Danny Mayor's 51st minute strike sealed all three points for the visiting Coasters, who had needed some competent goalkeeping from Zac Jones to keep the Pilgrims at bay either side of half-time.

Mayor scored the decisive goal six minutes after the break and United's woes were compounded six minutes from time when Jake Rooney was handed a second red card inside six home matches so far this season.

With three players away on international duty, Paul Hurst made two changes to his starting XI, with Levi Sutton and Jack Holmes both coming into the side.

United needed a big Louis Chadwick save to deny Harvey Broad within four minutes - but it was soon Jones flying around at the other end with a good save to thwart Tom Cursons.

Holmes' goalbound drive was charged behind by Corey Whelan, while Gavan Holohan headed too high from the resulting Georgie Gent corner.

Jones made a terrific save to deny Holohan moments before half-time after Gent had pulled a corner into his path on the edge of the box.

Fylde sneaked in front when MAYOR picked his spot from 20 yards to leave Chadwick helpless.

Jones made brilliant saves to deny Cursons and Holohan in the 63rd and 67th minutes respectively, but the remaining noteworthy action for the Pilgrims saw Rooney handed his marching orders after picking up a yellow card in both halves.

Greg Olley was inches away from clinching the points for Fylde, but was denied by a Jamie Grimes goalline block, while Jones stood tall at the death to stop an advancing Gent.

Boston (4-3-2-1): Louis Chadwick; Connor Teale (Sai Sachdev 81), Jake Rooney, Jamie Grimes, Georgie Gent; Gavan Holohan, Levi Sutton (Lenell John-Lewis 81), Terrell Agyemang; Jack Holmes (Ken Aboh 70), Lennon Wheeldon (Lewis Shipley 87); Tom Cursons. Subs (not used): Niall Canavan, Connor McBride, Luke Faxon (gk).

AFC Fylde (4-3-3): Zac Jones; Aaron Drewe, Will Lancaster, Corey Whelan, Harvey Broad; Ethan Mitchell (Theo Upton 87), Chris Merrie (Luke Butterfield 70), Tom Whelan; Luca Thomas (Jack Morris 80), Millar Matthews-Lewis (Cedric Main 70), Danny Mayor (Greg Olley 70). Subs (not used): Max Taylor, Patrick Boyes (gk).

Referee: Andrew Miller.

Attendance: 1,672 (43 visitors).

PIC: Chris Bray.