NEW Rylands boss Danny Salt says he will 'take the three points' but knows there is room for improvement after an opening night 2-1 success at Garswood.

The returning Kris Bell gave Rylands the lead early in the second half of the Cheshire League Premier Division clash and debutant Tom Swann stole the three points in the 89th minute after Garswood had equalised.

Salt said: "I'm really happy to start the season with a hard-fought victory against a very good Garswood side.

"We played well in patches, but as a new team we're still getting to know each other and there's definitely more to come from us.

"The game was a scrappy affair and it took one piece of quality to settle the tie. I'll take the three points and move on to Saturday's game against Knutsford, where we know we will need to be at our best."

Both sides struggled to gain any real foothold in the match during the first half, with debutants Scott Beckett and Kurt McCarthy in midfield taking the fight to the hosts.

Garswood had one chance to take a lead as half time drew close but goalkeeper Gareth Powell stood strong when challenged one-on-one and saved comfortably.

The visitors flew out of the traps in the second half and it took only two minutes before they took the lead throughBell, who capitalised on a defensive mix-up from Calum Wilson's long ball. Bell finished well past the on-rushing 'keeper.

The goal seemed to settle Rylands, who began to take control of the game, keeping the ball well and moving Garswood around, but without creating many opportunities on goal.

In the 63rd minute Powell was called into action again in the Rylands goal, after the home side made good use of a quick free kick, saving well to his left.

Shortly after, the home side were in again, after the winger was allowed to run unchallenged from deep to the byline, before crossing low where McIntyre was primed to slot home.

Neither side seemed happy to settle for a drawand after 80 minutes the game began to open up, with Bell's bending free-kick hitting the crossbar for Rylands, before Chris Brown headed what looked a certain goal off the line for the hosts in the 85th minute.

Both sides continued to look dangerous going forward, but neither had the clinical touch that could seal the game and the tie looked destined for a draw.

However, in the 89th minute, Rylands produced a suberb counter attacking move after Beckett won the ball deep.

He carried forward and found McCarthy, whose quick feet took him past the midfielder, passing to Koubemba Odilon.

'Odi' turned and played in Swann who had replaced Connor Anderson late on.

Swann cut inside from the left, going past the home full back and firing low into the bottom corner.

To their credit, Garswood found the time to create more drama, forcing a late corner.

The Garswood keeper came up but Gareth Powell was on hand to stretch to his right and knock the bouncing ball away from the on-rushing striker.

Rylands: Gareth Powell, Tom Gibson, Chris Brown, Scott Beckett (David France '90), Calum Wilson, James Sinker, Kris Bell, Kurt McCarthy, Koubemba Odilon, Connor Anderson (Tom Swann, '78), Ryan Matthews (James Daniels '54).