Fleetwood Town fell short in a 1-0 defeat to local rivals Blackpool in a Sky Bet League One fixture at Highbury on Saturday afternoon.
The deciding goal in the game came from Blackpool’s Gary Madine who managed to convert Sullay Kaikai’s short free-kick after the ball bounced around inside the Fleetwood box. Wes Burns seemed to have put the Cod Army level just before half-time, but the referee deemed the winger offside.
Fleetwood had the first chance of the game six minutes in as Charlie Mulgrew stood over a free-kick on the right-wing, he aimed the ball towards the near post with his effort hitting the inside of the post.
Blackpool were on the attack just a few minutes later as Chris Hamilton played a low cross into the box towards Kaikai, but his strike was easily blocked by Callum Connolly and cleared.
Ched Evans almost broke the deadlock 12 minutes in as Mulgrew whipped a corner into the back post towards the forward, with his header going just over Chris Maxwell’s bar.
However, the visitors did open the scoring soon after as Kaikai played in a short free-kick from the right towards Madine, who struck the ball underneath Jayson Leutwiler.
The game went a bit stale for the next thirty minutes, with most of the play being round the centre circle but Town had a chance to level it up just before the break as Barrie McKay drove down the wing, cross the ball into Camps, who found Burns and even though he found the back of the net, he was in an offside position.
The Seasiders opened up the second half with a good spell of possession but the best chance they were able to make was a scissor-kick volley from Madine from 25-yards which went well over the bar, not troubling anyone.
Again, play mostly stayed in the middle of the park after that chance, and with the introduction of Glenn Whelan and Paddy Madden from the bench, Fleetwood were finding their feet in the game as they sparked a couple of counterattacks, which, unfortunately, didn’t lead to anything.
With 15 minutes to go, Kaikai found some space in the Fleetwood area, pushed the ball onto his right foot, and aimed for the bottom right corner, but Leutwiler did well to get down and push the ball wide.
Town had the last chance of the game as substitute Josh Morris cut back on the edge of the box and crossed the ball into Madden, who beat the offside trap but couldn't get a touch on the teasing ball.
Town XI: Leutwiler (GK), Edwards, Andrew, Connolly (C), Burns (Whelan 45’), Evans, Camps, Mulgrew, Rossiter (Madden 62’), McKay (J.Morris 73’), Finley (Duffy 73’).
Subs not used: Cairns (GK), Coutts, Hill.
Blackpool XI: Maxwell (GK), Husband, Yates (Anderson 73’), Kaikai (Garbutt 82’), Dougall, Madine, Ward, Turton, Ekpiteta, Hamilton, Gretarsson.
Subs not used: Sims (GK), Gabriel, Robson, Kemp, Woodburn.