End of Season Review:
Steve
Edwards:
27/04/08 12:00
At the time of writing, the Reserve team
finds itself in a very similar position to that of the
first team. If they can win their last two games they
will become League Champions: they are already assured
of runners up spot. The two remaining games are
Workington, away, who are currently top by three points and Leigh RMI here at Highbury, next
Wednesday April 30th.
Our last game was against Workington at home and we ran
out comfortable winners three goals to none. However,
the return in Cumbria this coming Monday, April 28th,
will be a far sterner test of our capabilities but we go
up there full of confidence and all being well we could
clinch the title the following Wednesday against RMI.
I
recall at the start of the season stating that I would
be disappointed if we didn’t mount a serious challenge
for the title this season. This was based on the squad
Tony was assembling and the fact most of the youngsters
would have had a season already under their belts from
the previous campaign, when we finished as Runners up to
Morecambe.
With all but a few exceptions the First team players
that have turned out in the Reserve team this season
have pulled their weight and contributed enormously to
our current League position. There would be too many to
mention individually but Stuart Harris and I would like
to thank them all for their efforts.
As you may be aware, two or three of the younger players
have already been loaned to Blackpool Mechanics. The
thinking in this is that the experience they will gain
in the North West Counties League will stand them in
good stead for the future. In the cases of Anthony
Warwick and Joel Cowell this seems to be the case and
hopefully more can follow the same route. A couple of
the Under 18 team have also made the step up into the
Reserve Team, Ollie Kelly playing a number of games for
us at right back. Unfortunately injury ruled him out of
the last two months of the season but I have seen enough
to think he will be back next season to cement his place
in the team along with a few others.
If I am honest we have not had the opportunities to try
and have a look at more of the Under 18 Team in games
because of using the First Team players in the side.
That I am afraid is the way the Reserve Team is used, if
Tony wants some of his squad to play, then they play.
Every body I ask down for the Reserves is made aware
that is the way the Club is run: the first team must
come first and that is the way it has to be if we are to
continue to on our current path.
Thanks to to John Fryer and Ted Lowery for their help
on match nights, and to all the die hard fans who come
and support us at our home games. Those die hards will
tell you that we always put on a good show, whether it's
getting turned over 6-1 by Kendal or beating Lancaster
8-0! Why not come and have a look at us in our last
match next Wednesday April 30th?
Fleetwood Town Reserves 3 Workington Reserves 0:
Monday
April 21st 2008 | Lancit Haulage Lancashire League
FTFC Goals: Lennie Reid, Anthony Warwick, Danny Gillett
Fleetwood maintained their title
challenge against the only side that can beat them to
the title. Workington tasted defeat for the first time
this season against a very committed Town side that were
still smarting from the League Cup defeat inflicted by
their Cumbrian visitors in March. The Home side were not
without their problems in putting together a side to
match the quick direct football that Workington play.
Tom Didlock, who was superb all night, and Danny Gillett
were drafted in and youngster Jack Davidson was on the
bench.
On a
bone hard pitch Fleetwood started the better. Warren
Beattie and Ashley Dunn dominated midfield with Beattie
once again showing his full array of talents. The home
side took the lead after only eight minutes when Dunn
released Lennie Reid, the busy winger crashed in his
shot that the keeper could only palm into the net. The
game was a tight affair with both keepers making some
important stops but if Fleetwood had taken their
chances, then the game should have been won before half
time.
As
it was they had to wait until the 56th minute
to score their second goal of the night. Chris Watkinson
forced the Workington keeper into a save and Anthony
Warwick finished from a tight angle. Town's third goal
came close to the end of the game. Danny Gillett neatly
finishing from twelve yards out.
A
fine performance from the side with everyone doing their
bit, from Mike Hale whose handling was faultless all
night, to the substitutes.
Team: Hale,
Didlock, Hone, Eden, M Moran, Beattie (Wright), Dunn,
Warwick, Watkinson, Reid (Tallentire), Gillett
Fleetwood Reserves
4 Bamber Bridge 0:
Lancit Haulage Lancashire League
18th April 2008
Goal: FTFC – Ashley Dunn, Chris Watkinson 2, Anthony
Warwick
Town cruised to an easy victory to maintain their League
title hopes. Mike Hale in the Town goal was never tested
as he had one of his easiest games of the season.
Fleetwood never really had to exert themselves but had
to wait until the 30th minute to open their account for
the evening. Good build up play involving Lennie Reid
and Chris Watkinson allowed Ashley Dunn to have a shot
on goal, his deflected shot giving the Bamber keeper no
chance. The home side quickly doubled the score when
Watkinson crashed a shot past the motionless keeper.
The second half followed a similar pattern with
Fleetwood carving open their visitors at will. Warren
Beattie and Dunn were in total control of the midfield
with Beattie, in particular, making some glorious
passes. Reid and Anthony Warwick on the flanks were the
main beneficiaries of Beattie's probing passes but it
was his midfield partner Dunn who put Watkinson in to
make it three nil with half an hour to go. Watkinson had
numerous chances to get his hat trick, but it was left
to Warwick to finish the game off in style when he
skipped round the keeper and walked the ball into the
empty net.
With Workington beating Leigh 3-1 nothing changes at the
top of the table. Fleetwood will have to beat the
Cumbrians twice to win the League. The first of these
head to head meetings is this coming Monday, April 21st,
when Fleetwood are the hosts. Town have not forgotten
some of the comments made by the Workington players
after their narrow cup win last month and are sure to
give Workington's youngsters a run for their money.
Team: Mike Hale, Kyle Webster ( Danny Eden 65),
Jimmy Hone, Martin Moran, Mike Tallentire, Lennie Reid,
Paul Haddow ( Jamie Wright 8) , Ashley Dunn, Chris
Watkinson, Warren Beattie and Anthony Warwick.
Fleetwood
Town
Reserves 1 Workington Reserves 2:
Lancashire League
Cup
Quarter Final
15th
March 2008
Goal: FTFC – Steve Foster
In what was the tie of the round, Workington progressed
to the last four courtesy of a Michael Tallentire own
goal six minutes from time. Both sides can take credit
for a very entertaining encounter, the visitors were out
of the blocks the quicker of the two sides and Fleetwood
soon realised they were up against the best side they
have met this season. It took ten minutes or so for Town
to get their act together and apart from the opening
period the game was evenly matched with perhaps
Workington shading the lion’s share of possession.
Fleetwood should have opened the scoring after twenty
minutes when Chris Watkinson burst through the static
Workington defence, but his left foot shot was dragged
well wide of the post. Workington were mainly content to
hit long balls to use the forwards blistering pace to
its best effect but Mike Hale was not called upon to
make many saves. Hale's handling was superb all night
and he constantly collected the crosses that came his
way .
The home side were dealt a cruel blow when Paul Haddow
had to come off with a suspected dislocated jaw after he
bravely closed down a shot and took the full power of it
in the face. Fleetwood then had a golden opportunity to
open the scoring with five minutes of the first half
remaining when they were rewarded with a penalty kick
following a defender's handball. Steve Foster stepped up
to take the kick but his shot was well saved by the
keeper diving to his left. Almost immediately the
Cumbrian's took the lead, following another long ball
the Town back four were caught square and despite more
than an hint of offside, Hale was found himself stranded
and was promptly lobbed.
The second period was full of niggles with the
Workington side trying to run down the clock at every
opportunity. They are a good side but some of their
antics frankly let them down. They were constantly
chipping away at the Referee and used their youthful age
to influence the official on more then one occasion.
Fleetwood were not to be out done though and they
equalised with half an hour to go. Watkinson crossed for
Foster to side step the keeper and score from close
range. The game was seemingly heading for extra-time
with both sides not really breaking the other one down.
However, a weak goal bound effort from Workington struck
Tallentire and the deflection was enough to send Hale
the wrong way and give the visitors a rather fortuitous
winner.
There were some good performances from Fleetwood; Hale,
Tallentire and Hone probably the pick but, to be honest,
Town had too many players below par and Workington
deserved their victory.
The two League games to come between the two sides will
almost certainly decide the League title and judging by
this game it will be a very close finish. The question
is, have Workington played to their full potential in
this game? If they have, Fleetwood can go into those
games confident of winning because I know Town have a
lot more to give than they produced in this game.
Team: Hale, Eden (Cowell75), Hone, Moran M (Bryan
60), Tallentire, Haddow (Warwick 20), Webster, Matthews,
Watkinson, Foster, Reid. Subs not used: Murray
and Bailey.
Fleetwood
Town
Reserves 2 Burscough Reserves 0:
Lancashire League
Cup
16th
February 2008
Goals: FTFC – Alex Taylor 2
In a game that saw
Town completely dominate, they had to wait until the
70th minute to open the scoring. The game should have
been over as a contest within the first quarter of an
hour as Fleetwood missed a glut of goal scoring
opportunties. Alex Taylor alone could have had a hat
trick and the Referee turned down two blatant penalty
appeals as Fleetwood started as well as they have all
season. The only threat to Mike Hale's goal came from
the pitch with the surface rapidly drying out and is
becoming extremely difficult to play on. Twice Hale was
deceived by outrageous bounces and on one occasion
completely missed his kick only to recover and scramble
the ball off his goal line. The keeper only had one real
effort to deal with from Burscough's lone striker, this
in the last ten minutes of the game, when he produced a
fine diving save to his left.
By this time the game
was all but over with Fleetwood holding a two-goal lead.
The spark that finally broke the deadlock was, in the
70th minute, the introduction of Joel Cowell and
switching to three forwards. Cowell made an instant
impact and his link up play with young fullback Ollie
Kelly caused Burscough no end of problems. The first
goal came from a surging run from Kelly after being sent
away by Kyle Webster. Kelly cut inside and had the
presence of mind to pick out Taylor on the edge of the
box who finished with a crisp shot into the bottom
corner. Town scored their second soon after when Cowell
sped clear following a long pass from Nicky Ellis,
Cowell took the ball round the advancing keeper and
looked like notching his 14th goal of the campaign only
for Taylor to pinch his glory, rolling the ball into an
empty net.
This result should
mean that qualification for the next phase of the
competition is assured but, to be honest, I really have
no idea how the format works, with six teams in our
group and only playing three games, you might have to
win all three to go through.
Team: Mike
Hale, Ollie Kelly, Shaun Beeley (Joel Cowell 70), Rik
Bryan, Nicky Ellis, Kyle Webster, Jimmy Hone (Jamie
Wright 72), Anthony Warwick, Chris Watkinson (Paul
Bailey 72), Alex Taylor, Ashley Dunn.
Bamber
Bridge Reserves 2 Fleetwood
Reserves 3:
Lancashire League
Cup
26th
January 2008
Goal: FTFC – Jez Fitzgerald, Chris
Watkinson, Steve Foster
With Bamber Bridge's
first team having no game, they took the opportunity to
field their strongest side available against their table
topping visitors. Town themselves also fielded a strong
contingent from their first team squad. Danny Hurst
returned to action following a twelve week break through
injury and Jez Fitzgerald made his first appearance for
six weeks. Ashley Dunn, recently signed , started his
first game for the club, as did Nicky Ellis who only
signed on Friday on loan from Gainsborough Trinity.
Steve Foster completed the first team players being used
as he started his first game since Boxing Day.
The home side
dominated proceedings in the first half and Fleetwood
had Hurst to thank on several occasions for keeping them
in the game. Bamber Bridge opened the scoring with a
much debated penalty, both benches having a laugh at the
blatant dive. Fleetwood were against the ropes for much
of the half but, somehow, went in at 1-1 at half time
following Fitzgerald's surging run which ended with a
crisp drive into the net.
After a couple of
positional changes and a few stern reminders from Stuart
Harris about the standards the Reserves had set
themselves this season, Fleetwood set about the home
side from the very start of the second period. With
Anthony Warwick and Joel Cowell rampaging down the
flanks, Bridge struggled to contain Fleetwood's pace and
determination. Town took the lead with fifteen minutes
to go when Dunn, Warwick and Cowell combined for Chris
Watkinson to score. Fleetwood effectively killed the
game off when Foster was upended in the box and,
following treatment, got up to score from the spot. The
home side grabbed their second in the dying moments
following a corner.
A tremendous second
half against stiff opposition with all the players
taking a great deal of credit.
Team: Hurst,
Croft (Wright 45), Fitzgerald ( Tallentire 55), Ellis,
Hone, Webster, Dunn, Warwick, Watkinson (Bailey 75),
Foster, Cowell.
Knock Out Cup:
21/01/08
19:00
This much we know! The competition
is again organised on a group basis with the winners of each of the five groups,
plus the three best runners up, progressing to the quarter final stage. There
are six teams in our group, but we only get to play three of them!
Group 5: Fleetwood Town, Bamber
Bridge, Burscough, Darwen, Leigh RMI, Formby
Our Games: Jan 26th Away v Bamber
Bridge
Feb 15th Home v Burscough
Feb 25th Away v Darwen
No doubt, as they say, all will be
revealed!
Fleetwood Reserves 3 Formby
Reserves 2:
Lancit Haulage Lancashire League
28th December 2007
Goal: FTFC – Ciaran Donnelly, Steve Foster, Joel Cowell
Formby brought a strong side to Highbury for this Lancashire League fixture with
their first team not having a game the following day. Town themselves included
several of their first team squad and, despite the score line, were far and away
the better of the two sides.
Fleetwood opened the better and quickly set the tone of the game when they
missed several chances within the opening fifteen minutes. The visitors stunned
the home side, however, when totally against the run of play, they opened the
scoring. Town's centre backs were caught square and the Formby forward raced
away to finish with some style. Fleetwood responded by missing even more
opportunities and were once again made to pay when Formby increased their lead
with a carbon copy of their opener. Town should really have been put out of the
game on the half hour mark, the pacey forward sped clear following some
desperate tackles and but, for a fine save from Mark Smith in the Town goal,
would have gone in at half time three down.
The second period saw Town camped in the Formby half and following some glaring
misses it looked like it was not going to be their night. However , the
introduction of Anthony Warwick stretched the tiring Formby defence even further
and, following one of his crosses, Ciaran Donnelly opened Town's account for the
night. Steve Foster levelled the scores with fifteen minutes to go but, with
time running out, it looked like Formby's blatant time wasting was to gain them
a undeserved point. With what was to be very nearly the last kick of the game,
however, Joel Cowell popped up to score his twelfth goal of the season, and the
the winner in this particular game.
Fleetwood opened up a four point gap with this victory but one feels they might
not be able to miss as many chances against better teams and get away with it.
Team: M. Smith, Webster, Gray, Tallentire, Bryan, Davis (Warwick 65),
Pond (Hone 60), Donnelly, Foster, Watt (Cowell 75)
Kendal Reserves 0
Fleetwood Reserves 4:
Lancit Haulage Lancashire League
12th December 2007
Goal: FTFC – Michael Brown, Chris Watkinson 3
Town travelled to Kendal knowing a victory would put them back on top of
the table. Although out of action for over a month, Fleetwood swept aside their
Cumbrian host’s with little fuss. Earlier in the season Kendal had inflicted
Town’s only defeat of the season, a crushing 6-1 humiliation, and it was clear
from the outset Fleetwood were up for revenge.
Town opened the scoring after six minutes, they had already missed two
glorious chances, when Anthony Warwick raced down the left wing following a fine
pass from Martin Moran. His cross evaded Mark Davis and Chris Watkinson, but
Michael Brown crashed the ball in at the far post. Fleetwood were rampant and in
all honesty the final score could well have been doubled. Chris Watkinson scored
his first of the night on the 15 minute mark when he latched on to a wayward
back pass and easily beat the keeper. Kendal had their best spell of the game
just before the end of the half, but Mark Smith never had a serious shot to save
all night. Fleetwood went into the break 3-0 up with the last kick of the half,
Shaun Gray’s long punt out of defence found Watkinson and once again he finished
with ease.
The second half was of similar fare. Ciaran Donnelly, enjoying playing
just off Watkinson, was mostly at the centre of things. Town’s best goal of the
night came on 56 minutes: a flowing one touch passing movement involving James
Hone, Gray ,Donnelly and Watkinson which Watkinson finished with a thumping
drive. The visitors could and should of had more, particularly from the superb
corners of Warwick and Donnelly, but they had to settle for four. The clean
sheet was important as well and the defence of Kyle Webster ,Richard Bryan,
excellent alongside Moran, and Gray were always two good for Kendal’s front two.
Fleetwood played the last ten minutes with ten men, Brown coming off as a
precaution ,but still Kendal never looked like scoring. Infact Town played some
of their best football of the night within the period with substitutes Jamie
Wright and Michael Tallentire both going close. Kendal were happy to hear the
final whistle and Fleetwood trooped off job done.
Team: Smith, Webster (Croft 75), Gray, Moran, Bryan (Tallentire 60),
Brown, Davis, Hone, Donnelly, Watkinson (Wright 70), Warwick
Leigh RMI Reserves 1
Fleetwood Town Reserves 1:
Lancit Haulage Lancashire League
10th November 2007
Goal: FTFC – Johnathan Smith
This
was not the best preparation for this top of the table clash,
with work commitments, injury and illness dictating changes in personnel. With
weather conditions and probably the biggest pitch in the league to contend with,
this was always going to be a battle. RMI having, conceded only six goals to
date, were going to be tough to break down, but Town dominated possession of the
game with five across the middle of the park, and playing Paul Bailey on his own
up front.
The
home side struggled to cope with Davis, Donnelly and Haddow, keeping them
confined in their own half for most of the first half. The breakthrough came on
33 minutes with a corner delivered by Donnelly converted perfectly by Jonathan
Smith.
The
second half saw Leigh RMI start the better and it came as no surprise when they
drew level. A misunderstanding at the back allowed the Leigh forward a free run
on goal and he made no mistake with a crisp finish. Town responded well but were
dealt a cruel blow when Paul Haddow went down in the corner with damaged knee
and had to be stretchered off. A quick reshuffle saw Tallentire coming on as a
make shift centre forward. Five minutes later Ryan Croft came off with a dead
leg, being replaced by Stuart Harris at left back and putting Chris Dust at
right back. Despite the changes Fleetwood came on strong again towards the end
with Paul Bailey working tirelessly on his own up front and Ciaran Donnelly,
Mark Davis and Jonathan Smith all having chances to win it. Luck also deserted
Town as a good penalty claim was waved away, a shot cleared off the line and
striking a post.
A
good point against one of the top sides, when Town were clearly under strength,
is no mean feat and the side can take great credit for their performance.
Jonathan Smith was superb at the back and it was encouraging to see Matthew
Mecklenburg, the U18 forward, come off the bench to make his senior debut.
Team: M Smith, Croft (Harris 65), Dust, Bryan, J Smith, Hone, Davis,
Donnelly, Haddow (Tallentire 60), Bailey (Mecklenburg), Webster.
Darwen Reserves 1
Fleetwood Town Reserves 2:
Lancit Haulage Lancashire League
5th November 2007
Goals: FTFC – Joel Cowell 2
Town were very nearly made to pay for
their poor finishing in a game they completely dominated. Chance after chance
went begging as the visitors played some decent football on a soft and wet
pitch. From a succession of early corners, superbly delivered by Ciaran Donnelly
and Anthony Warwick, Jonathan Smith went close with some powerful headers.
Chris Watkinson and Joel Cowell also squandered good chances. It was Cowell who
opened the scoring on 16 minutes following a flowing move involving Kyle
Webster, Donnelly and Watkinson. The home side were happy to hear the half time
whistle, knowing they should have been well and truly out of the game.
To their credit Darwen were much
better in the second period and they equalised with 20 minutes to go. The Darwen
player was allowed to progress from the half way line unchallenged and his
poorly hit shot from the edge of the box should not have troubled Mark Smith in
the Town goal. However, Smith somehow lost his footing and the ball crept into
the corner of the net.
Fleetwood could see their 100% away
record disappearing as the clock ticked by but Donnelly played in Paul Bailey
and his touch found Cowell just inside the box. The youngster curled his shot
past the stricken Darwen keeper to grab a deserved winner.
Good performances from Cowell, Webster
and Mark Davis saw the Darwen Chairman express a wish that he would like to sign
the trio, but his request was politely refused!
Team: M Smith, Webster, Dust,
Hone (Bryan 45), J Smith, Reid, Donnelly, Davis, Watkinson (Bailey 75), Warwick,
Cowell. Not used: Tallentire.
Bamber Reserves 1
Fleetwood Town Reserves 3:
Lancit Haulage Lancashire League
20th October 2007
Goals: FTFC – Joel Cowell 2, Paul Haddow
Going to the Bridge in the past had always proved to be a bit of a battle; you
knew what you were to encounter - a tough physical game. It came with a surprise
then that this was probably the weakest Bridge performance we had come across!
However, with a different Fleetwood line up, and a very strong one at that,
optimism was high to keep us at the top of the league.
Town made the better start and dictated the play so much so that on 13 minutes a
simple throw in, on Bamber’s 18 yard line, from Didlock was knocked on by Paul
Haddow to the far stick for a simple tap in for Joel Cowell.
At half time Kyle Webster came on for Tom Didlock in order to continue the
formation of 3-5-2. Bridge began to get more involved at that point, believing
in themselves as their own changes made at half time paid off. The back three of
Ryan, Hone and Dust looked very solid and dealt with everything except for one
moment of confusion where four attempts to clear the ball allowed Bridge’s no.
10 a run in at the 18 yard box to strike a sweet shot leaving Smith no chance.
Fleetwood responded by bringing on Jamie Wright and he changed the whole shape
and pace of the game, creating more chances and allowing Haddow to go forward
more. From one such run he put Fleetwood ahead again with a cool finish. The
move of the game came when Mark Davis won the ball in midfield and slipped in
Cowell to get round the back and coolly bend the ball round the keeper.
Mentions for Paul Bailey, Joel Cowell, and Paul Haddow all of whom were
contenders for MoM; also Jamie Wright who changed the shape of the game. A
deserved three points.
Team:
Mark Smith, Tom Didlock, Christian Dust, Michael Ryan, James Hone, Lee Peatfield,
Paul Haddow, Ciaran Donnelly, Mark Davis, Joel Cowell, Paul Bailey, Subs:
Jamie Wright, Anthony Warwick and Kyle Webster.
Burscough Reserves 1
Fleetwood Town Reserves 2:
Lancit Haulage Lancashire League
17th October 2007
Goals: FTFC – Joel Cowell, Anthony Warwick
This game was almost a carbon copy of our
first game against Burscough, which ended 1-1, as once again Fleetwood missed a
glut of early chances. Joel Cowell and Chris Watkinson failed to capitalise on
some flowing football from Town, both squandering good chances to score. Mike
Hale was a virtual spectator in the opening half hour as Fleetwood battered on
their host's door. However, the opening goal was a rather fortuitous effort,
Anthony Warwick delivered a stunning in-swinging corner and Cowell, unmarked at
the far post, seemed to do his best not to score but fortunately a Burscough
defender put the ball in for him.
The second half started in a rather dull
fashion but on the hour mark, Burscough introduced their three substitutes and
the game became an end to end contest with both sides creating chances. The home
side deservedly equalised with twenty five minutes remaining when Fleetwood
failed to deal with deep cross. The home side now upped the tempo and Hale was
called upon on at least two occasions to pull of vital stops to keep his side in
it. Fleetwood's winner came with ten minutes to go. Richard Allen picked up the
ball on his own half way line and tore into Burscough. He evaded a couple of
challenges and calmly pulled the ball back for Warwick to finish in some style.
Team: Hale, Dust, Heffernan, Eden, Ryan, Webster, Allen, Davis, Warwick, Watkinson and
Cowell. Subs: Wright for Eden on 65 and Edwards for Ryan on 85.
Salford Reserves 0
Fleetwood Town Reserves 1:
Lancit Haulage Lancashire League
1st October 2007
Goal: FTFC – Kyle Webster
This was Fleetwood’s fourth game in
ten days and it showed. The pace and drive that was so evident in the previous
three games was understandably missing in what was a very poor game. Fleetwood
deserved their win but they made hard work of it against a very average side.
Five changes were made to Friday’s team and Town started quite well on a very
big pitch. Jack Davidson was brought in for his first start of the season and
he, along with Kyle Webster, were the pick of the players.
It was Webster who scored the only
goal of the game after 20 minutes. Christian Dust’s throw found Chris Watkinson.
He in turn played a sublime ball to the unmarked Webster who tore at the heart
of the Salford defence and from 25 yards out he unleashed an unstoppable shot
beyond the home keeper. It was the highlight of an often dull game. Mike Hale in
the town goal had little to do but his steadying influence was key as Salford
made some late efforts on his goal.
The win takes Town to the top of the
table but they will have to wait another ten days before they play again - which
is just as well because they picked up two or three injuries over the period
Team:
Mike Hale, Ryan Croft, Chris Dust, Danny Eden, Michael Ryan, Kyle Webster, Mark Butler,
Jack Davidson, Ryan Wignall, Chris Watkinson, and Joel Cowell. Subs: Adam Crossley
for Croft (65mins),
Stuart Harris for Butler (75 mins),
Paul Bailey
for Cowell (80 mins)
Fleetwood Town Reserves 3
Darwen Reserves 1:
Lancit Haulage Lancashire League
28th September 2007
Goals: FTFC – Richie Allen, Joel Cowell 2
Fleetwood once again dominated proceedings without really capitalising on the
good chances which they created. The first half was all one way traffic and Town
should really have scored more than the couple by Richard Allen and Joel Cowell
which they they did convert. Allen was one of five changes to the side who had
defeated Barrow four days earlier. The list of missed chances is too numerous to
mention but two stick out. Mike Tallentire, normally so reliable in front of
goal, totally mistimed his header from less than six yards out. This was within
the first five minutes of the game. Ryan Croft missed from a similar distance
but, to be fair to the fullback, it was at the end of a weaving run from his own
half. Allen opened the scoring on the twenty first minute mark, via a deflection
at the keeper’s front post. On thirty minutes Allen and Kyle Webster provided
Joel Cowell with his first of the game, smashing the ball past the Darwen
custodian.
Fleetwood were forced into two changes at the break, Chris Watkinson and
Tallentire coming off injured. The reshuffle allowed Darwen to have their best
spell of the game. They threw players forward looking for a life line back into
the game. The pace of Anthony Warwwick , Cowell, Webster and Allen had been a
problem for the Darwen defence all evening and Town constantly broke forward in
search of the killer goal. It came when once again Allen and Webster combined to
give Cowell a simple tap in from close range. Paul Haddow, playing his first
game of the season, added to the missed chances quota with a trio of squandered
goal scoring opportunities. Darwen pulled back a very late goal with a deflected
effort leaving Mike Hale no chance.
It was a comfortable win for Fleetwood but, the injuries picked up will test the
strength of the squad over the coming weeks. First up is Monday’s visit to
Salford City and, judging by the first encounter with them, a tough game is
expected.
Team: Hale, Croft, Dust (Bailley 60), Eden, Tallentire (Harris 45), Webster,
Allen, Matthews, Watkinson (Haddow 45), Cowell and Warwick
