1-7 | A busy 'day at the office' for keeper Ian Pledger.

A big Lancashire welcome to the Daniels this afternoon on their very first visit to Highbury. I know that many of their fans are spending the weekend down the road somewhere and I hope that the lack of tram service will not have spoiled their arrangements too much. After rattling around in the United Counties League for years, Stamford eventually worked their way to the Southern Premier League from where they were transferred for this season. Their club records show a 13-0 home victory against Peterborough Reserves in 1929/30 and a 17-0 home defeat by Rothwell in the FA Cup two years earlier. Other notable high scores have been an away 12-0 defeat by Kettering Town in the FA Cup in 1953 and an 11-0 home pasting of Holt United in the FA Vase in 1977. They actually won the Vase in 1980 and were twice runners up, four years before and four years afterwards. After a disastrous start to this season they dragged themselves up above mid table but they began to slide and they are now looking down the barrel once again just one point from the drop to the abyss.

The team responded perfectly on Tuesday night with three more points gained in difficult weather conditions at Buxton whose home form had previously been excellent. The result was even sweeter as the travelling fans had to endure the whole of the second half being taunted by a handful of mindless chavs. One steward eventually arrived with ten minutes left which, on some days, could have been thirty five minutes too late. The Cod Army’s number was swelled by Shaun Beeley’s girlfriend, who obviously enjoyed her ninety minute stint behind the nets despite the freezing wind and risk of altitude sickness at 1000ft above sea level – back down where we are today thank goodness!  Fleetwood had to play up the slope and against the wind in the first half so 0-0 at half time looked good and so it turned out. Once we had contained Buxton we upped a gear and only their goalkeeper saved them from a thrashing. It was good to see Steve Foster come off the bench and he was unlucky not to score. Phil Denney pulled level again with Andy Bell, they now have a dozen goals each, while Milly cruised on to number seventeen of the campaign. We now have another possible record on the horizon with five away games on the trot without conceding a goal. It is a stattos dream at the moment! 

Tuesday night and we have a long trip to Lincoln United who are currently rock bottom by a full ten points with only five games left to play. They could either be demoralised by their position or determined to make a fight of it. Whatever the situation we will have to stay cool once again and strike when the time is right. We obviousy need to win to pressurise Witton even more, so let’s see loads of you down there – well there will be at least twenty of us!
 

The Highbury promotion drive took its next step when Fleetwood Town hosted Stamford on Saturday afternoon.  Town, who were presented with the UniBond Premier team of the month for March before kick-off, were in confident mood following a solid mid-week victory at Buxton. A home win today would mean the gap on leaders Witton, without a game today, would be down to four points.  Fleetwood face the long trip to Lincoln United on Tuesday to play out their remaining game in hand and will be looking to take maximum points form the bottom side. Stamford went into today's game in 17th place and needing points to fight off a real threat of relegation.  The Lincolnshire side suffered a home defeat last Saturday when Hednesford Town took all three points with two late goals. Shaun Gray and Jez Fitzgerald passed late fitness tests. Gray was a late withdrawal at Buxton with a heavily bruised ankle, whilst Fitzgerald was substituted towards the end at Buxton as a precaution with a tight hamstring. New signing Colin Potts took part in the pre-match warm-up and may figure in the Reserves mid-week fixture against Lancaster City.

Both sides probed each other in the opening 15 minutes with forward moves.  Stamford skipper, Garath Pritchard, tested home keeper Danny Hurst in the visitors first forray into the Fleetwood half. Town took their turn on 8 minutes when Ricky Mercer's strike ended in the back of Ian Pledger’s goal, only to find the offside flag intervening. Lee Calvin and Kevin Byrne each tested Shaun Beeley and the home defence. It was no real surprise when Stamford took the lead on 20 minutes through Lee Marshall. Pritchard was first to a cleared Stamford throw and Marshall met his header to slot home.  Fleetwood responded immediately through a Jamie Milligan free kick that Nathan Pond met. Pond just couldn't connect enough to draw level.  Milligan had Fleetwood’s best chance just before break, only to see his effort denied by the woodwork. In a dreary first half, Stamford took heart from their goal and finished in buoyant mood. Fleetwood failed to make the necessary break through or show any real decisiveness up front.  The defence were exploited on a number of occasions and were more stretched than in recent games.

Tony Greenwood’s half time team talk certainly had the desired affect with Milligan equalising on 48 minutes. “The move started with a one-two with Andy Bell and then a Nathan Pond one-two which finished with me volleying into the top corner” said Milligan.  Fleetwood were then a changed team.  The defence were a different proposition, with Phil Robinson breaking up Stamford counter attack on 56 minutes.  Andy Bell and Phil Denney stepped up their game.  Denney’s work rate was back to full pace and Bell improved as the game progressed.  Town took the lead, again through Milligan, with a well-struck penalty on the hour. Jerome Watt had made a weaving move into the Stamford box only to be floored after passing several defenders, the referee immediately pointing to the spot. Stamford then made three straight substitutions and it immediately paid off. Danny Hurst didn’t collect a corner ball and a well-placed Shaun Beeley cleared off his line.  Unfortunately for Town, the ball came to Pritchard who made no mistake in claiming the Stamford equaliser. Echoes of last Saturday’s 2-2 home draw against Guiseley were looming until Greenwood made an inspired change on 76 minutes.  Andy Moran replaced Denney and Watt made way for Steve Foster.  As with Foster’s late appearance at Buxton in mid-week, he again made his mark and his introduction proved decisive.  With the game playing out to a draw, Bell and Milligan combined in a first-rate move which ended with Foster finding the back of the net to secure three vital points and further close the gap at the top.

In his match preview, Tony Greenwood said to expect another tough, battling performance from a visiting team. This worked out to be case, as did his other claim that Town should expect to take all three points.

WITTON ALBION’s season long lead in the Premier Division has been cut to four points after two wins in the week for FLEETWOOD TOWN who beat BUXTON and STAMFORD. Albion, who were without a fixture this week, have played a game more than their rivals but have home advantage in three of their four final games. GATESHEAD consolidated third place with two away wins whilst their rivals for the play-off spots BUXTON, GUISELEY and EASTWOOD TOWN were all dropping points. Twelve of the bottom thirteen clubs met one another and hat-trick heroes Paul Fildes and Ashley Longstaff gave KENDAL TOWN and OSSETT TOWN a little breathing space helping their sides to 3-2 wins over WHITBY TOWN and LINCOLN UNITED respectively. WORKSOP TOWN will also sleep a little better after their victory at PRESCOT CABLES but the other three games finished all square. MATLOCK TOWN, however, could yet live to rue the fact that they let a two goal lead slip at home to FRICKLEY ATHLETIC and as the dust settled just 3 points separated ASHTON UNITED in 13th from the drop zone.

FleetwoodTownFC.com || Match Archives 07/08