February 2007/08

Reserves at Highbury:
29/02/08 21:00

Fleetwood Town Reserves last remaining Lancashire League Cup group game against Darwen Reserves, which was postponed last Monday, will now be played at Highbury Stadium on Monday March 3rd with a 7:45pm kick off.

Thoughts from the Dugout:
Ossett Preview with Tony Greenwood
29/02/08 17:00

For 89 minutes on Tuesday, there was no way that we were ever going to lose that game but, looking to win it, we conceded in the final minute. Yes, the result was hard to take, but we will play worse and win.

After the Gateshead nightmare, which could really have knocked our confidence, I was pleased with they way we responded and, any other night, we would have got the result that our play and commitment deserved. There were many positives that we can take from our performance, not least the return of Shaun Gray, who looked very sharp on the night. He clearly had benefited from his spell at Prescot Cables, and the regular football that he certainly would not have got here over the last few weeks.

Despite Tuesday's result, we can approach the Ossett game in a positive state of mind although, once again, I won't know who is available until tomorrow. Four players missed training on Thursday as they were receiving treatment for knocks and injuries. On the plus side, however, Nathan Pond is back from suspension, along with Jez Fitzgerald, who was unavailable on Tuesday.

As with all our games from here on, tomorrow's game is just about the result. We need to take three points and get back to winning ways.

Service Problems:
28/02/08 23:00

We experienced a few problems tonight due to isp faults and / or maintenance. We're obviously back up, but there may be intermittent faults through the night.

Fleetwood U18s 1 Kendal U18s 4:
27/02/08 23:30

Despite fielding a weakened team due to injuries and sickness, Fleetwood had much the better of a goalless first half. Kendal began to dominate a tiring Fleetwood in the second half, however, turning their possession into goals. Sam Hargreaves netted the consolation for Fleetwood.

Squad: Tom Holland, Ollie Kelly, Matty Gair, Jamie Haydock, Matty Wood, Adam Sumner, Jack Davidson (c), Sam Hargreaves, Joey Newsome, Matty Mecklenburgh, Mike Ronson, Jordan Holmes, Andy Bartholomew, Mark Joyce, Mark France and Ryan Adderley

More later.....

Worksop Town 2 Fleetwood Town 1:
27/02/08 07:30

Ten minutes into last night's game, you could not find anyone in the ground who did not think Fleetwood Town would win, but Worksop and the woodwork conspired to prove them all wrong. Andy Bell got the goal.

Team: Danny Hurst, Kieran Walmsley, Shaun Beeley, Shaun Gray, Phil Robinson, Warren Beattie, Kyle Wilson, Jamie Milligan, Andy Bell, Andy Moran (Phil Denney), Jerome Watt Not Used: Martin Moran, Ashley Dunn

Report to here.....

Worksop Weather:
26/02/08 09:00

A little overnight rain, but the pitch is perfect this morning and so, with blue skies forecast all day, let's get the show on the road! See you there.

Reserves Off:
25/02/08 21:00

The Reserves were kitted out and ready to go at Darwen this evening when the ref pulled the plug!
'The right decision though', says Steve Edwards. 'Just a little tardy'.

Thoughts from the Dugout:
Worksop Preview with Tony Greenwood
25/02/08 16:40

Now listen. Saturday was a dreadful performance. There is no rational explanation as to why just about every Fleetwood player had an off day. And I can assure you that the squad and I were just as frustrated as every one of the Cod Army who made the trip.

But that was Saturday. Today it is Monday and we sit comfortably in second place in the league, with games in hand. We sit there on 55 points, and there are still 45 points up for grabs. Yes, we had one of those 'bad days at the office', but that's hardly the end of the promotion trail. We all need to relax. We all need to stay calm. We all need to be positive. The Chairman is positive, I am positive and, with your help, we'll keep the team positive. Don't underestimate the part that you have to play in our success: you are not called 'supporters' by accident! Now let's move on.

It is good that we can get straight back out on the park tomorrow, even if it is away down in Worksop, as every player wants to get a bad performance out of his system as quickly as possible. Nicky Ellis completed his loan period last week and, with Martin Moran picking up a fifth booking on Saturday, now is a good time to recall Shaun Gray from Prescot Cables. Shaun goes into the squad for the game, along with Ashley Dunn. Nathan Pond remains suspended for this game and I await a fitness report on Alex Taylor.

Obviously it is another tough game for us as Worksop Town will be scrapping to keep clear of the relegation battle; a battle that currently involves half the teams in the league. We need to get a result and get our game going again. See you in Worksop.

Until next time.
TG

Fleetwood Town Reserves at Darwen:
25/02/08 08:00

FTFC Reserves visit Darwen tonight for their final League Cup group match. Kick off is at 7:45 pm.

Here is the squad: Mike Hale, Ollie Kelly, James Hone, Rik Bryan, Michael Tallentire, Kyle Webster, Mark Davis, Jamie Wright, Anthony Warwick, Chris Watkinson, Paul Bailey, Jason Rawcliffe,  Christian Dust and Danny Eden.

Gateshead 2 Fleetwood Town 0:
23/02/08 23:30

A disjointed and rusty Fleetwood Town were no match for Gateshead today; the Tynesiders earning a comfortable victory.

Shaun Beeley blocks the indirect free kick from Southern.

Team: Danny Hurst, Michael Brown, Jez Fitzgerald, Martin Moran, Phil Robinson, Warren Beattie, Kieran Walmsley (Andy Moran 72), Jamie Milligan, Andy Bell (Kyle Wilson 78), Shaun Beeley, Jerome Watt (Phil Denney 27)

Report here.....

Thoughts from the Dugout:
Gateshead Preview with Tony Greenwood
22/02/08 17:00

So, here we go again, back into action after another two week break. Whilst postponements, particularly at the last moment, are extremely frustrating, it is something that you learn to live with at our level. You also learn that there is not a lot that you can do about it. The games will still have to be played and that the only sensible thing is to work and train hard in order to be fully prepared for the next one.

And the next one is, of course, Gateshead tomorrow. We do not need reminding that, on their visit to Highbury a couple of games ago, they outplayed us for much of the second half and were deserved winners on the night. Tomorrow, we need to reverse that result and show the spirit and flair that has served us so well on our away trips this season. I suppose that the Gateshead match is our biggest game of the season so far, so I will have no need for motivational speeches. In fact, after two weeks away, my task will be to ensure that we are composed and controlled, and that we do approach it simply as 'our next league game'.

Obviously, with the exception of Nathan Pond and Ricky Mercer, I have my full squad at my disposal and so there really is little else to add at this point. Let's just get up to Gateshead and get back out on the park. I hope to see you there.

Until the next time.
TG

New FTFC Reserves Fixtures:
21/02/08 22:30

Just two league games for the Reserves in March, and both are against Workington Reserves. We visit Workington on Friday March 7th with the return fixture at Highbury on March 14th. Both games kick off at 8:00 pm.

The Lancashire League Cup group tables are now also available here. Only three group ties are played and so the Reserves have already qualified for the quarter finals, This will be an open draw involving the teams from both the East and West Divisions.

BFC Reserves Match Off:
20/02/08 15:30

Tonight's Blackpool Reserves v Tranmere Reserves Pontin's League game has also fallen foul of the frost, so that too has been postponed.

Gateshead Coach:
19/02/08 12:00

A Supporters' Coach will be running to the Gateshead game, provided we have a minimum of 20 reservations. Please call 01253 777607 before 4:00 pm on Thursday to make your booking.

Tickets cost £12 - and if you have already purchased a Worksop ticket, then this can be transferred to the Gateshead coach.

U18s Match Off:
18/02/08 10:30

Tonight's U18s game v Blackpool Rovers has been postponed due to the frozen pitch.

Match Off:
16/02/08 09:30

With an overnight frost of -6 degrees, allied to the fact that it is still -3 degrees and part of the ground does not catch the sun, today's Worksop fixture is, regrettably, postponed.

***The fixture will now be played on Tuesday February 26th.

***Updated February / March Highbury Matchday Poster here.

Fleetwood Town Reserves 2 Burscough Reserves 0:
15/02/08 22:00

Two goals for Alex Taylor in tonight's competent and comfortable League Cup, group stage, victory.

Match report to here.....

Thoughts from the Dugout:
Worksop Town Preview with Tony Greenwood
15/02/08 16:30

With not having played an away game since the first of January, tomorrow's trip to Worksop, despite the distance, will provide a welcome change in our routine although, with five of our next six games on the road, I do reserve the right to change that opinion!

Recent games at Highbury have all followed a similar pattern, and last Saturday's tough encounter with Whitby was no different. Gone are the days when teams just turned up and played; today everyone does their homework, watches opponents when postponements allow it, and even talks to the managers who played here last. Everyone arrives here with a game plan, and the first line of the plan is always to stop us playing. As the home team, we are not interested in one point, and so the responsibility is on us to try and win the game. We have to be prepared to change our tactics, maybe to push players into less familiar roles, and, in effect, to gamble that we'll create more than we concede! As a result, our home games are tight and tense and we've all to learn to be patient - and it won't get any easier! When it comes to away games, however, the opposition can't just sit in and attempt to frustrate us. They have to try and win the game, to take the responsibility and the pressure from their fans and, in doing so, they give us the freedom to play our game. Let's see if tomorrow's game also follows a pattern.

We obviously start tomorrow's game without Ricky Mercer. He will of course be missed, but as long as everyone else stays fit and available, I have some good options. He is unlikely to return inside eight weeks, however, and so I will be looking for some insurance just in case we pick up more injuries or suspensions. With that in mind, I have extended the loans of Jonathan Smith and Shaun Gray for another month! That is actually a sensible thing to do as they are both playing regularly and, in the second month of a loan, I can demand their instant return at any time. Everyone else is available for selection, with Shaun Beeley having a run tonight in the Reserves to get him sharp.

Finally, may I just mention Ian Rishton, who passed away in the early hours of last Sunday morning. Ian was a good friend, and a good football man who was well respected throughout the North West. He was always first on the phone on a Sunday morning with words of advice, especially if we'd been beaten, and he helped me often over the years, acting as Chief Scout for Fleetwood Town over the last couple of years.

Until next time.
TG

Fleetwood Town Reserves v Burscough Reserves:
15/02/08 14:00

Here is the squad for tonight's Lancashire League Cup game against Burscough Reserves. The kick off is at 7:45pm.

Squad: Hale, Kelly, Beeley, Hone, Ellis, Webster, Dunn, Warwick, Watkinson, Taylor, Cowell, Wright, Bryan, Dust, Tallentire and Bailey,

Player Updates:
12/02/08 09:30

• 

We are delighted to announce that recent arrival Warren Beattie has signed a contract keeping him at Highbury until the end of the 2008/09 season.

• 
  Warren has made an instant impression at the club and he is already a vital part of our promotion chasing first team squad.

Skipper Ricky Mercer’s injury suffered against Whitby Town on Saturday has been confirmed as a broken collar bone. The break is clean however and it is likely that Ricky will be playing again in 6 to 8 weeks; meaning that he is likely to be available for our promotion run in.

All at the club wish him a speedy recovery and return to action.   

Fleetwood Town 1 Whitby Town 0:
09/02/08 19:30

Another hard earned victory courtesy of a first half Kieran Walmsley header, saw Fleetwood pick up another vital three points at the expense of visitors Whitby Town.  The result was marred however by what looks like a serious shoulder injury to influential skipper, Ricky Mercer.

Team : Hurst, Brown, Fitzgerald, Robinson, Mercer (Pond), Beattie, Walmsley, Milligan, Moran A, (Denney), Bell, Watt (Beeley)

Report here.....

Steve Foster Loan:
08/02/08 16:30

Forward Steve Foster has joined UniBond League Division One North leaders Curzon Ashton on a month’s loan. Manager Tony Greenwood said 'regular games will soon see him back on the goalscorers lists and pushing for a recall'.

Thoughts from the Dugout:
Whitby Town Preview with Tony Greenwood
08/02/08 16:30

With the postponement of last Saturday's visit to Leek, we now have 17 games to fit into the remaining eleven weeks of the season. At this time last year we had 19 league plus four cup games still to play so, whilst heavy, our schedule is a bit easier this time - as long as the weather holds!

As you are aware we are constantly reviewing our playing staff, looking for players who can add to the overall quality of our squad but, equally importantly, who can give us the cover for injuries and suspensions during the next eleven weeks. You may not be aware that player transfers cannot normally be made after the last Thursday in March, hence the need to bring in any new players now and get them established. We currently have to play eight league games after the transfer deadline, so I would expect to play every member of the squad during that time.

Establishing players means playing them in the team, so it was useful to be able to use last Monday's Reserve fixture to give the first team a full game. OK Barrow Reserves aren't the toughest of opponents, but they made us work hard and we were able to get some rhythm back into our play. I know that there is always a risk of picking up an injury but, when we are short of football, the benefits far outweigh the risks and we'll be half a yard quicker tomorrow because of it. Players, such as Shaun Gray and Jonathan Smith, shouldn't be forgotten either. They needed games, games they couldn't get with us, to keep match fit and sharp for when they are inevitably called back into the squad. Exactly the same 'Catch 22' situation is true for Steve Foster, who has just gone out on loan to Curzon Ashton. Regular games will soon see him back on the goalscorers lists and pushing for a recall.

Whitby, tomorrow, promises to be another tough encounter against a another team who could be sucked into the relegation dog fight. If they want to get their season back on track, then they will see Fleetwood Town at Highbury as a good place to start. In terms of team selection, it is unlikely that Phil Robinson, Shaun Beeley and Andy Bell will all be available for the game, and I won't be rushing them back into the squad until they're 100%. Other than that, with everyone raring to go, we're still looking forward to getting back out on the pitch and playing some football.

Until next time.
TG

FTFC Reserves 4 Barrow Reserves 1:
05/02/08 08:30

A good run out for the, erm, Reserves last night! Fielding the full first team, TG had clearly put the emphasis on playing a passing game, and it was very good to watch. The Fleetwood goals came from Andy Moran, Kyle Wilson, Phil Denney and Alex Taylor. Credit too to Barrow, who remained competitive to the end, despite being given only one scoring opportunity.

Squad: Danny Hurst, Michael Brown, Jez Fitzgerald, Martin Moran (Nicky Ellis), Ricky Mercer, Warren Beattie, Kieran Walmsley, Jamie Milligan, Kyle Wilson (Phil Denney), Andy Moran, Jerome Watt (Alex Taylor)

Report later.....

Tonight! FTFC Reserves v Barrow Reserves:
04/02/08 08:30

If you fancy some 'Monday Night Football', well this is your chance! Having already lost three of our last five games to the weather, Tony Greenwood has decided to grab the opportunity and use tonight's Reserve team fixture against Barrow Reserves for a full first team squad outing. The kick off is scheduled for 8:00pm, and the social club will be open.

Ground Redevelopment:
03/02/08 11:00

The Phase One planning application can now be viewed online here.

'Reserves' v Castleton Gabriels:
01/02/08 20:00

With the postponement of the Leek game, tomorrow's friendly at Highbury has become rather more significant with, at the request of Tony Greenwood, the squad being flooded with first team players. Bearing in mind that the Reserves have a league game at Highbury on Monday, Steve Edwards has, therefore, taken the interesting step of making up tomorrow's squad mainly with players from the U18 team. Here is the squad:-

Danny Hurst, Mike Hale, Ollie Kelly, Martin Moran, Nicky Ellis, James Hone, Kyle Webster, Ashley Dunn, Jez Fitzgerald, Alex Taylor, Steve Foster, Phil Denney, Jack Davidson, Mathew Mecklenburg, Joey Newsome and Adam Sumner.

The game kicks off at 2:00pm, the bar is open and admission is £2 - season ticket holders no charge.

Leek is Off:
01/02/08 17:30

Snow and rapidly falling temperatures, on top of an already 'difficult' pitch, mean that, following a referee's inspection, tomorrow's visit to Leek is postponed.

**The fixture has now been rescheduled for Tuesday April 22nd.

Thoughts from the Dugout:
Leek Preview with Tony Greenwood
01/02/08 17:00

Whilst it is never easy getting beaten, there are times when you get beaten by a better side and you just have to accept it. Tuesday was one of those times, no excuses, and Gateshead deserved the three points.

The good thing, with another game tomorrow, is that there is no time to dwell on our last result. We have to prepare for Leek, and another difficult day against another team fighting for survival. Phil Robinson and Shaun Beeley, who we did miss on Tuesday, remain doubtful and you can add Andy Bell to the list with a recurrence of his hamstring injury. Belly's absence is disappointing as I thought Andy Moran, who had a good debut, brought the best out of him. Everyone else is available, and the players are looking forward to getting back out there, so my only other worry is the weather!

Looking at the fixture lists, you will see that we have just started a period without any midweek games. Whilst this is good for the players carrying knocks, it doesn't help with those players currently on the fringe of the starting line up who still need regular competitive football. For that reason, we've grabbed the opportunity of playing a friendly against reasonable opposition at Highbury tomorrow. No doubt Steve Edwards will let you know which players are involved later tonight.

I hope to see all of us in Leek.

Until next time.
TG