Fleetwood Town ran on to the newly re-laid Highbury pitch in unusually sunny conditions today for a behind closed doors friendly against Conference side Gateshead.
By David Mitchell
Fleetwood Town ran on to the newly re-laid Highbury pitch in unusually sunny conditions today for a behind closed doors friendly against Conference side Gateshead.
The visitors included new signing and former Town player Glenn Wilson in their line-up. Wilson played six times for Town whilst on loan from Crawley last season.
Town manager, Micky Mellon, gave half a game to all his available players with three missing out through injury – Anthony Barry (knee), Damian Johnson (ankle) and Ryan Crowder (groin). Apart from Johnson, Town’s six other new players all featured. For midfielder, Jamie McGuire, it was a chance to test himself for the first time since the serious facial injury suffered at Cambridge United three months ago. Gateshead scored the only goal of the game through striker Liam Hatch in the first half, but Town claimed much of the territory and possession throughout and created a number of chances of their own.
Assistant manager, Craig Madden, felt that the exercise was extremely beneficial:
‘We saw it as a training session essentially, using two teams and watching some triallists. Although we didn’t win the game we created enough chances and are delighted that the players have got time under their belts. It’s great to be back playing again.’
‘We want to play a particular way and get the players to understand that, especially the new ones. It will take time but that’s why pre-season games are there. Today was a chance to look at some different shapes and different players in those shapes.’
The only injury setback was an unfortunate blow on Kieran Charnock’s nose:
‘Kieran took a nasty one,’ said Madden. ‘The keeper aimed to punch the ball and missed, striking Kieran instead! It looks broken but there’s nothing left in it to break so it’ll be sore for a couple of days.’
Town’s next outing, and the first in front of the Cod Army, is against a Blackburn Rovers XI at Accrington on Saturday (kick off, noon). Madden hinted at the management’s approach to the second game:
‘We may take a team down on Saturday and play a side plus seven on the bench and have a look at things that way. We’ll be looking to move the organisation on with games coming thick and fast. The Forest game is looming and we want to be right for that.’
