Fleetwood Town Under-17s were crowned champions in the Professional Development League Cup Final after a thrilling 3-2 win over Watford at Highbury.
A thrilling first half saw all five goals as Watford’s Kristian Shevchenko and Zavier Nassiah Edwards’ strikes were not able to establish a lead as Reece Wilkes, Conor Haughey and Liam Roberts put Town 3-2 up and saw the Cod Army crowned champions.
The visitors set an early precedent for an exciting first half after taking the lead inside five minutes when Shevchenko arrived first to beat an onrushing Bellizia, before blasting a low strike into the back of the net.
After suffering the heartache of conceding an early goal, Fleetwood soon picked themselves up and found themselves level after some great work from Raff Cirino on the right hand side, who found Wilkes on the edge of the area to calmy place the ball into the far corner after 15 minutes.
Just as the game began to settle from a frantic opening period, the Young Cods were ahead when Haughey was able to rise in the penalty area to convert from a cross and put the trophy firmly in sight for the Cod Army.
But there were bound to be more twists in the tie and they soon arrived when Watford’s Edwards was on-hand in the box to level the scores again, before Roberts cut inside after an exquisite back-heel corner routine to put Town 3-2 ahead as a thrilling first half came to a close.
Admittedly the second half was a much more settled encounter than the first, but saw a great chance for Fleetwood to extend their lead as Roberts failed to steer home from point blank range just before the hour mark, before also forcing a save out of Morris moments later.
With 20 minutes left to play Nathan Pond’s young Cods were on there way to a PDL Cup Final win, but had to be patient and ensure they were defensively strong as Watford continued to search for a route back into the game.
As the game entered its closing stages, a Pelle Smith rocket nearly put the icing on the cake for the Cod Army as it flashed narrowly wide of the post with just over 10 minutes to go at Highbury.
There was still time for Watford to have one last glimmer of home as Joel Sala poked narrowly over towards the end, but it wouldn’t be enough as Fleetwood were crowned PDL Cup champions at Highbury before a celebratory trophy lift - congratulations Cods!
Town XI: Bellizia (GK), Cirino, Jake Doherty, Smith (C), Slater, Haughey, Wilkes (Elmore, 83’), Jack Doherty (Wilkinson, 77’), Animasaun (90+6’), McLean, Roberts.
Subs not used: Graham, Eccles.
Watford XI: Morris (GK), Bolding, Vancea, Ramirez Espain, Sala, Notley (Hunt, 60’), Shevchenko, Sangrajka (Stephenson, 68’), Nassiah Edwards (C), Galajevs (Bowling, 82’), Nabizada.
Subs not used: Thrussel, Smith.
