Cod Army round off trip in Austria with a win
First half goals from Jamie Proctor and Jamie Allen ensured Fleetwood Town headed back to England with a win under their belt following a 2-1 victory over local side FC Pinzgau.The pair both delivered well placed finishes and despite Pinzgau halving the deficit midway through the second half, Fleetwood comfortably saw out the victory.
Town will now head back to England on Saturday afternoon with Chorley next on the agenda on Tuesday evening.
Graham Alexander named only Steven Jordan from the team that played on Wednesday for the clash against FC Pinzgau.
The Cod Army handed starts to the likes of David Ball, Antoni Sarcevic and Proctor, whilst there was also a start for Danny Andrew.
Playing in front of a magnificent Austrian mountain in Bischofshofen, Fleetwood started the game in a positive manner with Proctor and hard-working midfielder Stewart Murdoch both having early attempts on Stam Van Hoevan’s goal.
The Austrians where doing little to worry Scott Davies in the Town goal, having two half chances in the first 15 minutes before Fleetwood found the breakthrough with 20 minutes gone.
Ball, lively and proving to be a handful threaded strike partner Allen in on goal for the Cod Army academy graduate to kindly tuck the ball beyond Van Hoevan for his second goal in three matches.
Fleetwood didn’t take their foot off the pedal and continued to pressurise the Pinzgua defence, penning the Austrians inside their own half.
The men in red and white did however double their lead five minutes before the interval as Proctor hit a stunning goal, his first since his summer arrival from League One rivals Crawley Town.
Alexander brought on Ryan Cresswell for the second half, the defender replacing Jordan after another strong display by the former Premier League defender.
Fleetwood started where they left off in the first half and controlled the game against FC Pinzgua, who themselves won promotion from their respective division last season.
Alexander made his second change in the 55th minute, Andrew replaced by Blackburn Rovers loan man Josh Morris.
Back to the action and Allen, buoyant from his opener, could and should have made it three before hour mark but his close range effort went over cross bar.
However, it was Fleetwood’s opponents that managed to find the back of the net and a way back into the contest on a warm evening in Austria. Winger Ermin Hasic cut inside from the left wing to bend the ball away from Scott Davies.
Josh Morris, a second half substitute, nearly put the gap between Fleetwood and Pinzgau back to two, his free-kick from 20-yards floating harmlessly over.
Alexander began to make the changes so the majority of the Town subs got some more minutes under their belts before they jet back home on Saturday afternoon.
Jamille Matt, Matty Blair, Steven Schumacher and Conor McLaughlin where all drafted into the game from the bench.
Fleetwood had a goal chalked off right at the end of the match with Matt ruled to be in an offside position following a cross from Blair, but Town rounded their trip off in Austria with a win.
Fleetwood: S Davies, Hogan, Andrew (Morris 55), Murdoch, T.Davies, Jordan (Cresswell 45), Hughes (Schumacher 73), Allen (McLaughlin 73), Proctor, Sarcevic (Blair 66), Ball (Matt 66)