A select Fleetwood Town XI played out a 3-3 draw against National League side Stockport County at Edgeley Park on Saturday.
In a game that saw a number of former-Cods play against the select XI, fans who attended saw Paddy Madden grab a brace and Will Collar score the other for the home side, but goals from Chris Conn-Clarke, Cian Hayes, and Barry Baggley ensured the points would be shared on the day.
The Cods started out the game strong with a few half-chances being created in the first 15 minutes, but it was the home side who would have the first real chance 18 minutes in when Alex Reid played Scott Quigley through, whose shot went wide of the post.
Luc Rees was on hand to keep the score at 0-0 soon after as Ryan Rydel tried his luck from range with a low-driven effort, with the Town goalkeeper being a match for the shot, tipping it past the post.
Fleetwood could have taken the lead just before the break as Sam Bird drove forwards from full-back and drilled a shot towards goal, which went just over the home side’s bar.
The pressure continued from Town as Baggley had a shot just after the play continued, but substitute goalkeeper Ethan Ross managed to push it wide. The deadlock was broken straight away from the resulting corner as Baggley played a quick corner to Conn-Clarke who smashed it home.
That lead only lasted two minutes though as Carl Johnston brought down Rydel inside the Town box, resulting in a penalty for Stockport. Madden stepped up and slotted past Rees to make it 1-1. The scoreline then changed once again two minutes after that as Hayes then stormed up the pitch and fired past Ross from the left-side.
Stephen Crainey’s side had the edge after this as Conn-Clarke and Danny Edwards were able to forge chances, troubling the Stockport goalkeeper, but the score would stay at 2-1 for the moment.
The game was level for the third time in the game in the 66th minute as Collar nodded in a cross from John Rooney, but with the fast tempo on the game continuing, it was Fleetwood who pulled ahead once again as Edwards was fouled in the home box, with Baggley converting the spot-kick.
With not long left to go in the game, Simon Rusk’s side ensured the points would be shared when Madden headed in Quigley’s cross from the right to cap off an entertaining afternoon.