Milnthorpe 1 Fleetwood Town Reserves 1
Pre-season Friendly
27^th July 2007

Goals: FTFC – Slavek Perz

When Kevin Murray took to the field in this pre-season encounter he became the 24th player to be used by Steve Edwards in the three games played so far. Murray joined Jordan Ramsbottom in a squad that was depleted by late cry offs and injuries. Milnthorpe, who narrowly missed out on promotion from the West Lancashire League Division Two last season, are seen as one of the favourites to gain promotion this season and have a very good home record on their superb Strand Road pitch. The home side included in their line up one time Tony Greenwood target and former Kendal Town player Chris Vincent.

Milnthorpe were fastest out of the blocks but, despite having more possession, could not really pose a threat on Mark Smith’s goal. Smith was replacing Mike Hale in Town’s goal and his more encouraging style seem to give his defense more confidence than the sometimes critical Hale. Fleetwood starting to impose themselves on the game and it came as no surprise when, on the half hour mark, they took the lead. Slavek Perz, still awaiting international clearance to play for the first team, cut in from his left wing position and hit a curling shot into the left hand corner of the goal. Kyle Webster went close soon after the goal but his thirty yard shot smashed off the cross bar.

The second half was, on the whole, a dull affair with both sides canceling each other out. Few chances were created and Town’s defense, ruling out the individual errors that plagued them against Morecambe, were dealing with anything Milnthorpe threw at them. So the equaliser from the home side came somewhat out of the blue. A home player took a speculative shot and Smith was caught off guard as the ball cannoned in off the post. The game petered out after the goal, although Joel Cowell could have done better with a couple of half chances that came his way. All in all  a steady performance from Fleetwood with the back four looking solid, but not really posing much of a threat at the other end.

Squad: Smith, Ramsbottom, Buschini, Dust, Tallentire, Hoogerwerf, Webster, Perz, Wright, Cowell, Murray, Harris Jnr, and Davis