FC United of Manchester 0 AFC Telford 0 - Report and pictures

But another United - AFC Telford - were celebrating the arrival of their first point of the season but bemoaning perhaps two lost after having the edge on FC United of Manchester.

Rob Smith's side looked stronger pretty much throughout and created the better openings as Josh Wilson, substitute Callum Gittings and Tom Peers all having chances to have given the Bucks a fourth successive victory against the Broadhurst Park men.

But just as much as they were superb in defence - and in particular Dan Preston - they again lacked a cutting edge in attack.

Telford made one change to the side beaten 1-0 by AFC Fylde on Saturday with Lucas Dawson replacing fellow midfielder Sean Williams, who was away on a coaching trip abroad.

Manager Rob Smith, looking suntanned after returning from holiday, made a slight alteration to the formation as he switched back to their usual 4-3-3 from the 4-2-3-1 line-up at the weekend.

It was a high tempo start to the game which continued unrelentingly to the half-time whistle.

The Bucks matched United all the way but in an even start to the game, it was the hosts who created the first threat in the 12th minute.

Centre back Tom Eckersley arrived unmarked with a towering header from Harry Winter's corner and James Montgomery was perfectly placed to tip the ball over.

The Bucks' first half chance arrived in the 18th minute when Dave Hibbert slashed the ball a few feet wide from 20 yards after Danny Reynolds helped the ball on.

A minute later, Telford had the ball in the net when Reynolds prodded home when Hibbert headed Dawson's free kick across goal but the flag went up early for offside.

There was some argy-bargy on 27 when Lee Fowler was booked for throwing Jerome Wright to the ground after having the United man in a headlock.

Telford were looking dangerous from set-pieces as the impressive Hibbert demanded the ball like a magnet.

The target man sent a bullet header across goal from Dawson's free kick on 35 only for keeper David Carnell to block Wilson at point-blank range.

Telford were the more dominant side as the half wore on but they lacked the penetration to break the deadlock.

There was an isolated threat from striker Tom Greaves with a shot on the turn, but his effort from the edge of the box was easily beaten away by Montgomery.

Telford returned to the attack and some really good possession by the Bucks eventually won them a free kick when Wilson had his heels clipped 25 yards out.

Dawson's resulting low effort went through the wall and it squirmed through Carnell only to fall just wide, leaving the keeper furious with his defence.

If the tempo of the first half was quick, then Telford stepped it up even further to take the initiative from the restart.

Carnell got a vital hand to Wilson's angled effort after a neat touch from Fowler to tee him up three minutes after the restart.

The bright start from Telford continued and after Fowler's shot was deflected away, Darren Campion's ball across goal was hacked away before it reached Hibbert.

Telford decided on a change on 56 minutes after Fowler caught Dale Tonge and earned a lengthy lecture from the referee, Smith sensibly taking him off before he was perhaps sent off to allow Callum Gittings his competitive debut for the Bucks.

As the hour mark approached, the game was hanging finely in the balance with Telford shading it but United showing signs they were willing to match them all the way.

And it was Gittings who was next to try to break the deadlock, arriving unmarked as his snapshot was beaten away by Carnell on 62.

There was very little in the game but Telford continued to take the game to the hosts and Hibbert dribbled in from the left only to lash high and wide from a tight angle.

United made a double substitution on 68 to try to force an opener as Matthew Wolfenden and Jason Gilchrist replaced Sam Sheridan and Greaves, while Micah Evans came on for Reynolds at the same time.

And it was United who had the next opening as Dan Preston, who had been excellent again, slid in to block Wolfenden's shot from an acute angle after Montgomery had slid at his feet.

Evans showed good pace and neat feet to get himself into a shooting position only to check and find himself crowded out.

Telford made their final throw of the dice with 10 minutes to go when Tom Peers came on for the tireless Hibbert, who was again a man of the match contender.

An awful mistake by Carnell with six minutes left let in Evans and his cross took a ricochet which bounced goalwards before Dale Tonge belted it away.

Telford thought they may have won it in a lively four minutes of time added on.

Peers was denied by Carnell smothering at the second attempt after Campion won it back and the ball dropped nicely for him.

Then it all kicked off as Campion and Tonge squared up, pushing each other as the Bucks left back kept the ball at a United throw in and players from both sides jumped in.

Preston was also involved and emerged with a ripped shirt as he, Campion and Tonge were all booked.

It ended soon afterwards and was another full-blooded, fiercely-contested affair that Telford will feel the more aggrieved at the outcome.

FC United: (4-3-3): Carnell; Tonge, Eckersley, Ashworth, Chantler; Kay, Winter (Glynn 87), Sheridan (Wolfenden 68); Thomson, Greaves (Gilchrist 68), Wright.

Subs not used: Williams, Lowe.

AFC Telford (4-3-3): Montgomery 7; Samuels 7, Havern 7, PRESTON 8, Campion 7; Rea 7, Dawson 7, Fowler 7 (Gittings 56 6); Reynolds 6 (Evans 68 6), Hibbert 8 (Peers 80 5), Wilson 6.

Subs not used: Monaghan, Bailey.

Referee: Aaron Jackson (Liverpool)

Attendance: 2,124.