Fleetwood Town took all three valuable points this afternoon as they managed to beat Port Vale 3-0 at Highbury Stadium.
Goals from Jayden Stockley, Ronan Coughlan, and Ryan Broom respectively were more than enough as Town ended up victorious and earning Charlie Adam’s first three points as a head coach.
The opening goal took just eight minutes to arrive when Stockley fired in from close range to give the Cod Army the lead.
Winger Broom was able to exploit a pocket of space out wide in the build-up, before pulling a ball across the penalty area that eventually fell to Stockley who arrowed his effort into the bottom corner clinically.
Having felt the joy of taking an early lead, Fleetwood now had to contend with defensive duties, as deadline day signing Elijah Campbell continued to look assured alongside new teammates Ben Heneghan and Bosun Lawal to preserve Town’s advantage early on.
But Adam’s men were soon given a momentary scare when Vale looked to have equalised just before the half-hour mark after Jesse Debrah smashed home through a crowded penalty area, but he saw his effort ruled out for a handball.
With the away side now searching for a route back into the tie, they came close again when Conor Grant’s close-range set piece had to be turned over by a sliding Ronan Coughlan.
At the other end, A neat combination between Coughlan and Stockley nearly found Town’s second, before Harvey Macadam hit the side netting from inside the area as Charlie Adam’s side entered half-time a goal to the good.
As the players made their way back onto the pitch for the second half, Vale began to up their intensity as Ethan Chislett curled powerfully towards Lynch from distance, with Ben Heneghan’s defensive header almost landing in his net moments earlier.
But with a valuable three points on the line, Fleetwood were keen to create breathing space between themselves and Vale, as Lawal hit a rasping strike from the edge of the area that was magnificently tipped over by Ripley to deny Adam’s men a crucial second goal.
However, the Cod Army didn’t have to wait long to extend their advantage, because moments later it was two nil.
Lawal showed excellent footwork to evade several challenges before Coughlan was on hand to finish off at the back post to grab his first Fleetwood Town goal after signing in January.
With 20 minutes to go, Adam’s men now had breathing space over their opponents but were far from home and dry as they aimed to earn themselves a precious three points.
Rather than holding onto what they had, Town were ruthless in pushing for a third to kill the game off. First, Coughlan was denied his second from point-blank range, before Nathan Smith nearly turned Broom’s cross into his own net.
But inside added time Broom lashed home from inside the penalty area to make it 3-0 and earn Fleetwood a precious victory in front of the Highbury faithful.
Town XI: Lynch (GK), Johnston (Samuels 90+6’), Wiredu (C), Lawal, Campbell, Stockley (Holgate 90+6’), Mayor (Kilkenny 70’), Broom, Heneghan, Macadam (Graydon 59’), Coughlan (Quitirna 90+6’).
Subs not used: McMullan (GK), Patterson.
Port Vale: Ripley (GK), Smith (C), Loft, Chislett, Grant (Shorrock 81’), Lowe (Sang 66’) Iacovitti, Massey, Weir (Dipepa 68’), Debrah (Mighten 46’), Wilson (Ojo 46’).
Subs not used: Leutwiler (GK), Lopata.