1 | Phil Denney celebrates the first goal as keeper Zak Hibbert thinks he should have done better | Image prescotfootball.blogspot.com
2 | Nathan Pond, unopposed, heads in the second.
3 | Substitute Steve Foster just fails to connect late in the game.
4 | The Cod Army, in Easter finery, heckle former loan keeper Hibbert.
 

A very happy Easter to one and all and what an exciting time could be just around the corner! We welcome our Merseyside chums from Prescot Cables this afternoon and we require three points to guarantee a play off place. Although Prescot are sitting in mid table they also need a victory as there are very few points separating them from the relegation spots. Their plight has been made even worse recently as they look like having a point deducted for fielding an illegible player.

It’s nice to have a home game for a change after hitting the road three times in a row but seven points with clean sheets cannot be sneezed at can it? As far as I can see the last time that we had three consecutive clean league sheets away from home was in 1981/82. The games against Glossop, Rossendale United and Leek Town were all goalless in the Cheshire League early in that season. It was really hard work last Saturday at Matlock although 0-0 was a fair result in the end. A win would have been great but, once again, the other results were in our favour. Only Eastwood from the top group managed a win and with Gateshead losing and Buxton and Witton drawing it’s still all to play for with ten games left. Here are the comparative results with last season after thirty league games. Spot the differences?

Despite their position Prescot have had some decent results of late beating North Ferriby last weekend and doing us a favour the previous week by beating Witton Albion. They did not concede in either game so I am sure that we can expect a bit of a grueller today, but we are well used to those. Our victory at Valerie Park in September was very comfortable, I seem to remember, but the pitch was an absolute shocker, the worst I had seen for a long time. We won 3-1with two penalties from Milly and a goal from Alex Taylor. The team that night was: Hurst, Walmsley, Fitzgerald, Moran M, Gray, Pond, Donnelly, Milligan, Denney, Foster, Allen. Subs: Taylor, Saunders, Heffernan.

We are still not the world’s best goal scorers and prefer to keep it tight, which is not always pretty to watch, but it seems to be working. Only Gateshead and Witton Albion have scored more than us; it is just unfortunate that Witton have been so relentless this season and, on the few occasions that they have slipped up, so have we. I am still hoping to see Andy Moran spark into action very soon as he was brought in specifically to up the strike rate. A hat trick today would be just the tonic, but some players do need time to adjust. I remember Milly took a while when he first joined the club, but he remains the best signing in years. We were all a bit surprised to see Jerome Watt out of the squad at Matlock. A bit of width might have done the trick instead of hopeful punts up to Andy Bell who was well shackled all the game. Richie Allen used to deliver the goods from the wing and I hoped that Watty would replace him - but what do I know?

As you probably know, I never mention league teams here, but imagine being a Gretna supporter at the moment! Things are looking very grave for them after just a few Scottish glory years. Mind you I reckon we could give most of the jock teams a tough game on our day. It is only seven years ago that they finished seventh in NPL Division One and decided to try their luck over the border saving Kendal from certain relegation in the process! We shared Division One with them from 1994 to 1996. In the first season we did the double over them 1-0 at home (Housley) and 2-1 away (Housley 2). The following season saw us lose the away game 7-1 (Allen) but we managed to win at Highbury 2-1 with goals from David Gough and Paul Brown. We played them away in consecutive seasons in the FA Cup second qualifying round in 1986/87 and 1987/88 when they were in the Northern League and we were in NWCFL Division One. We lost the first encounter at home 3-1 but won away the following year 2-1. I doubt that our paths will ever cross again, but you never know do you!

All the away games recently have rapidly increased my footy expenses which now total £844.50. Money well spent, of course, that goes without saying - at £12.99 per point, £14.56 per goal and a mere £28.15 per game! At least my season ticket also covers the play offs! The catering at Matlock by the way was abysmal and was money not well spent. At 2.40 pm there were no chips, no pies or  anything. All they offered was a 'cheese burger' which I was able to bounce like a ball. We went to the chippy outside the ground at half time and I bought a 'cornish pastie' which was a bit of flaky pastry with a lump of glue in the middle. Perhaps I was just unlucky although, so was Chris, who bought sausage and chips, and his sausage rolled into the road and got trodden on before we could pick it up! That’s life!

So, a massive game on Monday and I expect everybody to attend regardless of what they think the result might be. There are coaches, trains, cars and aeroplanes going so there is absolutely no excuse. Unfortunately there are a number of restrictions that have been put in place. The crowd are to be segregated with no half time turn around and we have been banned from entering the 'social' club although I have never witnessed the slightest whiff of trouble previously. I think this just means that the pubs in Northwich will gain an extra hours trade and I am looking forward to it enormously! Previous Easter games have often turned out to be complete damp squibs but with so much riding on this game I think it will be a cracker. We have absolutely nothing to lose so we might as well get in there with all Tony’s guns firing
 

The home supporters eagerly anticipated the return to Highbury Stadium after three matches and seven points on the road. This was reflected in a bumper Bank Holiday crowd of 681 spectators. Town went into the match with Warren Beattie and Ricky Mercer sidelined. Steve Foster returned to the subs bench following his loan period at Curzon Ashton and a goal for the reserves last week. In their last three matches, Prescot Cables had lost away to Ilkeston Town and enjoyed two 1-0 home wins. One of these home victories was an impressive three points against league leaders Witton Albion, who missed a first half penalty. 

Both teams had chances in the first five minutes, with Cables Liam Kennedy slicing over Danny Hurst’s goal after 5minutes.  Phil Denney’s super strike from outside the box on 9 minutes gave Fleetwood an early lead after good build-up play from midfield. Town pressure continued immediately with Jerome Watt and Kieran Walmsley testing Zak Hibbert with shots from outside the box.  Andy Moran was then through on goal when the referee called back play for a home free kick instead of allowing the advantage. The visitors then pressed forward, but failed to make any real impact on goal. A free kick inside their own half resulted in Price putting Hurst under pressure and the ball was palmed away. Phil Cooney then floated in a cross, which ended up going over the bar.  Phil Robinson and Kieran Walmsley confidently partnered to deal with a Price threat inside their own box on 15 minutes. Shortly after, Ryan Wade won a free kick for the visitors on the edge of the Fleetwood penalty area. He took the kick himself but wasted it, sending the ball too deep and out for a goal kick. Fleetwood again took the game to the Merseyside team. A Jamie Milligan corner was won by Andy Moran and ended in the back of Hibbert's goal thanks to a bullet header from Nathan Pond inside the six-yard line. Walmsley stood out in the first half, with good runs from defence and a number of efforts on goal.  As well as his goal, Pond ended the first half with a tidy display in his own half. Jez Fitzgerald continued his good form in the back line.

Fleetwood took the game to Cables after the restart. A Shaun Gray header was cleared off the line and Walmsley had an effort tipped over for a corner. Jerome Watt’s free kick just after the hour mark ended in the side netting. The strong wind then played a hand. The visitors had the wind behind and Prescot Cables showed a renewed determination in front of goal, but generally left their push too late. They tried to edge their way into contention, but the Fleetwood defensive line and keeper absorbed all that was thrown at them. The understanding between the defence and Hurst and general confidence was highlighted with 15 minutes remaining. Fitzgerald was about the intercept a Cables cross when he ducked at the last moment when Hurst, a few yards behind, called for the ball.  Hurst touched over a dipping cross in the last few minutes to keep his fourth clean sheet in a row. Steve Foster was unlucky not to mark his return with a goal when he just failed to make contact with a curling free kick in added time. 

Nathan Pond took HB Clark (Blackpool) sponsors man of the match award with an impressive performance throughout the 90 minutes.  Kieran Walmsley also impressed, particularly when he took up a role on the right of midfield. Three points, two goals, another clean sheet and a tidy display in all departments will ensure Fleetwood go into their away fixture on Easter Monday at Witton Albion in confident mood.

You'd have to be mad or on some sort of life or death mission to risk the M6 between junction 29 to 32 on an Easter Bank Holiday. I pondered this thought as my car sat motionless, along with several hundred others, between junction 29 and 30 of the very same M6 on Good Friday. Quite obviously the scores of people heading north with a caravan in tow are barking, particularly when you consider hailstones are currently bouncing off the tops of their mobile homes with all the ferocity of a medieval gang stoning a suspected witch. I suppose it's moments like these that encourage TV programmes such as Brainiac and Top Gear to indulge in a bit of Caravan pyrotechnics. You actually have to be in a lengthy traffic jam with several dozen road hogging caravans to appreciate the aesthetic quality of a caravan being blown 100 feet into the air with the help of a barrel of nitro glycerine. Eventually free from the day trippers and accidental tourists I find the road into Fleetwood to be more or less free. Indeed, there seems to be more people travelling in the opposite direction with a good deal of haste. I'd made my usual mistake of not printing off a google map and decided to rely on hastily sketched directions and the off chance of spotting the floodlight pylons of Fleetwood Town's Highbury Ground. Driving into the town centre I'm greeted by the sight of a hundred or so locals marching a middle aged grey haired man carrying a large crucifix on his shoulder down the street.As I wait for the lights to change someone in the crowd jogs up to my car and beckons me to lower my window. Bugger, I hope he isn't going to ask me "do you know this man?" while nodding towards the geezer carrying the cross. Thankfully he just asks me to wait until the procession passes. I spend a good while driving around the promenade and back streets with tightly packed neat terrace houses and rows of small shops. Away from the attractive sea front it's instantly apparent that Fleetwood is a town that has suffered as it's main industry has declined. As many as 9'000 people were once employed in Fleetwood's burgeoning fishing industry and the town competed with it's more gregarious neighbour Blackpool as a North West tourist destination. A heavy decline in the fishing industry and cheaper overseas holidays has resulted in a sustained economic downturn for the town.It's main employer is now Lofthouse's of Fleetwood, Ltd., manufacturers of Fisherman's Friend lozenges. Apparently a new plan for revitalising the town and the local economy has just been agreed with the help of EU money. I wish them well. I eventually find Fleetwood's Highbury Ground with the help of a local I met at a small and cozy cafe called Pisces. He haggled on my behalf to get free bread and butter with my already ordered cod and chips. And then proceeded to eat the bread after I left it. It was a fair trade and saved me at least another 30 minutes of aimless wandering . As I approach the ground at 2pm the heavens open up and a violent burst of hailstones and sleet greets the arriving Cables' team coach as players and officials dash for the first available cover . Fleetwood's Highbury ground is a bit of a mixed bag with banked terraces behind the two goals, a small wooden stand and a clubhouse far too modest in size for the large home following. There's also a small club shop stocked with team shirts and a variety of 'Cod Army' paraphernalia. At 2.45 there seems to be less than 300 people in the ground, by 2.55 the crowd has grown to over 600 as the Tardis-like clubhouse empties of a couple of hundred Fleetwood fans and a couple of dozen Cables followers. While the hail and rain has ceased and the sun is shining there is a howling icy wind thundering straight off the sea to keep the comfort levels low.

Cables start the game well. The pace of Eamonn Price is an obvious concern for Fleetwood's two centre backs as they scramble to cover as Price carries the ball past one of them and runs directly at the other. One of Fleetwood's centre backs is Shaun Gray, the son of Cables' boss Andy Gray. Shaun,who was recently on loan at Cables, looks at least 8 inches taller and three stone heavier in the looser red and white kit of Fleetwood Town, either that or the closer proximity to Sellafield is having an unusual effect on the Fleetwood defender . Cables' first alarm arrives as Keeper Zak Hibbert dummies a Fleetwood forward and allows the ball to run beneath his foot towards the corner flag. The ball uncooperatively hits the corner flag and stays in play, allowing Fleetwood to fire a cross deep into the area. Hibbert's relief doesn't last long. On 9 minutes Fleetwood's Phil Denney is given time 30 yards from goal to tee up the ball and whip a dipping half volley towards Zak Hibbert's near post. To the surprise of most the ball bounces just inside the near post and hits the back of the Cables' net. Whether Hibbert was unsighted or the ball caught a gust of wind is a bit of a moot point, one down within 10 minutes away to Fleetwood isn't the most promising position for an away side to build from. Cables decide to go for the fight rather than flight option in response to the set back. A Karl Bell free kick is flicked on by Cables' forward Liam Kennedy and home keeper Danny Hurst saves at the feet of Cables' Eamonn Price. 5 minutes later is one of those moments that can change a game and prove pivotal come the end of a season. Cables' winger Ryan Wade jinks around Fleetwood full back Kieren Walmsley before clipping a low cross to Liam Kennedy. Kennedy takes one touch before dispatching a crisp shot into the Fleetwood net from 12 yards. The referee then awards Cables a free kick for a foul on Wade and disallows the goal." That's controversial" remarks a Fleetwood fan to his friend stood in front of me. I don't think 'controversial' is in the current vocabulary of the Cables players angrily huddled around the referee.As decisions go it's a bit of a shocker. Fleetwood carry the ball straight down the other end and win a corner. From the resulting corner kick Fleetwood apply a keg of salt to Cables' open wound as Nathan Pond is left alone and unmarked to head a simple second for the home side.

The main factor in the game's momentum appears to be the wind. With Cables' keeper Zak Hibbert unable to clear the ball more than 30 yards and the home keeper's kicks landing like laser guided smart bombs on Cables' 18 yard line. It causes more than one nervy moment for the visiting defenders. Cables come close again on 26 minutes as a 25 yard free kick from Peter Murphy whistles inches wide of Danny Hurst's right hand post. The Fleetwood manager gets a talking to from the ref after one too many barbs aimed at the officials, the heckle too far being "Ref, you don't need to even things up just because you effed up with their goal". The break in play heralds a spell of heavy home pressure on the Cables' goal. Fleetwood's Shaun Beeley hammers a shot less than an inch over the Cables' bar then a low Fleetwood cross is bundled just wide as a human scrum of Fleetwood's Andy Moran, Cables' Karl Bell and keeper Zak Hibbert all lunge for the ball. 10 minutes before the break Cables get a slice of luck as the lively Shaun Beeley curls a shot onto the far post and the ball bounces straight into the grateful hands of Cables' keeper Zak Hibbert stood on the goal line. A minute later Hibbert is having his hands warmed again as Fleetwood's full back Kieren Walmsley plays a quick one two with a Fleetwood forward then fires a 20 yarder straight at the Cables' keeper.It's the last real goal threat of the first half with both sides unable to get beyond the last line of defence. Cables' boss Andy Gray waits to have a word in the referee's shell-like as the two teams walk off at half time.Just to add a bit of balance a Fleetwood fan offers his own opinion "well played ref, you're a good 'un".

Queuing at the tea bar most of the conversation is about Witton, Fleetwood's trip to Witton, how Witton are doing at Marine, if Fleetwood can win at Witton, where is Witton etc. There's also the unmistakable sound of a group of excited Americans enjoying the UniBond Premier experience - despite wearing far too few layers of clothing they all have broad smiles fixed permanently to their faces. "They're happy" nods one Fleetwood fan to his pal, "Aye, wait til they taste the pies" - everyone breaks out into a chuckle. There's always something comical when the weather beaten pessimism of the British meets the unchained optimism of our American cousins. I decide to spend most of the second half behind the goal where most of the Fleetwood fans have gathered. Mainly because it's sheltered from the biting wind and in the sun, giving at least the appearance of warmth. The main, and loudest, character among the vocal Fleetwood fans is a man wearing what appears to be outsize black and red checked furry pyjamas. He looks like a cross between a Batman villain and something out of a Clockwork Orange, but he's probably a good deal warmer than I am. In the second half Cables use the strong wind to their advantage, winning several throws ins that find their way to the edge of Fleetwood's six yard box and unsettle the home defence .The first real chance of the second half falls to Fleetwood. Kieren Walmsley returns a cleared cross towards the Cables' goal with a spectacular half volley, Zak Hibbert gets solid hands behind the ball and diverts it for a corner. Another close call arrives shortly afterwards as a free kick by the home side's Jerome Watt on 60 minutes flies just wide of a Cables' post from 25 yards.

Cables introduce Darren Byers and immediately start to press Fleetwood back inside their own half. Home keeper Danny Hurst tips two Cables crosses narrowly over his bar, before turning another cross onto the bar. Urged on by their vocal bench Cables have a spell of neat possession on the fringes of Fleetwood's area. Darren Byers finds a moment of space but his instant shot on the turn is deflected away for a corner. With less than ten minutes left the importance of keeping a clean sheet is impressed upon the Fleetwood team by the manager from the touch line. Fleetwood's boss Tony Greenwood isn't your 'sit in the stand wearing a suit' type gaffer. He's the sort who would bring himself on to show the players how it's done if he had half the chance. As Cables surge towards the home defence Greenwood is actively asking his midfield to buck their ideas up and protect the outnumbered home defence. In the final minute Cables have another two chances to get on the score sheet. Darren Byers slams an angled shot at the near post only to be thwarted by Danny Hurst's diving save. There's mass confusion from the resulting corner until the ball bobbles out to Cables' Ryan Wade 8 yards from goal. With the Fleetwood keeper stranded Wade skies the ball wastefully over the bar. It's a frustrating end to the match for the visitors. Cables will feel rightly aggrieved at the disallowed 'goal' in the first half, Fleetwood will see it as another three points in their quest to cement second place in the league. Having watched Fleetwood's demolition of an abysmal Cables at Valerie Park back in September it's a case of pride restored for the visiting side. Next up for Cables is an Easter Monday home clash with strugglers Leek Town. Fleetwood head to somewhere in Cheshire to play some other team.

Witton Albion maintained their push for the UniBond League Premier Division title after gaining a 2-0 win at Marine on Good Friday afternoon. An own goal by Mariners` defender Phil Brazier gifted the leaders a 15th minute lead and much-travelled striker Steve Brodie added a second to make sure after 68 minutes.

Fleetwood Town, with three games in hand, are Witton`s only realistic challengers and they maintained second place with a 2-0 verdict at Highbury against mid-table Prescot Cables. Phil Denney put the Fylde Coast outfit in front after just 9 minutes and Nathan Pond made it 2-0 with only 20 minutes gone, and that`s how the scoreline remained.

Third-placed Gateshead enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win at the International Stadium against a Kendal Town side having to look over their shoulders at the drop zone. Phil Cave gave the Tynesiders` an early 6th minute lead that Steve Bowey doubled 11 minutes into the second half.
On 69 minutes Paul Brayson ensured the points stayed in the north east with Gateshead`s third.

Guiseley boosted their play-off hopes with a 2-1 success at relegation-threatened Whitby Town. Spaniard Jonathan Gomez Fernandez put the visitors in front after 23 minutes and 10 minutes into the second half James Hanson made it 2-0. Karl Charlton pulled one back for the home side 3 minutes later, but Lee Nogan`s team couldn`t find an equaliser and remain third-bottom.

Lincoln United, one place behind Whitby, pulled a point closer to them after fighting back from being behind to earn a 2-2 draw at the Vic Couzens Stadium against Stamford. The Daniels, who need to be a little careful themselves in what is an extremely tight division, fell behind to a 13th minute Ashley Foyle effort. Steve Towers equalised 9 minutes later and just 3 minutes after that Jay Bonser put the Daniels ahead. However, Leon Wainman levelled right on the stroke of half time and that eventually was enough to earn a share of the spoils.

The derby game between Matlock Town and Buxton at the Causeway was held up for over 25 minutes after the Gladiators` on-loan Stef Frost suffered a compound fracture of his leg – which led to the Bucks being reduced to ten-men and both sides being led to the dressing rooms to calm down following a mass brawl. Paul Riley then gave the home side a 37th minute lead and Simon Barraclough bagged a quickfire brace on 53 and 59 minutes to seal victory for Phil Brown and Gareth Williams` side.

Frickley Athletic were stung by a three-goal first half burst by visiting neighbours Ossett Town and, despite mounting a second half comeback, just failed to find an equaliser. Simon Baldry gave the visitors a 34th minute lead and Aiden Savory made it 2-0 just 5 minutes later, with former Ossett player Danny Walsh beating his own keeper to make it 3-0 just before the break. Jonathan Groome reduced the deficit 9 minutes into the second half, and although they came close a few times, Neil Towler`s goal 4 minutes from time was all that Frickley could manage in the end.
 

FleetwoodTownFC.com || Match Archives 07/08