Fleetwood Town 5 Atherton LR 0

Tuesday October 9th 2007 Co-operative Challenge Trophy
Crowd: 212
Goals: FTFC: Richie Allen, Chris Watkinson 2, Paul Haddow, Lennie Reid

Fleetwood Town sailed into the second round of the Lancashire Cup, despite a valiant effort by the visitors who hit the woodwork twice when the score was still only 2-0. Manager Tony Greenwood took the opportunity to hand debuts to Reserve Team starlets Kyle Webster, Christian Dust and Mark Butler whilst Andy Bell and Paul Haddow returned after injury. There was also a surprise return to the fold for old favourite Lennie Reid who left Town for Clitheroe last year.

Town took an early lead when Richard Allen coolly netted from close range after a shot by Bell had been only partially saved by the LR goalkeeper. This was to be Bell's last contribution to the game; last season's top goalscorer limping off with a recurrence of his long-standing hamstring strain. Another reserve team graduate, Chris Watkinson, came on for his first team bow and immediately made his considerable presence felt when he put Town two ahead; Reid spraying a glorious cross-field pass from right to left, so enabling Allen to dribble past two helpless LR defenders before delivering a pinpoint cut back which Watkinson clinically converted with a fine finish.

The second half saw Atherton attempt a gallant fightback; for a 15 minute period Fleetwood were pinned back in their own half as Atherton peppered the home goal with shots from all angles and distances. On two occasions, only the woodwork preserved Town's clean sheet and goalkeeper Mike Hale was certainly the busier of the two goalkeepers. But Town made the game safe with 20 minutes remaining when a swift counter attack saw Watkinson run on to a through ball before hitting his second goal of the night with a thunderous shot from outside the box. Joel Cowell replaced Allen and should have increased Fleetwood's lead but his header from a Mickey Saunders cross was off target. Haddow finally made it four from close range after the ball had conveniently cannoned off the cross-bar into his direction and, in the dying minutes, Reid crowned a pleasing return to Highbury with Town's fifth; a pass from Cowell releasing Reid into acres of space behind the now dejected LR defence and allowing the popular winger to score with ease in front of his Percy Ronson Stand fan-club.

Allen was the man of the match but Watkinson came a close second; the young target man impressing enormously not just because of his goals but for his all round performance. Webster also enjoyed a quietly impressive debut at right back, with Dust equally industrious on the left.

Fleetwood Town Team: Mike Hale, Kyle Webster, Christian Dust, Guy Heffernan, Shaun Gray, Mark Butler (Anthony Warwick), Lennie Reid, Paul Haddow, Andy Bell (Chris Watkinson), Mickey Saunders, Richie Allen (Joel Cowell) Not used: Jamie Wright