Fleetwood Town 4-0 Colchester United
Goals from Jimmy Ryan, David Ball, Jamie Proctor and Jamille Matt sealed an emphatic 4-0 win for Fleetwood Town against Colchester United.The Cod Army made it two wins in four days, and in the process eight goals scored, as they bossed a large percentage of the match to seal their first home league win of the season.
Ryan got the ball rolling with a memorable strike in the 24th minute before Ball added a second three minutes later. Fellow striker Proctor completed the win in the opening minutes of the second half with a cool finish from close range.
The largest cheer arguably of the game was left until the end as Matt scored a similar cross to Proctor, turning home a cross from the left hand side by Amari'i Bell.
It was the case of same again from manager Graham Alexander following the 4-3 win at Bury last time out.
The boss named the exact same starting line-up and substitutes for the game with Nathan Pond and Eggert Jonsson both absent through injury.
Colchester made one change from their draw with Oldham Athletic. George Moncur, who scored when the last two sides met, came in for fellow midfielder Sammie Szmodics.
The visitors nearly drew first blood with only three minutes on Chris Kavanagh’s clock. Tricky winger Gavin Massey, who scored twice against Fleetwood last year, sweetly hit a right footed strike from 20-yards which was punched over by North West Football Awards nominee Chris Maxwell.
It was a frustrating opening 20 minutes for both sides, in particular the Cod Army as they struggled to get their rhythm going which collected them the victory at Gigg Lane four days earlier.
However, the frustration soon turned into jubilation as Ryan opened his Fleetwood Town account with an absolute blockbuster.
A clever through ball from skipper Antoni Sarcevic sent Forbes through on the right, the wing back’s cross deflected wide by Kane Vincent Young.
The resulting corner was initially cleared by Colchester to Ryan, who showed Joe Edwards the shoulder to trick his way past before unleashing a thunderbolt of a strike from 25-yards into the top left hand corner.
Five minutes later and Fleetwood made it two as Highbury erupted yet again as Ball scored his first goal since his return to the Club last month.
The striker, whose last goal was coincidently against the U’s in April had a strike on goal from inside the box after being played in by Sarcevic, only to take a heavy deflection off Tom Eastman to loop former Blackpool keeper Elliott Parrish.
Two could have turned to three on the half hour mark as Stevie Jordan’s header cleared the ball after another well worked set piece routine.
Fleetwood continued to be on the ascendency for the remainder of the first period as they looked on track for their first ever win versus the U’s.
Alexander’s men came out for the second period with real intent as Ball had sight on goal within the first minute, only for his effort to be pushed away by Parrish.
And their early second half hard work paid dividends as Proctor made it two in two games, side footing home past a stranded Parrish after a delightful cross from Amari’i Bell on the left hand side.
Colchester responded by swapping personal around including the introduction of powerful defender George Elokobi who looked to man mark Town’s number nine Proctor.
Massey, who had first chance of the game for the U’s, had their opening second half opportunity in the 64th minute firing a 20-yard strike wide of Maxwell’s left hand post.
However, at the other end, Town were doing their own pressing, and wanted goal number four as Sarcevic’s corner was met by Danny Andrew, only to direct his header into the keeper’s grasp.
Jamille Matt became Town’s first substitute in the 68th minute, coming on for one of Town’s goal scorers Ball.
Matt’s physical presence proved to be useful for Town and his hold up play and flick nearly let Sarcevic in on goal, the former Chester man just taking a slightly heavy touch.
With the time ticking, there was time for one more for the Cod Army as Matt got everything he was craving for, a goal!
The number ten turned home Bell's cross, a second assist for the former Birmingham City man, as Matt wheeled off to celebrate with physio Luke Bussey, a great sight to see after his long term injury.
Jack Sowerby came on a minute later for his Football League debut and nearly netted a memorable debut goal to make it five for Fleetwood Town, but his effort blocked by the United defence.