Fleetwood Town’s Development Squad were knocked out to the Lancashire FA Senior Cup on Thursday afternoon after losing their clash 2-0 to Everton at Finch Farm.
The young Cods, who were taken by Nathan Pond on the day, started out the game on the positive foot as they created multiple chances early in the clash, with Harry Wilson seeing an effort deflect wide before Connor Teale nodded a corner onto the bar from close range.
After being subbed on for Theo Williams at half-time, Sam Fishburn had a great opportunity to open the scoring around the hour mark as the hosts only half-cleared a cross from the left to Maleace Asamoah, who found the forward in the box, but his volleyed effort was stopped by the keeper.
Soon after, disaster struck as a moment of brilliant from Everton’s number six produced a moment of quality to break the deadlock in the 73rdminute as the ball was set back to him on the edge of the box and he whipped his strike straight into the top right corner of the goal, past Tom Donaghy.
Town almost pulled it back to level terms with not long to go in the clash as Cian Hayes cut in from the right and set his sights on finding the back of the net from 20 yards out, but his shot from range struck the crossbar and rebounded out to dismiss the danger for the Everton defence.
The game was put to bed with two minutes to go as a couple of mistakes at the back led to the hosts doubling their lead and putting the game out of sight as their forward slotted home from inside the area, confirming Town’s exit from the Senior Cup.
Next up for the Under-21s is their debut in the Premier League Cup as they are set to face Nottingham Forest at Chorley’s Victory Park on Friday 15 September (7pm kick-off) – ticket details for this fixture will be released in due course.
Town XI: Donaghy (GK), Wright, Edwards, Whelan, Teale, Asamoah (White 66’), Morrison, Williams (Fishburn 46’), Brown (Hoyle 88’), Hayes, Wilson.
Unused sub(s): Cragg (GK).