Fleetwood Town’s Under 18s narrowly lost out to Salford City when they travelled to Greater Manchester for the North West Youth Alliance league clash on Saturday afternoon.
Salford took the lead as they found some space on the left-wing, crossed the ball into a packed box, and after a few bounces, it was Lewis Patterson who, unfortunately, headed the ball into his own net just after the half-hour mark.
The home side doubled their lead soon after as their number nine picked up the ball 25-yards out, with a player making a dummy run, he was able to get a yard of space, before striking the ball into the bottom left corner, past Johnathan Borwick.
Town found a way back into the game ten minutes into the second half as Ben Thompson whipped a corner into the box, Salford’s goalkeeper spilled his catch and it was Patterson who reacted quickest, prodding the ball into the back of the net.
With 25 minutes to go, Fleetwood made it 2-2 as a corner, this time from the left-hand side was unluckily headed onto the bar, with the ball deflecting into the path of Joe Collins who struck it home.
In the 73rd minute, Town almost finished off the comeback as Akiel Raffie, who came off the bench, nicked the ball off the home side after some slack play, and forced a good save from the goalkeeper.
Eight minutes from time, Salford managed to find a winner with Town struggling to get the ball out the back, striking past Borwick, earning all three points for his side.
Town XI: Borwick (GK), Bird, Batch, Wilson, Patterson, Barratt, Thompson, Takpe, Edwards, Sithole, Collins.
Subs: Arthur, Cragg, Hoyle, Raffie, Wallace