Cod Army defeated at the Banks's Stadium this afternoon
Fleetwood Town’s final away game of the 2015/16 season ended in defeat against Walsall this afternoon.The Cod Army got off to the worst possible start as Tom Bradshaw found the back of the net with an expert finish from inside the area after just two minutes.
Paul Downing doubled the home side’s advantage on 18 minutes when he met a corner from the left and volleyed home at the front post.
Romaine Sawyers added a third for the hosts just shy of the hour mark as his drilled strike from distance flew into the bottom corner.
Substitute Devante Cole pulled a goal back for his side with six minutes to play, as his long range effort curled past Neil Etheridge.
Captain Nathan Pond made history at the Banks’s Stadium as he broke the Club’s all time appearance record by playing in his 422nd game.
In other teams news, both Nick Haughton and David Ball were handed starts by Steven Pressley in place of Bobby Grant and the injured Wes Burns.
Bradshaw opened the scoring for the home side after just two minutes, as he connected with a cross from the right and beat Chris Maxwell with an expert finish.
Jason Demetriou went close to doubling the lead soon after when his strike from distance fizzed dangerously past the far post.
The Saddlers looked strong, and Bradshaw could have added to his tally with a header from inside the box which Maxwell did well to keep out.
Jon Whitney’s side did make it two on 18 minutes as Downing met a corner from the left to volley home at the near post.
Amari’i Bell had the Cod Army’s best effort of the first half, as his low shot from the edge of box was tipped behind by Etheridge.
Maxwell was called upon just before the break when Anthony Forde’s free kick took a wicked deflection which the keeper did terrifically to tip over.
Town started the second half brightly and created an opening for themselves when Ball picked out Antoni Sarcevic in the box, who forced Etheridge into a smart save.
At the other end, Bradshaw met Forde’s dangerous corner and headed powerfully over Maxwell’s bar from a good position.
The lead was extended just shy of the hour as Sawyers found space and drilled a low effort past Maxwell from distance.
Substitute Marcus Nilsson prevented Bradshaw from scoring a fourth when he timed his tackle perfectly as the striker was played in on goal.
Cole narrowed the margin for Town late on as his curled strike from long range beat Etheridge in the Saddlers goal.
Picture courtesy of Camera Sport