Bamber Bridge Reserves 2 Fleetwood Town Reserves 3
Lancashire League Cup
26^th January 2008
Goals: FTFC – Jez Fitzgerald, Chris Watkinson, Steve Foster

With Bamber Bridge's first team having no game, they took the opportunity to field their strongest side available against their table topping visitors. Town themselves also fielded a strong contingent from their first team squad. Danny Hurst returned to action following a twelve week break through injury and Jez Fitzgerald made his first appearance for six weeks. Ashley Dunn, recently signed , started his first game for the club, as did Nicky Ellis who only signed on Friday on loan from Gainsborough Trinity. Steve Foster completed the first team players being used as he started his first game since Boxing Day.

The home side dominated proceedings in the first half and Fleetwood had Hurst to thank on several occasions for keeping them in the game. Bamber Bridge opened the scoring with a much debated penalty, both benches having a laugh at the blatant dive. Fleetwood were against the ropes for much of the half but, somehow, went in at 1-1 at half time following Fitzgerald's surging run which ended with a crisp drive into the net.

After a couple of positional changes and a few stern reminders from Stuart Harris about the standards the Reserves had set themselves this season, Fleetwood set about the home side from the very start of the second period. With Anthony Warwick and Joel Cowell rampaging down the flanks, Bridge struggled to contain Fleetwood's pace and determination. Town took the lead with fifteen minutes to go when Dunn, Warwick and Cowell combined for Chris Watkinson to score. Fleetwood effectively killed the game off when Foster was upended in the box and, following treatment, got up to score from the spot. The home side grabbed their second in the dying moments following a corner.

A tremendous second half against stiff opposition with all the players taking a great deal of credit.

Team: Hurst, Croft (Wright 45), Fitzgerald ( Tallentire 55), Ellis, Hone, Webster, Dunn, Warwick, Watkinson (Bailey 75), Foster, Cowell.