Fleetwood Town’s Under 18s finished their pre-season with a 4-1 win over Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
The Cod Army took the lead early on in the game through Joe Collins, before Sam Barrett added a second early on in the second half. Enoch Takpe came off the bench at half-time and managed to score a brace before Huddersfield scored a consolation goal right at the end.
Simon Wiles’ side were on top in the first half, and created a multitude of chances which troubled the Terriers’ defence, through Lewis Patterson, Cian Hayes and Collins.
Hayes had the first real effort of the game as he picked the ball up in his side’s half, took on multiple players in his run up the field before having his shot from 18-yards saved by the Huddersfield goalkeeper.
Fleetwood’s trialist showed his talents on the day as his through ball led to the first goal. Conor Eastham, Town’s goalkeeper, caught a cross and threw the ball long to the trialist. He dribbled past two players before playing a reverse pass to Collins, who chopped inside and whipped the ball into the far corner.
The backline did well throughout the game, with Barrett and Patterson winning dominating in the air, and on the floor as well. Sam Bird played displayed another good performance at full-back, running the wing from front to back, whilst growing in confidence with each matchday.
The young Cods doubled their lead early in the second half through Barrett, who took advantage of the Huddersfield goalkeeper spilling an Akiel Raffie free-kick.
Substitute Enoch Takpe – who replaced Hayes at half-time – carried on his goalscoring form as he managed to grab a double on the day. His first came from a cross by Fleetwood’s trialist, who crossed the ball into the box, where the forward comfortably volleyed home.
Fleetwood’s fourth came soon after as Raffie picked the ball up in the middle of the park, played a forward pass through the home side’s defence towards Takpe, who side-footed his shot home.
Towards the end of the game, Huddersfield pulled one back after lobbing the ball over substitute goalkeeper Johnathon Borwick from the 18-yard line.
The Under 18s will take the confidence from this win into their first league game of the season, which will be Morecambe at Poolfoot Farm on Saturday.
Town XI: Eastham (GK), Bird, Batch, Thompson, Patterson, Barrett, Hayes, Edwards, Collins, Sithole, Trialist.
Town bench: Borwick (GK), Fenton, Raffie, Smith, Takpe, Thompson-Prempeh