Fleetwood Town’s Development Squad narrowly lost out on the Central League title on Tuesday afternoon as they fell to a 3-2 defeat to Preston North End at Poolfoot Farm.
It looked to be a great day at the club’s training complex as the young Cods created multiple chances within the first five minutes, which they could have opened the scoring with. It wasn’t long until they did though as Danny Edwards broke through eight minutes in and found the back of the net.
It was a run of misfortune as the side tried to coast into the half-time break as Harry Nevin drew the game level in the 43rd minute meaning it was all to play for in the second period. Heads may have gone down 10 minutes into the second half as Town gave away a penalty to the visitors.
Tom Donaghy showed his class with the spot kick as he managed to stop it, but Mikey O’Neill followed the save up and, unfortunately for the Cods, he put it past the goalkeeper. The Preston forward doubled his tally later in the game as a long ball from Dana Amaral found Josh Seary, who chipped it to O’Neill, with the striker drilling his strike home.
Town made it a nervy end for the Lilywhites as Edwards netted his second of the afternoon two minutes before added time was introduced, with the attacking midfielder almost completing his hat-trick before the end, but James Pradic pulled off a fingertip save to see Town just lose out on the Central League title.
Town XI: Donaghy (GK), Thiam (C), Hoyle, Baker, Trialist A, Thompson, White (Khela 76’), Raffie, Edwards, Trialist B, Edwards.