Fleetwood Town suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat in their third pre-season friendly match against Port Vale on Wednesday night at Vale Park.
Under the floodlights in Staffordshire, it was the Valiant’s summer signing David Amoo who scored the only goal of the match, with a stunning strike from 25-yards out curling into the top corner, a goal which both players and fans could only admire.
Town were dominate for most of the match, creating chances but failing to take those opportunities when they arose. But Conor McAleny and Paddy Madden were in the thick of things whilst on the pitch, a pleasing site for the two up top for Town.
It was a bright start for Barton’s side as within a couple of minutes McAleny broke through the Valiants defense, the former Everton man was brought down but with the ball falling for Madden, the referee waved play-on, only for the Irishman to hit his effort over the bar.
McAleny was in the thick of the action in the early stages, and after picking up the ball deep in midfield, he looked for the on-running Madden, only for the two to see the linesman’s flag up for offside.
John Askey’s side looked dangerous down the left with summer signing David Amoo, and the winger managed to cut in on his favoured right foot, to whip one into the box. Unfortunately, his forward partners didn’t gamble on the cross.
On the twenty minute mark, it was McAleny to find himself in a shooting position. After Rossiter picked up the ball, he crossed the ball into the box and found an unmarked teammate whose headed went straight to Scott Brown’s gloves.
The 26-year-old couldn’t stop getting himself involved in the match, and once again McAleny picked up the ball from 30-yards out, and shot from range. His long range effort clipped the post and went out for a goal-kick. Town looked dangerous on every attack against the League Two outfit.
It was Amoo who scored the opening goal of the game in the second half – scoring his third since joining in the summer – and what a goal it was from 25-yards out. The attacking winger pounced on the ball, curling it around the defender into the top corner. It was one of those you just had to admire.
Changes kept coming for both sides as the clocked ticked over the 60 minutes mark, giving more players time on the pitch – whilst also keeping that freshness on the Vale Park pitch.
The chances did fall short in the remaining stages of the match with both Barton and Askey using majority of their substitutes – which ultimately slowed the match down. However, at this stage in pre-season, it’s all about getting players on the pitch and ticking them over for the first match of the 2019/20 season on Saturday 3rd August.
Town will now travel to League Two side Carlisle United on Saturday afternoon (20th July), with Barton going head to head with former Fleetwood boss Steven Pressley at Brunton Park, with kick-off at 3pm.
Port Vale XI: Brown (GK) , Gibbons, Crooks, Legge, Worrall, Lloyd (Browne ’33) (Bennett 56’), Conlon (Rawlinson 65’), Amoo (Burgess 63’), Joyce, Cullen (Pope 60’), Smith.
Subs: Campbell-Gordan, Maddison, D. Smith, Whitfield.
Town XI: Cairns (GK), Coyle (Southam-Hales 65’), Andrew (Clarke 46’), Rossiter (S. Morris), Sheron, Trialist (Eastham 61’), Burns, Coutts (Baggley 65’), Madden (Garner), McAleny (Mooney 65’), Morris (Biggins 56’).
Subs: Cottam (GK), Hill, Fowler.