Antoni Sarcevic scored his first goal of the season
As the final month of an already historic year commenced, Fleetwood Town were sitting pretty in the upper reaches of the league standings as the season approached the halfway mark.Town welcomed Sheffield United in the first game of a packed schedule on the 13th December, as Antoni Sarcevic salvaged a point with a 53rd minute header.
The draw against the Blades was followed up by another stalemate at the Ricoh Arena five days before Christmas.
Fleetwood initially took the lead against the Sky Blues when Gareth Evans’ cross from the left was headed into his own goal by Andy Webster after 19 minutes.
It was a bittersweet return to his hometown for Graham Alexander, as the hosts subsequently equalised with ten minutes to play when Gary Madine nodded down towards Simeon Jackson, who diverted the ball home to earn a share
of the spoils in the Midlands.
And so came the Boxing Day fixture at home to Bradford City, with Phil Parkinson’s side beating the Cod Army by two goals on the Fylde Coast.
James Hanson glanced the Bantams into the lead after 42 minutes before Jonathan Stead turned provider for Filipe Morais, who side-footed the ball home confidently from close-range with 12 minutes remaining.
Despite the poor result against the Yorkshire outfit, Fleetwood would ultimately end the year in a positive fashion after an emphatic 2-0 triumph over Rochdale at Spotland.
The win at Dale was the Cod Army’s first in six, with Town notching a first-half double to sink their Greater Manchester opponents.
Club captain Mark Roberts climbed highest to head Fleetwood in front after 17 minutes, and Josh Morris added a second in the 38th minute.