in possession as Moors struggled to gather any momentum and create a chances of note.

The game’s stand out players, Haughton and Tollitt, both saw efforts from tight angles blocked away by Eve as Jim Bentley’s side continued to push forward for a third of the evening.

Miller brought on John Lufudu for Ryan Hall as the game entered its final knockings, and the full back forced Chris Neal into a superb save down to his right five minutes from time.