Fleetwood Town’s Under-18s lost their latest Professional Development League fixture against Crewe Alexandra at the weekend at Poolfoot Farm.
It was the visitors who started the quicker of the two sides that morning, taking the lead just nine minutes into the game, but Fleetwood pushed straight back onto them and forged a brilliant chance around the half-hour mark as Harry Elmore broke through and was taken out in the box, earning the Young Cods a penalty.
There was a delay in the game at this point as the goalkeeper was down with an injury, which needed attention from the medical staff at the training ground and, in the 41st minute, the spot kick was finally taken by Dom Richmond, whose effort was stopped by the Crewe goalkeeper at full stretch.
Mark Yeates’ side had another chance just after the break to level things up and it all started with a one-two between Elmore and Richmond, with the former playing a through ball to Harvey Fletcher who decided to try his luck on goal from the edge of the box, but the ‘keeper did well once again.
Four goals in the second half then swayed the game massively in the Young Railwaymen’s favour, but the attacks were still being created by Fleetwood until the end of the game as two substitutes linked up - Jack Doherty played the ball across the face of goal to Jensen Stansfield, whose effort was blocked off the line.
David Animasaun was a bright spark at the end of the game as he created a chance and had one of his own in the last 15 minutes; first off Pele smith played a perfect cross to the forward inside the area, but he mistimed his header before playing a cross of his own into Liam Roberts on the penalty spot, but he struck over the bar.
The score line wasn’t the full tale of the game as, even though the Young Cods did lose out 5-0 on the day, they had plenty of chances, but weren’t able to capitalise on them. All eyes will now be on their next fixture, which will be against Birmingham City away from home on Saturday 3 February (11am kick-off).
Town XI: Woodward (GK), Cirino, Slater, Smith, Eccles (Jack Doherty 61’), Butterworth (C), Richmond (Animasaun 75’), Elmore, Daha (Stansfield 69’), Fletcher, Roberts.