Aldershot Town crashed to an emphatic 5-2 defeat at AFC Fylde in the National League on Saturday.

Tommy Widdrington recalled Jordi van Stappershoef into his starting XI for the trip to Fylde and the Dutch keeper had to be called into action in just the second minute to react to a deflected Charlie Jolley effort that he somehow managed to tip onto the bar.

The opening ten minutes were fairly open as a dangerous cross from Josh Barrett just missed Hady Ghandour and Ryan Jones in the centre.

Van Stappershoef then did well to scramble across his line and keep out Nick Haughton’s 30-yard free kick.

Ghandour came close to opening the scoring for the Shots from close range in the 19th minute but saw his shot blocked by his own team-mate as James Henry couldn't get out of the way.

But it was the hosts who took the lead in the 26th minute through a magical goal from Haughton. Spotting Van Stappershoef off his line, Haughton found the top corner from the halfway line.

And just three minutes later, Fylde had a second. This time Haughton turned provider with more magic as a drag back and backheel took two Shots defenders out of the game and gave Jolley the space to find the back of the net from the edge of the box.

Dan Ellison came very close to getting a goal back as his header from Jones' inswinging cross smashed against the post just two minutes after Fylde's second goal.

Fylde scored a third in the 37th minute when Gavin Massey tapped in a low cross from close range after a good move.

Barrett pulled a goal back for the Shots in the 40th minute. Fed in down the left of the box, he slotted the ball under Theo Richardson to make it 3-1.

And as first-half stoppage time began, Henry buoyed the Shots’ travelling faithful with a composed finish past Richardson having been picked out by a superb ball forward by Christian Maghoma.

Ellison then came close again to opening his Shots account as he rose highest from a corner in the third minute of stoppage time but saw his header fly just past the post.

The half-time break scuppered any momentum that the Shots had gained and Fylde went 4-2 up in the 53rd minute when Massey fired home from distance.

The assistant referee's flag denied Maghoma his first Aldershot goal in the 60th minute after the defender turned in a deep cross from near the penalty spot, only to have been adjudged to have done so from an offside position.

Five minutes later, Fylde scored a fifth. Jolley scored his second of the game as he was once again set up by Haughton.

Aldershot were still pushing to reduce the deficit and Tyler Frost, Jack Barham and Kai Corbett's introductions brought a fresh dynamic to the attack, but Fylde's lead gave the hosts the extra energy and commitment required to keep them at bay.