Fleetwood Town’s Development Squad lost out to Wrexham AFC in a friendly at Poolfoot Farm on Tuesday afternoon.
The young Cods created chances in both halves of the game that troubled Christian Dibble, but Shaun Brisley’s early goal set the tide for the game as Jake Hyde managed to score two, with Jordan Ponticelli adding a fourth late on in the game to secure the win for the visitors.
The first chance of the game fell to the visitors within the first five minutes as Jordan Davis stood over a corner on the right-hand side and played the ball into a packed Fleetwood area where Brisley was able to force it past Billy Crellin from close range.
Town tried to hit back straight away as they went down the other end of the pitch with Callum Camps, who found a yard of space 20-yards out and tried to swing an effort into the far corner, but it went just wide of the post.
Wrexham doubled their lead two minutes later as Hyde was found inside the Fleetwood box by a through ball from the midfield, before striking across Crellin, finding the bottom left corner.
The Fleetwood goalkeeper was called into action once again soon after as Luke Young tried his luck from the edge of the Cods’ box, but his powerful shot was pushed over the bar, with the following corner leading to nothing.
Town came close to halving the deficit when Barry Baggley’s corner ball found Darnell Johnson – who was looking to grab a goal on his first start since signing a two-year deal with the club – but his header was saved by Dibble.
Soon after, Camps had a carbon copy of his earlier chance when he found space in the centre of the park, and his optimistic effort went wide of the far post, which left the midfielder frustrated in the centre.
Wrexham added to their lead when Paul Mullin received the ball on the left flank, before cutting the ball back to Hyde inside the six-yard box who doubled his tally for the day.
Stephen Crainey’s side started to make an impact on the game after this chance as they worked the ball well around the park. Their next chance was from Anthony Pilkington who pushed past his marker before letting loose from 25-yards, unfortunately not troubling the goalkeeper.
Chris Conn-Clarke, who was introduced to the game after replacing Cian Hayes, tried his best to pull one back for the Cod Army when he worked his way through a tight defensive line, however, he couldn’t find the target with his shot.
In the 78th minute, substitute Ponticelli scored Wrexham’s fourth when he tapped home Dior Angus’ cross from close range.
Town ended the game strongly creating multiple chances through Conn-Clarke and Baggley, forcing Dibble into multiple saves, and troubling the Wrexham defender, but it wasn’t meant to be for the young Cods as the final game of pre-season finished 4-0.
Town XI: Crellin (GK), Bird, Hayes (Conn-Clarke 45’), Boyle (Wilson 89’), Johnson, Teale, Johnston, Baggley, Edmondson (Thompson 79’), Camps (McMillan 79’), Pilkington (Raffie 79’).
Unused subs: Rees (GK).