FLEETWOOD, Lancs, 04 November, 2008

Darwen Reserves 1 Fleetwood Town Reserves 3
Lancit Haulage League
Monday 3rd November
By Steve Edwards

Fleetwood increased their lead at the top of the table with what was ultimately a very convincing victory. Fleetwood made eight changes to the side that swept aside Leigh in their previous game with only Tom Wilson, Jason Rawcliffe and Anthony Warwick the three remaining survivors. Five players made their debut as Town chose not to use any of the under eighteen squad because of the forthcoming FA Youth Cup fixture.

On a pitch that would not have looked out of place at the Great Eccleston agriculture show Town started the game brightly. Debutant Brett Dawson partnered Rawcliffe up front and the pair combined well throughout the contest. It was Dawson who opened the scoring on twenty minutes when Warwick, who had just shaved a post with a crisp drive, galloped over the undulated turf to slip the ball to Rawcliffe.His shot took a terrible bobble but the ball fell kindly to Dawson who scored from close range. The pitch then claimed its first victim as Dax Hoogerwerf twisted his knee and had to be replaced by newcomer Michael Mulligan.

Darwen had a sprinkling of first team players in their ranks and Fleetwood’s youngsters had to battle hard to maintain the lead. The home side equalised following a corner. Kyle Webster, who went on to have one of his best games of the season, horribley miscued at the front post and the ball flew past Mike Hale in the Town goal. Hale was then some what fortunate to stay on the pitch when he came flying out of his goal to clear, however the ball held up in the quagmire and all Hale connected with was the opposing forward. With substitute Mike Tallentire already warming up to go in goal the Referee much to everyone’s amazement only booked Hale. The resultant free kick sailed harmlessly away into the Darwen night.

With the swamp of pitch getting worse Town totally controlled the second half and once the second goal went in it was pretty much over as a contest. Following a corner Phil Doughty (pictured) had stayed up field when he received the ball twenty five yards from goal. His sweetly hit shot flew into the Darwen goal to mark his Reserve team debut. With fifteen minutes remaining Warwick put away the third goal at the far post following some tremendous closing down by Rawcliffe and Dawson.

Another tremendous performance in a game that could have easily been ruined by an awful pitch. Darwen competed throughout the game and all of Fleetwood’s players can be pleased with their efforts on the night.

Team- Hale, Eden, Harris, Doughty, Danson. Hoogerwerf (Mulligan 22), Webster, Wilson, Rawcliffe, Dawson (Lowe 80), Warwick (Tallentire 75)