The start to life in a new division could not have gone any better for The Coasters as they finished the opening day top of the Vanarama Conference North thanks to a rampant display over Brackley Town.

The visitors only arrived at 20 past three due to traffic problems on the motorway meaning the game kicked off almost an hour late and inevitably Fylde were the ones who gained a strong foothold on the game.

Fylde started with three new signings in their side and it was one of those that scored the opening goal three minutes before the break in Michael Potts, signed from Guiseley in pre-season.

Richie Allen scored a trademark solo goal of his own 11 minutes into the second half before Joe Booth added the third on the hour and Danny Lloyd rounded off the rout with a peach of his own 12 minutes before the end.

Potts could have scored earlier than he did as he missed two great chances – the first coming on 21 mintues when he drove a shot narrowly wide after a corner was cleared into his path and a minute later he shot over the bar from the edge of the box.

Fellow new signing Tom Hannigan also headed wide on 31 minutes before the chance of the match came when Danny Rowe, who signed on Friday, had a shot blocked by a defender before Allen’s curled effort was tipped around the post at full stretch by inspired Town goal keeper Dean Snedker.

Potts sent another chance wide of the mark but three minutes later Allen sent an excellent cross into the box which Potts headed into the net for a deserved lead just before the break.

The Coasters carried on where they left off in the second period as they took the game to a beleaguered Brackley.

Allen collected the ball 30 yards out before edging his way towards the box, saw Snedker out of position and sent a sublime curling effort which landed in the side netting and doubled Fylde’s lead.

Former Fleetwood striker Rowe was unlucky not to get on the score sheet himself at times but he was able to square the ball to Booth for the third as he shot low into the left corner making it 3-0.

Fylde continued to dominate but a rare sight on goal for the visitors allowed Jon Brown to watch his shot gathered comfortably by Ben Hinchliffe before Allen smacked another curling shot onto the post with 16 minutes to go.

Then substitute Danny Lloyd rounded off the victory by blasting into the net with his left foot just three minutes after coming on in the 78^th minute.

He could have added his second in stoppage time, collecting the ball in acres of space inside the box but Snedker rushed out, made himself big and denied Fylde their fifth.

Dave Challinor could not have asked for anything more from his side in this game and said afterwards: “We came into this game with Brackley being a bit of an unknown quantity as I think they only had four players from their squad last season so we were going into the game blind.

“In fairness we concentrated on what we had to do and I thought the lads were brilliant. We deserved to get the goal in the first half and probably deserved to get more than we did, and the second half we were really clinical and finished them off.

“In terms of the delay to kick off, I feel it was just as much a distraction to us as them as I wanted to get our warm up and timings right before the game kicked off as well.

“Today was a really enjoyable day so hopefully we can now kick on and go into Tuesday’s game full of confidence and with no fear knowing that we can compete in this league.”

Fylde next game is on Tuesday evening at Stalybridge Celtic where they will be looking for another well-earned three points. Kick-off is 7:45pm.

AFC Fylde: Hinchlffe, Denson, Sumner, Langley, Hannigan, B. Barnes (C), Booth (Tomsett 83), Potts, Rowe, M. Barnes (Lloyd 75), Allen (Noon 84); Subs not used: C. Hughes, Charles.
GOALS: Michael Potts (42), Richie Allen (56), Booth (60), Lloyd (78)

Brackley Town: Snedker, Samuels, McDonald, Odhiambo, Sharpe, Austin (C), Kaziboni, Ives (Brown 57), Rowe (Johnson 46), Mulligan (Green 66), Carruthers; Subs not used: McGowan, Pearson.

HT: 1-0
ATT: 338
MOM: Michael Potts (AFC Fylde)