Barry Nicholson's side beaten 7-6 in a shootout
Fleetwood Town’s development squad bowed out of the Lancashire Senior Cup following a penalty shootout defeat over Oldham Athletic at Poolfoot Farm on Wednesday afternoon.Ricardo Fuller had initially opened the scoring for Oldham after 67 minutes, only for Ashley Hunter to net a dramatic equaliser for the Cod Army in the dying embers of normal time.
The fixture against the Latics would see the return of Club captain Nathan Pond, with goalkeeper Brendan Moore and Vamara Sanogo also starting for Fleetwood.
It would be the visitors who created the first chance of the game after eight minutes, as Mark Yeates saw his 25 yard free-kick go just over Moore’s crossbar.
Yeates went close again shortly after, after he found space on the edge of the penalty area only to curl the ball into the grateful grasp of Moore.
At the other end, Stephen Jordan and Sanogo went close for Town in quick succession, as both sides looked to gain the advantage as the half wore on.
As half time approached, Tyler Forbes had to be on hand for Fleetwood as he cleared Yeates’ effort off the line, with the former Bradford City man proving a constant threat.
With the second half underway, Hunter was unfortunate not to open up Town’s account for the afternoon, with keeper Joe Coleman tipping over his goal-bound effort.
Oldham took the lead on 67 minutes, as experienced forward Fuller found the net from inside the area, placing the ball beyond the returning Moore.
Fleetwood searched for the goal to get them right back into the cup tie, with Conor Smith seeing his free-kick headed away by the Latics defence.
Fleetwood had Moore to thank for keeping them in it, has he got down low to make a sprawling save from Lee Knight.
Hunter ensured the game went to penalties with a minute to play, as the youngster glanced past Coleman to equalise.
After a marathon of a penalty shootout, the visitors prevailed to the next round as Barry Nicholson’s side suffered a 7-6 defeat.