AFC Telford 0 Fylde 1 - Report and pictures

Danny Rowe's low 25-yard drive three minutes after the break was ultimately all that separated the sides.

But there were chances for both teams, with Josh Langley heading against the bar and Matty Hughes denied by a goal-line clearance for the visitors.

Danny Reynolds missed a good opening in the first half and Dan Preston wasted two excellent chances to equalise.

The big team news from the Telford camp was the availability of midfielder Jack Rea.

The former Guiseley man had missed the last two pre-season friendlies against Wrexham and Birmingham City Under-21s.

He suffered a badly bruised knee in the Shropshire Senior Cup semi-final clash against Market Drayton two weeks ago.

Rea took his place alongside Sean Williams as the two defensive midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 line-up.

With manager Rob Smith not back from holiday until tomorrow, assistant boss Larry Chambers handed debuts to four summer signings for the curtain-raiser.

Captain Luca Havern, Sean Williams, Reynolds and Lee Fowler were making their competitive bows for the Bucks, while Preston returned to the club he left in 2014.

Another four new arrivals were on the bench - Michael Monaghan, Tom Peers, Ben Bailey and Micah Evans.

Fylde fielded debutant goalkeeper Rhys Taylor, signed at the 11th hour after a lengthy loan spell at Wrexham last season before he was released from Newport County.

Fylde, all in bright orange, kicked off and there was early drama as Dominic Collins slid in high on Dave Hibbert for a Telford free kick dead centre 25 yards out.

AFC Telford United (4-2-3-1): Montgomery; Samuels, Havern, Preston, Campion; Rea, Williams; Reynolds (Peers 71), Fowler (Monaghan 77), Wilson; Hibbert (Evans 77).

Subs not used: Dawson, Bailey.

Fylde (4-5-1): Taylor; Holmes, Langley, Collins, Kennedy; M Hughes (C Hughes 81), Bond, Baker, Dixon, Daniels (Blinkhorn 81); Rowe.

Subs not used: Hardy, Newell, Wilczynski (gk).

Referee: Martin Woods.

The dead ball was touched to ex-Fylde forward Josh Wilson, but his effort was blocked by Langley.

The first on-target shot of the game went to Reynolds, whose quickly-taken volley forced a falling save from Taylor to his right. Fylde's first chance came in the 10th minute.

Rowe chested a throw-in into the path of Brendon Daniels, who was playing wide left, and the new signing from Harrogate raced into the box but blazed over.

The Bucks hit back and there was a superb save from Taylor diving to his right to deny Rea's angled drive after Reynolds's cross deflected into his path to underline was what a good start from Telford.

But from then on, Fylde came into the game much more. The visitors threatened with a free header for Collins from Daniels' corner, but he glanced well over in a let off for the Bucks.

Havern was very harshly booked on his debut after 22 minutes, when Bohan Dixon simply ran into him.

Some justice came Telford's way as Daniels' resulting free kick hit the wall, then Rowe drilled the follow-up wide first time.

On 25 minutes, Matty Hughes took advantage of Darren Campion's error in the corner to drill dangerously goal-wards and goalkeeper James Montgomery tipped his fierce, low shot wide.

Fylde next threatened with a low shot from Daniels that took a deflection and Montgomery couldn't keep it in play.

Telford struggled to clear the resulting corner and Matty Hughes's angled drive was hacked off the line by Sean Williams in the 29th minute, with Montgomery beaten.

Two minutes later, Dixon somehow escaped a booking after deliberately sliding into Dwayne Samuels after the ball had gone, leaving the crowd furious.

After a long spell under the cosh, Telford hit back on 32 with a good move.

Williams' cross was touched back by Wilson for Reynolds, who lashed well over when a composed finish was called for.

Rowe was booked a minute before the break for catching Rea late, after he slid in well to halt a Fylde attack.

Telford kicked off to start the second half but they had the worst possible start, after conceding within three minutes.

There seemed to be little danger when Rowe received a pass with his back to goal some 25 yards out, but he turned on a sixpence and buried a low drive inside Montgomery's near post.

Telford wasted a golden chance to level almost immediately, when Havern headed Williams's free kick across the box and Preston ballooned well over.

Fylde were looking the better side now, and, on 52, the Bucks had a let-off.

Langley headed against the bar from Daniels's corner, after Montgomery was left in no man's land.

Telford wasted two half chances to equalise either side of the hour mark.

First Wilson ballooned a curling free kick high into the stands, after Darren Campion was pushed over by Danny Holmes.

Then Hibbert's glancing header looped well over from Lee Fowler's floated free kick.

Back came Fylde though and Rowe got a sight of goal again but this time fizzed a low drive well wide.

Telford brought on another debutant on 71 when Tom Peers replaced Reynolds up front.

Two minutes later, Preston again missed a great chance as he stretched and failed to connect with Williams' free kick, which dropped nicely.

There was another chance for Telford on 75 when Hibbert fed the in-rushing Peers deep in the area, but his side-footed effort was blocked.

Dixon, who was lucky to escape a booking in the first half, was finally yellow-carded for kicking Campion after the ball had gone.

With 13 minutes to go, Telford made a double substitution with Michael Monaghan and Micah Evans on for Fowler and Hibbert.

The double switch ensured the Bucks continued to give the Fylde defence plenty to think about.

Fylde left back Tom Kennedy earned an 80th-minute booking for bringing down Monaghan in the far corner, but the free kick from Williams was wasted.

But Telford struggled to break down a determined defence and Fylde prevailed to take the points.