Fleetwood Town’s Under 18s cruised into the Second Round of the FA Youth Cup after beating FC Halifax Town 5-0 at Highbury on Tuesday night.
First half goals from Sam Barrett, Carl Johnston and James Hill, before second half strikes from substitute Joe Collins and the outstanding Cian Hayes sealed a safe progression to Round Two for Simon Wiles’ side.
The Cod Army youngsters’ reward for making it through against The Shaymen is a trip to Walsall, with a date set to be confirmed in the next few days.
Wiles’ side started well and dominated possession under the Highbury lights from the outset. Hill nodded Barry Baggley’s cross wide in what was the best chance of the opening ten minutes or so. Barrett then ought to have opened the scoring after 15 minutes, but he headed Johnston’s corner straight at visiting keeper Zak Taylor from six yards out.
However, the Cod Army defender wouldn’t have to wait long for the opener. Baggley’s corner was met by Barrett on the half volley from four yards out to break the deadlock just a couple of minutes after his first chance.
Just seven minutes before the break, Fleetwood had a second. Billy Batch produced a great cross from the left, which found the unmarked Johnston who headed brilliantly into the far corner. A great goal.
A third soon came right on the stroke of half-time, with Hill scoring his first Highbury goal to seal an impressive first half performance. The goal was marked with an eye-catching back-flip celebration from the central defender! The sides went it at the break with Town leading 3-0.
The second half proved to be a tighter affair until the last moments of the game, where Collins and the excellent Hayes added extra gloss to the scoreline with the result of the tie already sown up.
A great result and performance from the young Fleetwood side, who face Walsall in the Second Round at The Banks’s Stadium.
Fleetwood: Pengelly (GK), Goldsborough, Hill, Barrett, Batch; Williams, Boyle, Baggley; Johnston, Makepeace, Hayes. Subs: Borwick (GK), Bird, Collins, Thompson, Takpe, Sithole, Patterson.