Fleetwood Town’s Under-18s fell to a 2-1 defeat to Wigan Athletic in the Professional Development League Cup at Poolfoot Farm on Friday morning.
It was a horror start for the Young Cods as they found themselves a goal behind within a minute of kick-off as a corner was half-cleared by the Town defence, only to the edge of the box, where a forward played the ball back into a dangerous area, which was then tapped home from close range.
In a game which was filled with half chances, including multiple gilt-edged balls being played across the face of the goal, Wigan almost took a few opportunities, and the best chance coming from Dom Richmond who fired over the crossbar, it was always going to be a close game.
After Theo Butterworth was forced off at half-time, Josh Eccles stepped in his place, but the change in the backline opened a gap for the visitors to double their lead soon after, making it 2-0 midway through the second half.
Mark Yeates’ side did pull one back later in the tie when substitute Harry Elmore – who replaced Hermann Daha on the hour mark – started a move from inside the Town half, with Mikey Lane picking him out later in the move.
He then played a one-two with Richmond and then forced the Wigan goalkeeper into a diving save, but he couldn’t keep hold of the ball, which Jack Doherty noticed and poked home to halve the deficit.
Unfortunately, the comeback wasn’t on the cards for the Under-18s so they will be looking to bounce back, with immediate effect tomorrow afternoon away at Crewe, with kick-off for that game being 11am.
Town XI: Bellizia (GK), Cirino, Thompson, Fletcher (Currie 78’), Butterworth (Eccles 46’), Haughey, Richmond, Namputu, Lane, Doherty, Daha (Elmore 60’).