Joe Piggott’s first-half strike was the difference at Mill Farm on Saturday, as the Coasters maintained their unbeaten league start by securing a big three points against Gloucester City.

A game that presented numerous chances for the Coasters saw Piggott score the only goal of the afternoon when he slotted past Jake Cole on the stroke of half-time.

Jim Bentley made three changes to his side from last week’s draw away at Alfreton as Danny Philliskirk, Ethan Walker & Piggott replaced Emeka Obi, Jack Sampson & Stephen Dobbie in the starting eleven.

The first real chance of the game came for the Coasters when Nick Haughton floated a free-kick into the Gloucester City area. The set-piece was cleared, but only to the feet of Philliskirk, who tested Cole with a fierce effort.

A well-worked corner routine looked like a certain goal for Fylde after Nick Haughton found Luke Joyce unmarked at the back post, though he headed straight at Cole.

Jim Bentley’s side was the better of the two, and they were piling the pressure on, as Nick Haughton first tested Cole from range before Walker latched on to Ben Tollitt’s superb pass to fire inches wide.

Then, the Coasters had a great shout for a penalty when Haughton was brought down by Cole in the area, but the referee deemed it a dive and brandished a yellow card to Fylde’s number 10.

The pressure told eventually, when Joe Piggott found space inside the area, drifted past his marker and slid a ball into the back of the net to give the Coasters the lead.

Half-time: AFC Fylde 1 Gloucester City 0

Looking to carry on where they left off, the Coasters came out firing in the second half, attempting to double their lead. Ben Tollitt found space inside the area to drill a strike towards goal, though saw his shot blocked.

Gloucester started to get on the ball a little more in the second half. Max Sheaf burst down the right and looked for Matt McClure in the area, though his cross went straight out for a goal kick.

Despite the visitors looking to pull level, Danny Philliskirk, on his return to the starting eleven, ventured forward and attempted to double Fylde’s lead – however, he sliced his effort wide.

Ethan Walker, full of confidence from last week, danced his way through the Gloucester City defence and seemed certain to score, though the on-rushing Cole made himself big and kept him out before Piggott’s rebound was cleared off the line by Ryan Galvin.

Bentley’s side wanted that two-goal cushion, and they almost found it when Haughton fired inches wide with an outside of the foot effort before again going close, latching on to David Perkins’ clipped ball minutes later.

With just minutes left on the clock, Fylde’s hearts were in their mouths when Kevin Dawson was left unmarked at the back post, though his header rippled the side netting, giving the Coasters a well-earned three points.

Full-Time: AFC Fylde 1 Gloucester City 0

AFC Fylde: Neal, Conlan, Whitmore, Stott, Philliskirk, Perkins, Joyce, Tollitt (79’ Shaw), Haughton (94’ Obi), Walker, Piggott (79’ Sampson).

Unused subs: Osborne, Dobbie.

Gloucester City: Cole, Chambers-Parillon (62’ King), Sheaf, Leadbitter, Galvin, Tomlinson, Dawson ©, Robert, Nugent, Mensah (45’ Young), McClure.

Unused subs: Armstrong, Thompson.