Fleetwood Town were held to a 2-2 draw against Rochdale on Saturday, with Ian Henderson scoring a 96th minute equaliser for the visitors.
Forward Paddy Madden opened the scoring for Town in the first half, before Henderson replied for Rochdale shortly after half time, converting a penalty having been brought down in the box by Cod Army captain Craig Morgan.
Ched Evans then regained Town’s lead after great work from Ashley Hunter, his second goal in as many games, converting from close range.
However it was to be Henderson who had the final say, firing home from close range deep into added time.
Barton made seven changes to the side that achieved an historic win over Crewe Alexandra in the Carabao Cup in midweek. Jason Holt, who scored the equaliser in that victory, came into the starting 11, alongside Ashley Eastham, Craig Morgan, Kyle Dempsey, Hunter and Evans.
After a brilliant away victory at Oxford United in their last League One outing, Town were looking to pick up their first home win of the Barton era after disappointment in the opening game against AFC Wimbledon.
Rochdale threatened in the early stages of the match as Joe Rafferty burst forward after some clever play on the right hand side. He skipped past his marker and delivered a dangerous ball into the box, but it evaded everyone in the box.
Fleetwood then pressed forward with some good work from Dempsey and Hunter down the left. Dempsey delivered a curling cross into the box, which was almost converted by Evans, but his shot was well blocked.
Rochdale continued to apply the pressure in the wide areas, as Kgosi Nthle, who was playing left wing-back in a 3-4-3 formation, crossed into the box, but Town cleared the ball away for a corner.
Rochdale would have taken the lead from the resulting corner if it were not for more heroics from Cairns, keeping out Oliver Rathbone with a fine stop. Rathbone unleashed a powerful effort from 25 yards, but Cairns got a strong hand to it to stop it finding the top corner.
With 27 minutes gone, Fleetwood took the lead. Hunter worked the ball brilliantly on the right hand side and delivered into the box, and it was Madden who was on hand to guide it past Josh Lillis and into the far corner.
Rochdale nearly replied instantly as Wilbraham cut in from the right and chipped a ball into the far post, but Nthle couldn't guide his header goalwards.
Hunter was arguably Fleetwood’s biggest threat in the first half, operating well on the left with Lewie Coyle, who also put in a wonderful first-half performance.
Town then broke on the counter attack as Dempsey intercepted the ball and played it in to Evans. He cut in on his favoured right foot, but his strike from the edge of the box went just wide, before the referee blew for half-time.
In the 48th minute, Henderson broke into Town box and was brought down by Morgan. From the resulting penalty, Henderson stepped up and smashed the ball into the net, sending Cairns the wrong way.
As Town looked to regain their advantage, Hunter was again dangerous, taking on three defenders before being fouled just outside the 18-yard box. The resulting free kick was chipped in to the far post, but failed to find a Red shirt.
In the 57th minute, Fleetwood’s pressure paid off and they regained their lead. Hunter picked the ball up on the left, before nutmegging his marker, and his resulting effort was well saved by Lillis, but Evans was on hand to score the rebound.
The Cod Army almost found a third goal in the 71st minute after brilliant work from substitute Wes Burns. Having come on for Evans, Burns skipped past two defenders and smashed a low effort across Lillis’ goal, going inches wide of the far post.
After Nthle was dispossessed, Town broke quick on the counter attack as Madden and Burns linked up well. Burns then played it through to Hunter, who layed it on for Coyle on the right, but his effort went straight at Lillis.
Burns almost sealed it for Town in the 87th minute when he was played clean through on goal, but Lillis rushed out of his area to clear the ball away from danger. The Rochdale stopper looked to have handballed it in the process, but referee Mr Whitestone waved play on to the dismay of the home crowd.
In the last minute, Rochdale found their equaliser through their talisman Henderson. Town failed to clear the corner, and when the ball was lofted back in to the back post, Henderson controlled instantly and smashed the ball into the roof of the net, leaving Cairns with no chance.
As the referee blew for full-time, Fleetwood were left disappointed to have not gone away with the three points. Despite a solid display from the home side, they'll have to wait at least another week to pick up their first home win of the season.
Town XI: Cairns (GK), Coyle, Morgan ©, Eastham, G. Jones, Holt (Bolger 72’), Dempsey, Marney, Hunter (McAleny 83’), Madden, Evans (Burns 61’).
Subs not used: P. Jones (GK), Long, Sheron, Grant.
Rochdale: Lillis (GK), Rafferty (Done 51’), Nthle, McNulty, Delaney, McGahey, Rathbone (Andrew 67’), Perkins, Wilbraham, Inman (Camps 42’), Henderson ©.
Subs not used: Norman (GK), Williams, Adshead, Cannon.
Fleetwood Town were held to a 2-2 draw against Rochdale on Saturday, with Ian Henderson scoring a 96th minute equaliser for the visitors.
Forward Paddy Madden opened the scoring for Town in the first half, before Henderson replied for Rochdale shortly after half time, converting a penalty having been brought down in the box by Cod Army captain Craig Morgan.
Ched Evans then regained Town’s lead after great work from Ashley Hunter, his second goal in as many games, converting from close range.
However it was to be Henderson who had the final say, firing home from close range deep into added time.
Barton made seven changes to the side that achieved an historic win over Crewe Alexandra in the Carabao Cup in midweek. Jason Holt, who scored the equaliser in that victory, came into the starting 11, alongside Ashley Eastham, Craig Morgan, Kyle Dempsey, Hunter and Evans.
After a brilliant away victory at Oxford United in their last League One outing, Town were looking to pick up their first home win of the Barton era after disappointment in the opening game against AFC Wimbledon.
Rochdale threatened in the early stages of the match as Joe Rafferty burst forward after some clever play on the right hand side. He skipped past his marker and delivered a dangerous ball into the box, but it evaded everyone in the box.
Fleetwood then pressed forward with some good work from Dempsey and Hunter down the left. Dempsey delivered a curling cross into the box, which was almost converted by Evans, but his shot was well blocked.
Rochdale continued to apply the pressure in the wide areas, as Kgosi Nthle, who was playing left wing-back in a 3-4-3 formation, crossed into the box, but Town cleared the ball away for a corner.
Rochdale would have taken the lead from the resulting corner if it were not for more heroics from Cairns, keeping out Oliver Rathbone with a fine stop. Rathbone unleashed a powerful effort from 25 yards, but Cairns got a strong hand to it to stop it finding the top corner.
With 27 minutes gone, Fleetwood took the lead. Hunter worked the ball brilliantly on the right hand side and delivered into the box, and it was Madden who was on hand to guide it past Josh Lillis and into the far corner.
Rochdale nearly replied instantly as Wilbraham cut in from the right and chipped a ball into the far post, but Nthle couldn't guide his header goalwards.
Hunter was arguably Fleetwood’s biggest threat in the first half, operating well on the left with Lewie Coyle, who also put in a wonderful first-half performance.
Town then broke on the counter attack as Dempsey intercepted the ball and played it in to Evans. He cut in on his favoured right foot, but his strike from the edge of the box went just wide, before the referee blew for half-time.
In the 48th minute, Henderson broke into Town box and was brought down by Morgan. From the resulting penalty, Henderson stepped up and smashed the ball into the net, sending Cairns the wrong way.
As Town looked to regain their advantage, Hunter was again dangerous, taking on three defenders before being fouled just outside the 18-yard box. The resulting free kick was chipped in to the far post, but failed to find a Red shirt.
In the 57th minute, Fleetwood’s pressure paid off and they regained their lead. Hunter picked the ball up on the left, before nutmegging his marker, and his resulting effort was well saved by Lillis, but Evans was on hand to score the rebound.
The Cod Army almost found a third goal in the 71st minute after brilliant work from substitute Wes Burns. Having come on for Evans, Burns skipped past two defenders and smashed a low effort across Lillis’ goal, going inches wide of the far post.
After Nthle was dispossessed, Town broke quick on the counter attack as Madden and Burns linked up well. Burns then played it through to Hunter, who layed it on for Coyle on the right, but his effort went straight at Lillis.
Burns almost sealed it for Town in the 87th minute when he was played clean through on goal, but Lillis rushed out of his area to clear the ball away from danger. The Rochdale stopper looked to have handballed it in the process, but referee Mr Whitestone waved play on to the dismay of the home crowd.
In the last minute, Rochdale found their equaliser through their talisman Henderson. Town failed to clear the corner, and when the ball was lofted back in to the back post, Henderson controlled instantly and smashed the ball into the roof of the net, leaving Cairns with no chance.
As the referee blew for full-time, Fleetwood were left disappointed to have not gone away with the three points. Despite a solid display from the home side, they'll have to wait at least another week to pick up their first home win of the season.
Town XI: Cairns (GK), Coyle, Morgan ©, Eastham, G. Jones, Holt (Bolger 72’), Dempsey, Marney, Hunter (McAleny 83’), Madden, Evans (Burns 61’).
Subs not used: P. Jones (GK), Long, Sheron, Grant.
Rochdale: Lillis (GK), Rafferty (Done 51’), Nthle, McNulty, Delaney, McGahey, Rathbone (Andrew 67’), Perkins, Wilbraham, Inman (Camps 42’), Henderson ©.
Subs not used: Norman (GK), Williams, Adshead, Cannon.
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