Fleetwood Town’s under 18s exited this season’s FA Youth Cup at the third round stage after a 5-1 defeat to Stevenage on Monday night.
Three goals fromAndonicos Georgiou and one from Drilon Krasniqi and Liam Smyth was enough for Boro to see of Nathan Rooney’s side and progress to the next round. Ben Donnelly-Blackburn scored a late consolation for the Cod Army.
Rooney included U17 World Cup winner Billy Crellin in his starting line-up, and captained the side under the lights at Highbury.
Town started brightly, with Jack Bishop forcing Boro keeper Nathan Harness into a smart low save with an effort from 20 yards.
Donnelly-Blackburn almost opened the scoring ten minutes before the break – he sliced a clearance onto his own crossbar with Crellin beaten. Luckily just a corner.
The away side did break the deadlock after Marcus Gouldborne was brought down by Alkeo Bani. Georgiou converted the spot kick past Crellin. This was how it was to stay at half-time.
Gouldbourne then hit the post with the first attack of the second period, before Town had their best chance of the game. Harness made a big error at the back, leaving Sam O’Halleron with a open net from 18 yards – he shot just wide. A great chance to level the game.
Krasniqi doubled the lead with just over 20 minutes to go, slotting past Crellin after beating the offside trap.
It was soon three as Georgiou beat Crellin from inside the area. However, Rooney’s side didn’t give up, and got the goal they deserved. Donnelly-Blackburn bundled in Ryan Rydel’s corner to at least put Town on the scoreboard.
Late strikes from Smyth and a third for Georgiou added gloss to the victory as Town exited the competition at the third round stage.
Fleetwood: Crellin, Kerrigan, Donnelly-Blackburn, Bani, Unsworth, Mashigo, Bishop, Dodd, Makepeace, O’Halleron, Rydel. Subs: Turner (GK), Finlayson, Bridge, Hill, Williams.
Stevenage: Harness, Sackey, Wilmot, O’Keefe, Omar, Cole-Taylor, Gouldbourne, O’Donnell, Krasniqi, Georgiou, Leslie. Subs: Payne (GK), Draper, Smyth, Moriaty, Fernandez.