Fleetwood Town fell short in their defeat to Accrington Stanley at the Wham Stadium in Sky Bet League One on Saturday afternoon.
It was a highly contested start to the game but neither side managed an effort on goal in the early stages. However, in the sixth minute, both sets of fans came together to applaud Arthur Labinjo-Hughes who will never be forgotten.
Fleetwood had the opening chance when Cian Hayes danced his way through a crowd of players down the right-hand side. His fearless run created space for a shot, but he saw his effort blocked.
Soon after, Accrington responded when Joel Mumbongo headed a deep cross into the path of Sean McConville who fired his volley into the gloves of Alex Cairns.
In the 23rd minute, Dan Batty was dismissed for his challenge on Harvey Rodgers after McConville and his teammates surrounded the referee.
Stanley took the lead just before the half-hour mark when Ethan Hamilton fired past Cairns from inside the area, despite Danny Andrew and Connor McLaughlin’s best efforts to clear off the line.
Paddy Lane came close for Town when he cut inside from the left. His strike from the edge of the box looked dangerous, but it found the wrong side of the post.
At the other end, Harry Pell tried his luck with an optimistic effort from range which Cairns was able to deal with – calmly pushing the ball over the bar to safety. The resulting corner came to nothing.
Town pushed for an equaliser as the first half come to a close. After a neat piece of build-up play with Hayes out wide, Callum Morton looked to pick out the top corner from the edge of the area. However, his curling strike was too high.
McLaughlin followed suit as he looked to level the score before the break. Andrew’s free-kick picked out his defensive counterpart on the penalty spot but he could only fire over the crossbar.
Colby Bishop doubled Stanley’s lead just a minute into the second half when he latched onto McConville’s long ball over the top, bringing the ball down on his chest inside the area before slotting past Cairns.
Hamilton looked to grab his second of the game when he picked up the ball 20 yards from goal, but he sliced his effort wide of the left post.
In the 56th minute, Fleetwood pulled one back. Hayes played the ball into space for Morton to run into on the left-wing. His low cross into the box found Harrison Biggins who poked home from the penalty spot.
Callum Johnson made a vital block to prevent Hamilton from doubling his tally when he blocked the midfielder’s effort which looked destined for the net.
After McLaughlin was seemingly fouled in the area whilst dealing with a long throw, Liam Coyle pounced onto the loose ball and added the host's third. Bishop grabbed his second of the game with 10 minutes to go when he met Rodger’s driven ball across the six-yard box. Hamilton made it five just before the end.
Town XI: Cairns (GK), Andrew (C), McLaughlin, Clarke, Morton, Garner (Biggins 26’), Batty, Johnson (Morris 74’), Lane (Conn-Clarke 74’), Hayes.
Unused subs: Crellin (GK), Boyle, Johnston, Bird
Accrington XI: Savin (GK), Rodgers, Hamilton, Sykes, Pell (O’Sullivan 85’), Bishop, McConville, Nottingham (Malcolm 89’), Mumbongo (Coyle 67’), Conneely (C), Amankwah.
Unused subs: Trafford (GK), Proctor, Mansell, Nolan.
Attendance: 1901 (away: 321)