Fleetwood Town’s Development Squad suffered a 3-0 home defeat against National League North side Southport at Poolfoot Farm.
With the Development Squad having played their first match of the season against local non-league side Squires Gate last week, it was Southport who were their opponents on Monday afternoon.
It wasn’t the start he or his team would have wanted as Southport took the lead in the 6th minute. After patient build-up play on the right hand side, the winger put a low cross into the box, with on-running midfielder Patrick Lacey getting the smallest of touches to send the ball goal bound.
Two minutes later it was two nil to the visitors, with former Town forward Dion Charles getting the deafest of touches on the ball – which ultimately took it away from the reach of Town keeper Billy Crellin.
Fleetwood – who played in the yellow away kit for the match – reacted well to the two quick goals and with Jay Matete doing well on a number of occasions to break the Southport back line, it was just that final ball that lacked quality.
Forward Harvey Saunders had his defender twisted inside out halfway through the match, and once he got into the box, there weren’t any options for him to find a fellow teammate to give them an easy tap in. Great chance for Town.
With glorious sunshine shining down on Poolfoot Farm, the players came back out for the second-half with Crainey making one change in the central area of the pitch. Ged Garner made way, with Northern Ireland Under 17 international Carl Johnston replacing him.
Town came out of the traps the quickest, and Johnston was straight into the thick of the action. He managed to get into the pocket between the visitors midfield and defense, and flicked the ball onto the trialist. The trialist should have hit the target from close range.
The attacks kept on coming and it was Michael Fowler – who scored his first for the club against Wrexham two weeks ago – that went the closest to getting one back for the home side. After Rydel's run into the box, and his shot across goal, the striker was so close to getting the final touch.
Goal number three of the game came for Southport, and it was the trialist who headed home from close range.
Fleetwood were awarded a penalty moments later after Rydel was taken down in the penalty area. The young left back was the man to pick the ball up and take it, but he pulled his effort inches wide of the right hand post.
The Cod Army were dominate in spells throughout the second-half, but just couldn’t find the goal they deserved for their attacking plays. Another workout for the Development Squad, with more minutes in their legs ahead of the 2019/20 season.
Town XI: Crellin (GK), G. Jones, Hill, Holgate, Rydel, Matete, Smith, Garner, Trialist, Fowler, Saunders
Subs: Cottam (GK), Boyle, Cooke, Goldsborough, Johnston, Morris, Steer, Williams
Southport XI: Albinson (GK), Trialist, Trialist, Parry, Astles, Morgan, Green, Lacey, Charles, Homson-Smith, Trialist.
Subs: Hanford (GK), Woods, Glynn, Bauress, Sampson, Doyle, Stanton, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist.