Fleetwood Town fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Cambridge United on the first home game of the season on Saturday afternoon.
Goals either side of half-time from Paul Digby and Gassan Ahadme were enough to see Town lose their first match of the 2023/24 season, with Fleetwood having limited chances in front of goal.
The Cod Army started the brighter with an opening 10 minutes of pressure, as Phoenix Patterson continued to cause problems on the left-hand side.
Just minutes later, Cambridge squandered a golden opportunity as Ahadme found himself bearing down on goal, but the striker could only place the ball wide of the post.
After some more pressure, the away side took the lead on 31 minutes. Saikou Janneh broke free on the left-hand side before driving a low shot at Lynch, who parried, with Digby arriving to tap home the rebound.
Patterson then flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal, which the away side were able to recover and went into the break a goal to the good.
Cambridge came out the better in the second period as a piercing through-ball played Jack Lankester one on one with Lynch, but the Town keeper spread himself superbly to deny the away side a second.
Minutes later the Cod Army nearly equalised, as Jack Marriott broke free on the left before firing a deadly effort across goal, forcing Cambridge keeper Jack Stevens into an excellent save.
But the away side doubled their advantage on 59 minutes when Ahadme rose highest at the back post to glance home a header after a delightful corner from George Thomas.
Promise Omochere and Cian Hayes were introduced for Town on 60 minutes and shortly after the two combined. Hayes fizzed in a dangerous cross across goal that Omochere looked to have turned goalbound, but an excellent block from the Cambridge defence denied the striker.
With just over 15 minutes left on the clock, Town made their final roll of the dice by bringing on Junior Quitirna. He replaced Wiredu and went into an attacking position in the midfield.
The former Waterford FC playmaker was straight into it and nearly got onto the end of Promise Omochere’s cross, but it was well defended by Ryan Bennett in the centre of the goal mouth.
The fourth official added on six minutes after 90 minutes of play, but Town couldn’t get themselves back despite Marriott going close midway through stoppage time, and Omochere heading onto the bar.
Town XI: Lynch (GK), Johnston (Rooney 46’), Wiredu, Robertson, Vela ©, Mayor (Omochere 61’), Marriott, Graydon (Stockley 46’), Nsiala, Earl, Patterson (Hayes 61’).
Subs not used: McMullan (GK), Broom, Quitirna.
Cambridge XI: Stevens (GK), L. Bennett, Andrew (Dunk 83’), Digby, Morrison, R. Bennett, Brophy, Thomas, Lankester (Kachunga 75’), Janneh (Okenabirhie 75’), Ahadme
Subs not used: Mannion (GK), Okedina, Ibsen-Rossi, Simper.