1 | The fans 'Man of the Match', James Lindley, here in 'goalkeeping' mode.
2 | Nathan Pond celebrates his opening goal.
3 | Jamie Milligan, the coolest of penalty takers, attempts to con the ref who paces out the vanished 'spot'.
4 | Keeper Mike Hale awaits his moment of glory.
5 | Jerome Watt follows in one of few first half chances.
6 | Lindley again, now in 'goaltending' mode responds to Ricky Mercer's whispered words with a bodycheck and a penalty.
 

A large fishy welcome to the 'Robins' this afternoon who will be hoping to create the same sort of havoc in our defence that they did back in October when they had us on the ropes at the New Manor ground at half time when we were 3-1 down. Ricky Mercer’s late equaliser started a Fleetwood cavalry charge but' although Richie Allen came close, we had to settle for a point. Since then Ilkeston have dropped like a stone and were beaten at home 3-2 by ten man Kendal last week. That was a tricky October period for us with three consecutive draws. The following Tuesday at Highbury we scraped a very good Witton Albion side 0-0 followed by the two games against Retford, one draw and one very unlucky 5-1 defeat! Seems a long time ago now, thank goodness. 

What a sickener those two consecutive postponements, but the rain was more or less continuous! It would have been a good time to play Lincoln too as they seem to be sinking fast. Why on earth do we not get some extra Tuesday games played earlier in the season? Will the UniBond never learn? There were two Tuesdays unused in both September and October, those would really have eased the pressure that we now find ourselves under. With the top three teams all washed out on Saturday, Gateshead and Buxton both stepped up the pressure with away wins. It was all going so well at half time too with Gateshead 3-0 down and Buxton 1-0 down. Three goals in five minutes pulled Gateshead level and a goal two minutes from time gave them an exciting win. Buxton carried on their hot form  also eventually winning 3-1. Eastwood threw away a 2-0 lead to give Hednesford a point in the last minute which means that there is now a four point gap below the top five teams. 

By the way, don’t blame me if this article seems longer than usual but our venerable editor has decided to make the print one size smaller throughout the programme so that means more words per page. Oh dear, never mind, telling you about that has got rid of fifty three extra ones already!

Weather permitting today, Witton are the visitors to Hednesford Town who have improved since we beat them there a few weeks ago. Can they do us a favour – let’s hope so! Marine, Gateshead and Buxton look to have fairly straightforward wins on paper but it never seems to work out that way does it? Either way only three points will do for us once again today – no pressure then! Let’s hope we haven’t gone too rusty in the mean time. I see that Ilkeston, once again weather permitting, played on Wednesday night in the quarter final of the Derbyshire Cup so they could be flagging a bit today, every little helps!

Next Tuesday night sees the Tynesiders, Gateshead, roll into town for what could be termed a six pointer although, as we are currently six points ahead with a game in hand, that isn’t really the case. What is important is that it’s also one of our catch up matches on Witton so its importance cannot be over emphasised. The Cod Army will need to be out in force again.
 

The monsoon weather relented long enough for Fleetwood Town to maintain their promotion hopes with a hard fought victory over battling Ilkeston Town. Recent signing Warren Beattie was a surprise omission from the squad as Jerome Watt returned after suspension. Another new recruit, Kyle Wilson, was more fortunate as he began life at Highbury with a place on the substitutes bench. After a two week break, Fleetwood were raring to go. Kieran Walmsley was off target with one long range effort and whilst this was a match packed with drama, it certainly wasn't a game for the purist; the robust approach of the visitors ensuring a glut of free kicks for various infringements. Shaun Beeley was on the receiving end of perhaps the most malicious challenge and was replaced at half time by Martin Moran after limping through much of the first half. With half time approaching, a goal from Nathan Pond was due reward for their supremacy; Pond soaring above goalkeeper James Lindley to nod a long ball from deep inside the Fleetwood half into an empty net. Just before the break, the best move of the half ended with Watt firing a clever volley just wide of the near post after a flowing move involving Andy Bell, Walmsley and Alex Taylor.

The second half followed much the same pattern with Fleetwood dominating possession and the visitors working hard to prevent the home side from building any momentum. The match sprung into life in the final quarter; the result ultimately being settled by two penalty kicks. Ilkeston's equalizer came out of the blue; a cluster of Fleetwood defenders ignoring goalkeeper Mike Hale's loud call when preparing to come for a cross, so ensuring that the ball dropped to the feet of an Ilkeston player who rifled the ball into the net. Undaunted, Fleetwood regained their composure and with debutant Wilson and Phil Denney on as attacking re-inforcements, Fleetwood went in for the kill.

The winning goal was a genuine comedy hour moment. There seemed to be no danger when Lindley competently caught a regulation cross but with the ball still in his grasp, Lindley reacted angrily to Ricky Mercer's mild challenge and barged into the Fleetwood Town skipper, flattening him on the ground. The referee pointed to the spot immediately and despite the lengthy protestations from the visitors the only surprise was that Lindley only earned a booking for his moment of madness. Milligan duly scored his 14th goal of the season but within minutes there was penalty drama at the other end; Pond's clumsy tackle handing the visitors a glorious chance to deny the home side a deserved victory. However, cometh the hour, cometh the man, and Hale was rapidly transformed from alleged villain to hero following a superb penalty save. Denney's surging run down the right should have ended with a goal to make the game safe but the big striker's eventual shot not only missed the target from an acute angle but ended in a throw in for the visitors. After several minutes of injury time, a consequence of the stop start nature of the game, the final whistle blew and with Witton again being held to a draw their lead over Fleetwood at the top of the table is now down to just ten points with Town having the advantage of four games in hand.
 

The sun was shining! The Reserves also had a game at Bamber Bridge in the Lancashire Cup. The squad included Danny Hurst, Jez Fitzgerald and Steve Foster, all back from injury, and new loan signing Nicky Ellis from Gainsborough Trinity. Off the field, a cheque for £5000 was presented to Doreen Lofthouse who accepted it on behalf of the Lofthouse Foundation. The money was Fleetwood Town's share of the FA Community Shield charity fund, earned by last season's FA Cup adventure, and the Lofthouse Foundation will use it to purchase new equipment for Fleetwood & District Amateur Swimming Club.
 

It was a good day for FLEETWOOD TOWN who edged out ILKESTON TOWN with a late penalty to close the gap on leaders WITTON ALBION to ten points with four games in hand at the head of the Premier Division table. Albion were held to a draw at HEDNESFORD TOWN and there was a shock too for last week’s third place side MARINE who were beaten at home by season long bottom club FRICKLEY ATHLETIC. The South Elmshall side, who last week lost after being three up, must have had fears of it happening again as the “Mariners” fought back from a three goal deficit to 3-2 but this time Athletic found more resolve and hung on to the three points that lifted them off bottom spot for the first time. BUXTON made it five wins on the bounce and GATESHEAD three when beating PRESCOT CABLES and LEEK TOWN respectively and both moved above MARINE who are in danger of losing their play-off position to either EASTWOOD TOWN or GUISELEY who both won. Hot shot of the day was WORKSOP TOWN’s Andy White whose hat-trick saw off NORTH FERRIBY UNITED whilst Carl Osman scored on his debut to give KENDAL TOWN another point towards staving off relegation when they held OSSETT TOWN. The one other game saw ASHTON UNITED and STAMFORD draw 1-1.
 

FleetwoodTownFC.com || Match Archives 07/08