Fleetwood Town narrowly lost to Port Vale at Poolfoot Farm on Tuesday afternoon, as they continued their pre-season preparation.
The Cod Army played valiantly throughout their third pre-season game of the summer and were unlucky not to get anything from the game. Harvey Saunders cancelled out Tom Conlon’s early strike before Rhys Brown converted the decisive penalty just before the half.
Fleetwood had the first chance of the game just two minutes in as Saunders dribbled his way through the Vale defence, before playing the ball to Paddy Madden, who was off-balance taking his shot, meaning it went wide of the target.
Vale had their first attack a couple of minutes later as Devante Rodney cut in from the right-wing and tried his luck from range, but his shot flew over the crossbar.
The deadlock was broken soon after by the visiting side. Conlon struck the ball across goal, from just inside the area, with his strike finding the top left corner of the goal.
Vale had another chance through Dan Trickett-Smith a few minutes later, but it was Fleetwood who had the next meaningful attack. Josh Morris played all into the path of Madden, who’s shot was blocked by a rushing defender.
In the 35th minute, Wes Burns started had a good attack for the Cod Army as his low-driven cross found Saunders at the back post, who slotted the ball into the back of the net – levelling the score.
Port Vale went straight on the attack after the equaliser and Brown was taken down inside the Fleetwood area, gifting the visitors a penalty. Brown then stood over the spot-kick and placed it past the goalkeeper.
Fleetwood started to put the pressure on Vale's backline, as Burns crossed the ball in, again towards Saunders, but this time he was unable to convert. The winger had a chance of his own soon after as he drove into the penalty area from the right flank but saw his low effort denied by goalkeeper Scott Brown.
Just before the break, Callum Camps had the chance to level the score. He found himself on the edge of the area, but his shot was placed just wide of the post.
It was a slow start to the second half, with both sides looking to keep the ball in the middle of the pitch. The first chance of the half fell to the visitors as David Amoo found himself with a yard of space in the Fleetwood area but his header flew over the bar.
Vale's Tom Pope also had a chance to get on the scoresheet around the hour mark as he was played in, just six yards out but his strike could only find the side netting.
Fleetwood were back on the attack a few minutes later as Harrison Biggins tried his luck from long-range and forced the goalkeeper into a brilliant save, which kept the game at 2-1.
It was a cagey end to the game but Pope had another chance to wrap it up. He latched onto a long ball over the top but Alex Cairns stood up tall and was able to deny the centre forward.
Everyone at Fleetwood Town would like to thank Port Vale for today’s match and wish them all the best of luck for the upcoming season.
Fleetwood XI: Trialist (GK), Trialist, Andrew, Boyes, Holgate, Burns, Camps, Morris, Coutts, Madden, Saunders
Fleetwood bench: Cairns (GK), Sowerby, Biggins, Trialist, Hill, Morris, Rydel, Matete, Trialist
Port Vale XI: Brown (GK), Legge, Smith, Conlon, Montano, Cullen, Mills, Brown, Whitehead, Rodney, Tricket-Smith
Port Vale bench: Trialist (GK), Gibbons, Crooks, Joyce, Worrall, Pope, Brisley, Amoo, Burgess, Hurst, Trialist, Trialist