Coming hard on the heels of a very disappointing team performance at Gateshead, this was a big game for Fleetwood Town as they sought to rediscover some form and get the promotion push back on track. The portents were not good, however, the team coach arriving late due to the closure of the M1, kick off being delayed to 8:00pm. Shaun Gray returned to the starting line up, following his recall from loan at Prescot Cables, and Jez Fitzgerald was missing on 'family business', otherwise Tony Greenwood fielded his 'normal' attacking formation.

Fleetwood opened positively, dominating the early exchanges with Bell and Moran cutting through at will, ably supported by Watt and Wilson but, despite the possession, an Andy Bell effort against the woodwork was all they had to show for it. As the half wore on, Worksop got their game going but, even so, their goal from a lazy cross that bounced into the area in the last minute of the half, was very much against the run of play.

Perhaps with Gateshead memories haunting them, Fleetwood opened the second half on the back foot but, by the hour mark, they were back in control of the game, getting the equaliser following a Jamie Milligan free kick which came back off the post for Andy Moran to set up Andy Bell. There was only going to be one winner at that point and, when Phil Denney was added to the fray, his first touch was a powerful header that rocked the woodwork again. As usual, Fleetwood pushed on hard in search of the winner but, their ambition and bravery became their undoing as Worksop nicked the winner deep in injury time.

This was one of those games when Fleetwood did everything but win it. Whilst a very disappointed team boarded the bus for another nightmare journey home, their response to the Gateshead result had been laudable with, perhaps, Shaun Gray the pick of the bunch, looking sharp and comfortable back in his old role in defence.

Adam Fretwell received the plaudits after netting the winner in the 90th minute of a game which was absorbing for the fans. Fleetwood are currently in second place in the Unibond Premier League and have defeated the Tigers twice this season, both in the league and the FA Trophy, but on this occasion Worksop fought hard in front of a poor attendance of 251 and came out the winners, just!.

There were a number of changes to the team which faced Hednesford the previous Saturday with Ryan Ludlam given his debut at right back, Terry Henshaw reverting to take the place of broken nose victim Kevin Dawson, Jermaine Palmer took over the role of Curtis Bernard who was unavailable, while David Cockerill returned after his suspension to replace Stephen Akers who was given a place on the bench with Tom Burridge and Kyle Jordan. Assistant boss Jason Maybury was again in charge for his second successive game, with Peter Rinkcavage choosing to watch his team from the stands.

The visitors showed their ability to attack at pace from the off, after their coach was delayed on the motorway and the match kicked off fifteen minutes late. Cockerill took an early throw which was flicked on by Andy White with Shaun Beeley humping the ball over his own crossbar to clear the danger. Then a Cockerill corner was headed wide by White as the Tigers looked for an opening. However in the 14th minute the lively Jamie Milligan struck the Worksop woodwork with Ludlam making the crucial clearance virtually off the line.

After that scare Worksop came more into the match, but they were hit by another injury when Palmer limped off with a torn hamstring after 22 minutes. Akers came off the bench and enjoyed some lively runs at the Fleetwood defence alongside White. There were no goalmouth incidents to report, with both teams appearing to cancel each other out in the final third. But as the two teams were looking to reach the interval on level terms, Worksop hit the visitors with a goal in time added on. White broke the deadlock with a header which first struck the post before finding the net. This goal followed a fine cross into the box by Steve Robinson which was flicked on by Tigers captain Paul Stansfield.

Cockerill almost added to Worksops half time lead when he struck a powerful shot which was cleared off the by Beeley, then Kevin Davies fired a shot straight into the arms of Danny Hurst in the Fleetwood goal. At the other end Kyle Wilson crossed to Andrew Moran but the attackers header was comfortable for Stephen Hernandez. The Tigers were hit by an equaliser on the hour when a Milligan free-kick over the wall struck the Worksop upright and re-bounded across the goal to Moran who found Andrew Bell who had the simple task of knocking the ball home from close range.

Fleetwood captain Phillip Robinson was inches over the bar after a cross by Beeley, as the goal appeared to inspire the visitors and they forced the Tigers onto the backfoot. Milligan hit a 30 yard effort just wide while his free-kick saw a Warren Beatty back header saved. Then a let off for the Tigers when, with his first touch after coming on as substitute in the 80th minute, Phil Denny headed onto the crossbar and a set of Tigers fans breathed a big sigh of relief . With the game looking to be heading for a 1-1 draw, Adam Fretwell became an instant hero in the 90th minute when he steered home the winner for Worksop after receiving a through ball from Stansfield. Following the bloodbath at Keys Park, this was a resilient display by the Tigers who answered a few questions when their backs were against the wall.

A nightmare journey to the game, hence the delayed kick off of 8:00 pm. The M1 was closed south of the M62 so we continued on to the A1, a process hampered by a truck blown over on the motorway. Our return started with news that the Saddleworth Moor stretch of the M62 was now closed so it was the old coaching road over Wessenden Moors, with frequent views of the M62, now moving freely! Fortunately, we didn't notice the earthquake.
 

Fleetwood Town could have put a bit of pressure on runaway UniBond League Premeir Division leaders Witton Albion with victory at Worskop Town on Tuesday night. However, a last-gasp winner earned the Tigers all three points at Sandy Lane.  Adam Fretwell netted the winner for Worksop in the 90th minute to stop a sequence that had seen Fleetwood defeat the Tigers twice this season - once in the league and once in the FA Trophy. Worksop took the lead right on the stroke of half time through Andy White. The visitors equalised on the hour-mark through Andy Bell and either side could have won it after that, until Fretwell popped up with Worksop`s winner in time added on.

Eastwood Town moved onto fifty-one points and into fourth spot after a 2-0 win over North Ferriby United at Coronation Park. Matt Rhead broke the deadlock in the 64th minute by giving the Badgers the lead and then Lindon Meikle made sure with a second 5 mknutes from time.

Guiseley moved to within a point of the play-off zone after a comprehensive 5-1 win at Yorkshire rivals Ossett Town. It was a nice return for former Ossett boss Steve Kittrick, who saw Mark Bett give his side a 25th minute lead and new loan signing Liam Tuck add a second right on half time.

Jamie Walshaw pulled Ossett back into the game on 65 minutes, but Richard Dunning made it 3-0 after 70 minutes and Aaron Wilford added a fourth 9 minutes later, with Tommy Agus making it nap 3 minutes from time.

Kendal Town pulled themselves four points clear of what is building up to be a tight relegation race after beating another team down amongst that particular pack, Prescot Cables. Michael C ole gave the Cumbrians a 15th minute lead that Ian Kilford doubled on 37 minutes. Eamonn Price reduced the arrears 9 minutes into the second half, but sub Lee Mulvaney made sure with a third for the hosts just past the hour-mark.
 

FleetwoodTownFC.com || Match Archives 07/08