Fleetwood Town Reserves 2-1 Morecambe Reserves
Fleetwood Town Reserves 2-1 Morecambe Reserves
Central League Cup
Group A
By David Mitchell
Alex Titchiner and Tom Barkhuizen scored second half goals to give Fleetwood Town their second win in their Central League Cup group as the club once again defied the elements, defeating Morecambe 2-1.
Highbury resembled a green oasis in a winter wonderland and the match gave Town’s new manager, Graham Alexander, a chance to observe players who had not started the Southend game at the weekend.
Morecambe were the busier side in the first half, taking the lead in the 16th minute when skipper, Joe McGee, headed home after build-up down the left. The Shrimps included central defender, Will Haining, who spent a period at Highbury on loan in 2010-11
Dan Parkinson forced a save from Chris Maxwell in the 38th minute and McGee had two further efforts in the next two minutes but Town turned the game round with a much more convincing second half performance.
Curtis Obeng and Rodrigo Branco had already brought acrobatic saves from Morecambe keeper, Andreas Arestidou, before Titchiner beat the goalkeeper to a long ball in the 55th minute. Barkhuizen’s strike came two minutes later, a superb shot from 20 yards which beat Arestidou to his left.
Jake Parker from Town’s Youth team impressed with some confident touches in the closing stages and Alexander will have been delighted to learn yet more about his new charges.
The Boxing Day rehearsal, when Morecambe visit Highbury in the league, moves Town to 2nd place in Group A behind Tranmere Rovers.
Tickets for the Boxing Day game are now on sale.
Maxwell, McLaughlin, Obeng, Wynn, McNulty C, Kinsella, McGuire, Johnson, Barkhuizen, Titchiner, Branco
Subs
Cartwright, Peterson, Allen, Parker
