Fleetwood Town’s Development Squad played out a 1-1 draw against Burnley in their latest Professional Development League fixture on Saturday afternoon at Burnley’s Training Centre.
Even though it was a tight start to the game, it would be fair to say the hosts had the better of the opening proceedings as Will Hugill fired just over six minutes in before Darko Churlinov sole the ball in the Fleetwood half and struck the post with his effort soon after.
Before the break, Burnley broke the deadlock as Kian Le Fondre – who replaced Churlinov 30 minutes in – drove towards goal and his low shot deflected into the path of Tom Tweedy who calmly placed the ball into the far corner to make the score 1-0.
Fleetwood had a chance to level it up with seconds to go in the first half as Theo Williams cut inside from the wing and curled an effort towards the Burnley goal, but it was hit straight at Charlie Casper, meaning it was an easy stop for the Burnley goalkeeper.
After the restart, Tom Donaghy – the man between the Fleetwood sticks – was called upon several times to keep his side in the game, denying Lewis Richardson twice, as well as Kian Le Fondre, in quick succession with the reward coming soon after as Finlay Armstrong levelled the score 15 minutes before the end.
With Pharrell Brown and Sam Fishburn coming close just before the goal, the defender, who made his league debut for the first team against Oxford United earlier this month, won the ball back in the opposition’s half and fired his strike straight into the top corner with the momentum switching to Town’s favour.
This changed, however, as nine minutes before the end, the Cods conceded a penalty, which Burnley’s forward Joe Westley stepped up to take, but unfortunately for him, Donaghy carried on his rich run of form in the game as he stopped the spot kick and ensured Fleetwood would come away with a point from the game.
Next up for the Under-21s is a trip to face Premier League side Newcastle United in the Premier League Cup on Saturday 7 October.
Town XI: Donaghy (GK), Asamoah, Armstrong, Johnson (C), Teale, Hoyle, Wilson (White 79’), Morrison (Glenfield 70’), Fishburn (Lane 79’), Williams, Brown.
Unused subs: Cragg (GK), Edwards.