Fleetwood Town came back to secure a point at the Abbey Stadium in their 2-2 draw against Cambridge United on Saturday afternoon.
Town broke the deadlock the scoring with the first chance of the game through a James Hill header, with substitute Paddy Lane adding a second late on the level the game out after goals from Adam May and Shilow Tracey.
The opening chance of the game saw Town take an early lead when Danny Andrew’s corner was met by Hill who headed home from close range - scoring his first goal for the Cod Army inside the opening three minutes.
James Brophy responded for Cambridge with an optimistic effort from range. His long-distance strike flew high over the crossbar.
United came close to levelling the score when Paul Digby’s tried his luck from the edge of the area. His audacious chip surprised the backpedaling Alex Cairns, but it was too high to trouble the Fleetwood stopper.
After a promising piece of build-up play, Town almost managed a chance to double their lead when Ryan Edmondson picked up the ball on the left flank. After driving into the box, his ball across the six-yard box looked to have troubled the Cambridge defence, but goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov was in the way to intercept.
At the other end, the hosts counter-attacked and in the 34th minute levelled the score. Adam May’s ambitious low strike across goal from 25 yards flew into the bottom corner of the net.
Jack Iredale looked to give his side the lead before the break when his free-kick from the edge of the area was superbly saved by the outstretched arm of Cairns who pushed the ball behind. The resulting corner saw the goalkeeper called into action once again when a deep cross was clawed away from danger.
Five minutes into the second half, the hosts took the lead. After a daring run down the left-hand side, Iredale low ball into the box found Shilow Tracey who side-footed the ball into the back of the net from just six yards out.
Fleetwood had the chance to level the score when the ball fell to Ged Garner inside the penalty area. After letting the ball bounce, the forward scuffs his effort under pressure from the onrushing Cambridge defence.
Tracey looked to double his tally when he was found by Liam O’Neil on the edge of the area. However, his strike didn’t trouble Cairns who caught the ball comfortably.
With 15 minutes to go, the Cod Army found a way back into the game. After receiving the ball from Callum Camps, Paddy Lane picked up the ball on the right, cutting in onto his left foot and curling into the top left corner to level the score.
Both sides had half-chance before the end, but it ended all level at the Abbey Stadium.
Town XI: Cairns (GK), Andrew, Clarke, Camps, Rossiter (C), Edmondson (J.Garner 46’), G.Garner, Hill, C.Johnson, Biggins (Conn-Clarke 73’), Clark (Lane 53’).
Unused subs: Crellin (GK), Matete, Baggley, Johnston.
Cambridge XI: Mitov (GK), Williams, Iredale, Digby (C), Brophy, O’Neil, Ironside, Okedina, Tracey, May (Smith 83’), Masterson
Unused subs: McKenzie-Lyle (GK), Smith, Dunk, Weir, Lankester, Knibbs, Worman
Attendance: 4429 (110 away)