Jordan Lazenbury consolation stunner
Fleetwood Town’s Youth Team succumbed to their third consecutive league defeat on Saturday morning as they were beaten 4-1 at Burnley.
However, the scoreline was harsh on the Cod Army, as they battled well throughout and created enough chances to even win the game.
Craig Madden’s men were looking to end a run of two games without a win, having seen themselves beaten 3-0 by Rochdale and 2-1 by Oldham in recent weeks.
Bradley Jackson opened the scoring for Burnley in the first half, while Fleetwood’s Jordan Lazenbury continued his good run of form with a goal a minute after the restart. Chris Hill then put the Clarets ahead with ten minutes to go before late goals from Ntumba Massanka and Bradley Jackson rounded off proceedings.
It was the home side who had the game’s first real meaningful chance after three minutes, as Lewis Nuttall cut inside from the left and powered a strike just over keeper Ollie Martin’s goal.
In response, Fleetwood captain, Robbie Bromley, floated a delicious free-kick into the area which striker Kurt Willoughby headed back across goal, only to be thwarted by the Clarets’ rearguard.
Fleetwood looked a threat on the counter attack, and on 24 minutes Willoughby broke from inside his own half, before interchanging with Johnny Conway, but seeing his goalbound effort blocked by a last ditch tackle.
On the half hour mark, Burnley’s Alex Whitmore missed a glorious chance to put his side a goal to the good. Bradley Jackson’s corner was met by an unmarked Whitmore who headed over from all of six yards.
The contest was now becoming an end to end affair with chances for both sides. Fleetwood’s Aden Wainwright was the next to have a go, but fired narrowly over the crossbar from just inside the area, before the home side opened the scoring in the 35th minute.
The ball broke to Bradley Jackson on the edge of the box, and his effort took a slight deflection before scooping over Ollie Martin in the Fleetwood goal to give his side the lead at the interval.
Craig Madden’s half time instructions had an immediate impact on the Cod Army and they found themselves back on level terms just a minute into the second half.
Kurt Willoughby crossed in from the right and found Jordan Lazenbury who burst into the box and shot powerfully past Connor Mitchell to score what was arguably the goal of the game.
This galvanized Fleetwood and for the next ten minutes or so they were the only side in the game as they created chance after chance.
First, Aden Wainright headed a Robbie Bromley set-piece over, before some neat work by Keano Deacon in the middle of the park presented full back Matthew Williams with an opportunity, but his long range effort went wide.
Wainwright’s aerial prowess was causing a threat to the Burnley backline, as once again he connected with a high ball but failed to get his header on target.
However, despite creating a number of chances, Fleetwood rode their luck in the 63rd minute as their opponents hit the upright twice in a matter of seconds.
Lewis Nuttall saw his point blank header cannon off the post, before rebounding to Kevin Ly who also struck the post, but luckily the Cod Army cleared the danger.
Fleetwood’s Danny Vile then sent in a whipping cross from the left towards the path of Aden Wainwright, but he saw his shot fly inches over the bar.
At the other end, striker Ntumba Massanka wasted a great chance for his side as he sent his header wide from close range.
With ten minutes left on the clock, the Clarets managed to get their noses in front courtesy of substitute Chris Hill. A cross from the right found Hill, who dinked his effort over keeper Ollie Martin.
As the clock struck ninety, Ntumba Massanka latched onto a through ball and slotted past Martin to put the contest beyond reach.
However, things got worse a minute later, as Massanka turned provider this time as he fed Bradley Jackson who scored his second of the morning to rub salt into the Fleetwood wounds.
Burnley: Mitchell, Holt, Azam, Bianga, Whitmore, Jackson, Lowe, Massanka, Ly, Nuttall
Burnley Subs: Jakovlens, Galvar, Daly, Hill, Wilson
Fleetwood Town: Martin, Williams, Olapade, Muscat, Barrett, Bromley, Lazenbury, Smith, Conway, Wainwright, Willoughby
Fleetwood Town Subs: Bleekers, Deacon, Glean, Vile