Fylde 1 AFC Telford 0 - Report and pictures

The struggling Bucks have yet to claim a point on their travels this season and arrived at Kellamergh Park as major underdogs.

It came against a Coasters side sitting second in the National League North.

But, having fallen behind on 14 minutes, the Bucks were handed a big lifeline when Sam Finley was sent off for pushing Sean Clancy four minutes later.

Fylde (4-4-3): Hinchcliffe, C Hughes (Wilson 58), Hannigan, Wright, Whittle, Finley, Baker, Barnes (Collins 25), Blinkhorn, Hughes (Lloyd 88), Charles.

Subs not used: Urwin, Rowe D.

AFC Telford (4-4-2): Montgomery, Hutchinson, McCone, Tilt, Campion (Anderson 88), Lees (Goddard 61), Brownhill, Ashby, Clancy (Rowe 75), Glover, McCarthy.

Subs not used: Grogan, Goddard

Despite having a numerical advantage for 72 minutes plus stoppage time, though, Telford could not find an elusive equaliser.

Graham Hutchison headed wide from an inviting position for Telford on 12 minutes, having been left unmarked in the box from corner-kick.

But Fylde went much closer when Dion Charles had a fierce effort cleared off the line, from an unconvincing James Montgomery punched clearance.

And Akil Wright made the breakthrough two minutes later, heading home from Alex Whittle's superb left-wing cross.

Fylde almost doubled their lead from kick-off, but Montgomery got down well to deny a long range effort by Charles.

The home side were firmly in the ascendancy but former The New Saints midfielder Sam Finley tipped the balance in the visitors' favour.

He got himself sent off for a petulant push on Sean Clancy on 18 minutes. The Bucks began to enjoy more possession, as the home side began to drop deeper.

Fylde remained very dangerous on the counter-attack but Telford finished the half strongly, with Clancy heading over from a free-kick on 36 minutes.

Whittle, who was arguably the Coasters' best player in the first half, went within a whisker of doubling his side's advantage four minutes later.

His whipped free-kick to the back post just needed a touch but evaded everyone on its way just wide.

But, at the other end, Danny Glover headed wide from Darren Campion's cross in the final minute of the first-half.

Telford increased the pressure early into the second half, with Curtis Tilt and then Kyle Brownhill both narrowly shooting wide from inviting positions inside 55 minutes.

Bucks' debutant Josh Ashby forced a fine save from goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe 21 minutes from time, with a rasping low 20-yard drive.

But Fylde broke quickly and Matt Hughes just drilled wide from a swift counter-attack and Charles also missed the target for the hosts after a poor punch from Montgomery.

Telford substitute Ryan Rowe forced a solid save with a thumping drive at the other end and Ashby narrowly drilled wide of the target soon afterwards.

But, despite enjoying massive possession in the second-half, Telford ran out of time as the visitors held on.