Fleetwood Town’s Under-21s fought their way back from two goals down at the weekend to draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League Cup away from home.
The game started in a decent fashion as Phoenix Patterson and Sam Glenfield both forced attacks on the Magpies’ defence in the first 45, but their half-chances were only enough to force low saves from the goalkeeper.
Newcastle reacted well to this and, soon after the second half started, they found themselves in the lead as a cross from the left was played deep to the opposite winger, who cut inside and slotted home from inside the area.
Not long after, they managed to double their lead as a cleverly played-through ball was met by the home side’s forward and, even though he was shown to the outside, he was still able to put the ball in between Tom Donaghy and the near post.
Matt Lawlor’s side switched to another gear after this though and, after making five substitutes, the push was on to make a comeback in the cup fixture and that they did just before the end!
Set pieces from Josh Edwards were a cornerstone for the comeback as the first goal came directly from one of his corners when Will Johnson rose highest in the box and forced a good save from the keeper, but he ended up parrying the ball into the path of Theo Williams, who tapped home.
Another corner in added time was enough to bring the score back to level terms as Johnson met it once again, on the edge of the box this time, and poked the ball into a crowded area where defender Connor Teale was able to find the back of the net and complete the comeback away from home.
The Under-21s are next in action on Monday 16 October when they host Birmingham City at Poolfoot Farm in the Professional Development League in a 1pm kick-off.
Town XI: Donaghy (GK), Teale, Armstrong, Wilson (C) (Edwards 77’), Hoyle (Johnson 64’), Hughes, Graydon (Fishburn 64’), Morrison, Williams, Glenfield (White 64’), Patterson (Asamoah 64’).