A young Fleetwood Town side lost out to Barrow AFC in the Lancashire FA Senior Cup this afternoon at Poolfoot Farm.
In what was a cup tie in cold conditions, it was Barrow who took the lead early on after a perfectly placed lobbed effort from 25-yards, which was out of reach for Alex Cairns and just under the crossbar.
Town then went on the attack for the rest of the first half, creating chances throughout, with the first one starting at the feet of Akiel Raffie who tried to pick out Kyle King at the back post from a free kick, but he couldn't quite get a touch on it.
Jake Wallace, who was recently on standby for Northern Ireland Under-19s, then found Max McMillan in the middle, who decided to try his luck, with a Barrow defender having to dive in the way to stop the shot.
The young forward, McMillan, had another effort just before the break as Raffie played him in and struck the ball towards goal with his left foot, forcing a save out of Scott Moloney at his near post.
Unfortunately for the Cods, they found themselves two goals down five minutes after half-time as Smales-Braithwaite found the net once again after a low-driven cross from the right by Jordan Stephens.
Stephen Crainey's side pushed to get a grip of the game once again after this as Raffie lined up a volley 18-yards out, which was blocked, before King and substitute Dom Richmond both had half chances in and around the Barrow area.
Richmond, who is a constant performer for our Under-18s, came close to pulling a goal back six minutes from time as fellow substitute Bosembo Namputu played him through on goal, but he decided to be unselfish and passed towards Raffie across goal, but a defender read this and cleared well.
A minute later, Smales-Braithwaite completed his hat-trick from close range meaning that Fleetwood's run in the Lancashire FA Senior Cup has come to an end.
Town XI: Cairns (GK), Wallace (Namputu 79'), J.Edwards, Holgate (W.Johnson 71'), Hoyle, Teale, Bird, Boyle (C), McMillan (Richmond 53'), Raffie, King.
Unused subs: Rees (GK), Leggett.
Barrow XI: Moloney (GK), Brough, Mwaboukei, Kay (Kenlock 71'), White, Smales-Braithwaite, Zuk, Moyo, Ray (C), Ellis, Stevens.
Unused subs: Farman (GK), Taylor.