Grant and Eastham goals enough for three points
An outstanding first half performance set the platform for a superb Fleetwood Town win, as they beat Peterborough United 2-1 on Saturday.
Bobby Grant and Ashley Eastham both scored before the break, before a late Craig Mackail-Smith strike in the second half to set up a nervy finish, but the Cod Army go home with all three points.
Uwe Rosler made two changes to the side that lost at Oldham Athletic last week. Amari’i Bell and Kyle Dempsey returned, with Joe Maguire and Martyn Woolford missing out.
From the first whistle, Ashley Hunter looked in the mood. Just 18 seconds in, he stung the palms of Posh stopper Luke McGee from 20 yards but it was turned away from danger.
Hunter had another well saved before Bobby Grant was slid in by the returning Bell. His effort looked to have gone in, but it was the side-netting.
He wouldn’t have to wait long. Bell again involved, he found David Ball who could have shot, but he opted to slide the ball across the box to Grant who couldn’t miss from three yards.
A flurry of Town corners followed with Nathan Pond and Eastham going close. Then – a deserved second goal came.
George Glendon’s corner was cleared back to him, he beat Andrea Borg all ends up before cutting his cross back to Eastham who had a tap in from a couple of yards. Outstanding composure from Town’s midfielder.
The second half was rather cagey, with Posh seeing more of the ball than in the first half, but Town remained strong at the back, marshalled by Alex Cairns.
Peterborough’s goal came from a counter attack where Marcus Maddison’s low cross found the lurking Mackail-Smith at the back post to have the scores.
Cairns was forced to deny the Posh striker again near the end, but Town held out for a vital three points.
Peterborough: McGee (GK); Smith (c), Bostwick, Hughes, Freestone; Lopes, Grant, Chettle; Maddison, Mackail-Smith, Borg. Subs: Tyler (GK), Forrester, Taylor, Inman, Nichols, Binnom-Williams, Morias.
Fleetwood: Cairns (GK); Eastham, Pond (c), Davies; McLaughlin, Dempsey, Glendon, Grant, Bell; Hunter, Ball. Subs: Urwin (GK), Brannagan, Burns, Davis, Nirennold, Woolford, Schwabl.
Referee: Mr Ilderton