David Ball claims two in two minutes
David Ball was understandably ‘chuffed’ to get his first two league goals of the season, but admits he was frustrated not to have picked up his first league hat trick in the victory over Plymouth Argyle.
The 23-year-old striker bagged a brace as Fleetwood ran out 2-0 winners at Home Park – goals that maintained Town’s 100 per cent league record.
Ball admits he has been working on finishing with his left foot in training, and on the back of advice from manager Graham Alexander, says his confidence in front of goal is returning.
Ball told the Cod Army Player after the 2-0 victory over Plymouth: “I will have to go with the second one, but they were two good goals in my eyes. I am chuffed with the second one with it being with my left foot and that’s the stuff you practise in training so I am glad it went in.
“The first one I have hit early. The gaffer has been telling me to get my shots away earlier and that was the first thing that came into my mind so to get the first one gave me the confidence to do it again for the second one.”
The hard working striker could have come away with his first league hat trick, but five minutes after scoring two early goals, Ball avoided a couple of challenges before hitting angled shot just wide and he admits he was frustrated not to claim the match ball.
“It happens like that. My first touch let me down on that one and I was obviously disappointed not to get my hat trick. It would have been my first one in the league and with getting two early goals, you expect yourself to get the third so I was disappointed with that.”
Since the start of the season, Ball has played and impressed in the lone striker role, but had a lot of praise for the midfield trio Steven Schumacher, Jeff Hughes and Antoni Sarcevic for the work they have done in helping the striker in front of goal.
“The three midfielders were fantastic. Schuey (Steven Schumacher) sits in there and is a general. He gets the attacks going and Jeff, who is brilliant at running forward and getting on the ball and isn’t afraid to take it under a bit of pressure, which enables me to do my stuff at the same time. I have a lot of praise for them because they don’t stop running.”
David Ball admits he had set himself targets ahead of the season, but says playing for the team is his most important priority.
“You need to set targets as a player. I have set myself an individual goal target and I will look to get as many goals as possible because if I am scoring goals that helps the teams. It’s a team performance, and I am a team player but I have got my own target.”
Fleetwood will host Burton Albion, who finished amongst the play-offs last season, at Highbury next weekend, and although Town face another tough encounter, Ball wants his team-mates to replicate their performance against Argyle and continue their impressive start to the season.
“Burton will be another tough game, but we will go into it on the back of the Plymouth game and hopefully I can add to my tally and hopefully we can add to the points we have picked up already.”