Fleetwood Town reached the second round of the Lancashire FA Senior Cup after a comfortable 3-1 win over AFC Fylde on Tuesday afternoon.
Goals from Ged Garner, a Trialist and Bobby Grant proved to be enough in a dominant performance from Fleetwood at Kellamergh Park. A late Lewis Baines own-goal turned out to be just a conciliation for the Coasters.
Bobby Grant captained the Cod Army, with Tommy Spurr and Nathan Sheron lining up in a strong back four which also included Gethin Jones and Eddie Clarke. Goalkeeper Billy Crellin started in goal after returning from his loan spell at FC United of Manchester.
The game started evenly, with the first effort coming from the hosts nine minutes in. James Hardy picked up a loose ball 25 yards out, with his low shot forcing Crellin into the first save of the game.
Harrison Biggins had Town’s first chance, meeting a wide free-kick, but his shot was wide Russ Griffiths’ goal.
With ten minutes to go before the break, the visitors found the breakthrough. Our first corner of the match was met by Grant, with his header falling to Garner just three yards out, with the 19-year-old bundling the ball home past the helpless Griffiths. The score remained 1-0 to the Cod Army at the break.
Town started the second half how the ended the first – with a goal. A long kick from his own penalty area from Crellin found the onrushing Trialist, who beat Griffiths with a composed finish off the inside of the post.
Clarke and Ryan Rydel combined well on a couple of occasions, with Clarke almost picking out Garner after 63 minutes, however the striker couldn’t bring down his cross inside the area.
The visitors did get a third when skipper Grant latched onto a through ball, finishing impressively to put the gloss on a comfortable victory.
A late goal for the hosts came via an own goal, courtesy of the unfortunate Lewis Baines. However, Town held on to progress to the next round of the Lancashire Senior Cup.
AFC Fylde: Griffiths, Birch, Brewitt, Stanley, Gray, Trialist, Trialist, Hardy, Toure (Hassall 25’) Hemmings, Tasdemir.
Subs not used: Garner (GK), Byrne, Green, Macadam.
Fleetwood: Crellin, G Jones (Baines 73’), Sheron, Spurr (Williams 73’), Clarke, Trialist, Trialist, Biggins, Rydel, Garner, Grant (O’Halleron 73’).
Subs not used: Clayton (GK), Metete.