Fleetwood Town FC 1 Manchester United Reserves 1

Saturday July 21^st 2007 Pre Season Friendly

Crowd 2446

Goals: FTFC – Jamie Milligan MUFC – Guiseppe Rossi

A late equalizer by Giuseppe Rossi denied Fleetwood Town a deserved victory in an entertaining pre-season friendly played in front of an impressive 2446 crowd. The match was played in a downpour; the torrential rain as unceasing as the first half pressure that Town inflicted on their illustrious opponents. The visitors made a blistering start and the opening 10 minutes saw United camped in the Fleetwood goalmouth. Only a combination of excellent goalkeeping by Danny Hurst, stoic last ditch defending by the Town defensive rearguard and some powder puff finishing by Frazer Campbell and Rossi, prevented United from taking an early lead.

Gradually, Town began to assert their authority; midfielder Jamie Milligan running the game with a class and alacrity that the Town faithful have grown accustomed to. A revitalised Richard Allen delivered Fleetwood’s first telling effort on goal; his mazy dribble ending with a right foot shot which sailed over the bar. Milligan’s promptings in the middle of the park were allowing Fleetwood to dominate possession and with Steve Foster and Phil Denney a handful in attack, the United defence was looking increasingly insecure.

Just past the half hour mark, the home side confirmed their superiority by taking a deserved lead. Another fine solo run by Allen ended with the mercurial winger being flattened on the edge of the box. That man Milligan stepped up to take the free kick and beat United keeper Ron-Robert Zieler with a nonchalant left foot curler. With half time beckoning, Fleetwood were denied a blatant penalty and the half time whistle was greeted by the visitors with as much relief as the by now drenched crowd.

Fleetwood rang the changes in the second half and as a result lost some of their first half fluency. United demonstrated their superior technique and enjoyed a larger share of the possession but until Rossi’s late strike the home side rarely looked like conceding; United’s best effort coming when a long-range strike by Rossi was palmed onto the post and away for a corner by Hurst. With less than two minutes of normal time remaining, Rossi struck with a clinical shot from outside the box; the ex Newcastle United loanee earning due reward for his impressive all round endeavours.

Phil Robinson was the sponsors man of the match but in the eyes of many Milligan was easily the game’s most accomplished and influential performer. For Manchester United, Rossi, Ryan Shawcross, Michael Barnes and Campbell impressed; the latter spoiling a fine exhibition of clever movement and evasive trickery with some weak finishing.

FTFC Squad: Danny Hurst, Phil Robinson, Martin Moran, Ricky Mercer [C], Johnathan Smith, Nathan Pond, Michael Brown, Jamie Milligan, Steve Foster, Phil Denney, Richie Allen, Andy Bell, Paul Haddow, Alex Taylor, Liam Maloney, Jez Fitzgerald, Mike Hale.

MUFC Squad: Ron-Robert Zieler, Richard Eckersley, Michael Lea, James Chester, Ryan Shawcross, Ritchie Jones, Sam Hewson, Kieran Lee, Febian Brandy, Guiseppe Rossi, Sean Evans, Frazier Campbell, Adam Eckersley, Craig Cathcart

Officials: Mo Matadar (Referee), Gavin Davies and Ben Toner

Jez and Pondy happy to be back from holiday	Milly tries another.