Nathan Rooney's side back to winning ways
Fleetwood Town’s Under 18’s got back to winning ways with an emphatic 4-1 victory away to Rochdale at Ewen Fields on Tuesday.
Dan Mooney grabbed a hat trick, including a magnificent strike from 25-yards out, on an afternoon when Town posed a constant attacking threat.
Lewis Baines also got on the score sheet as he powered a header home to help Nathan Rooney’s young side take all three points in the North-West Youth Alliance league game.
minute, before the forward coolly slotted his shot past the goalkeeper.ndFleetwood made the perfect start when Alex Dodd threaded a ball through to Mooney on the edge of the area in just the 2
They almost doubled their lead two minutes later, when Mooney turned provider, flicking the ball into the path of Gerard Garner who couldn’t quite guide his effort into the far corner.
After soaking up a spell of Rochdale pressure, Town hit their opponents with a lightning counter attack and Garner almost caught the goalkeeper off his line with a chipped shot from distance that went just over.
minute the game burst back into life as Rochdale found a way through from a corner that was headed home at the back post.ndThe home side were being frustrated for long spells by the compact Fleetwood defence. But in the 42
But almost instantly Town were back in front, courtesy of a set piece of their own. Garner swung a free kick deep into the box and skipper Baines towered above everyone to power the ball into the bottom corner.
The second half began with a piece of individual brilliance. Fleetwood regained possession straight from kick off, before Mooney unleashed a shot from 25-yards out which rocketed past the stranded goalkeeper, who could only get a slight touch on it as it nestled in the top corner.
minute they had a penalty when Dodd was brought down in the box.stTown were rampant and driving forward down both flanks through wingbacks Dom Kerrigan and Ryan Rydel and in the 51
Mooney took the kick as he searched for a hat trick but his low strike was well stopped by the goalkeepers trailing legs.
He didn’t have to wait much longer though to get another goal, just after the hour mark Garner and Jack Bishop combined well on the edge of the area as the former slipped in Mooney who rounded the goalkeeper and tapped home his hat trick.
Not content with their four goals, Fleetwood continued to pile forward and went close through Garner and Kerrigan who both saw their shots turned behind for corners.
As the game came towards its conclusion, Nathan Rooney was able to introduce Jamie Cooke and James Hill into the action. Handing the youngsters from Town’s Academy some valuable experience and capping off a fine afternoon for his side.
FTFC: Turner (GK); Unsworth, Baines (c), Holgate; Kerrigan, Collings, Dodd, Rydel; Bishop, Garner, Mooney. Subs: Finlayson, Cooke, Hill.