Fleetwood Town 1

TOWN failed to find the net in the biggest week of their season so far, they fired double blanks against Liverpool in mid week and more importantly, Fleetwood on Saturday.

In both games they went down 1-0 and two healthy crowds didn't see the best of them although things could have been different if their two top strikers, Gary Jensen and Joe Gibiliru (jnr) had been available.

The Liverpool side in mid week featured their stars of the future including match winner Karl Noon who having come off the bench was on hand to slot home the game's only goal in the 70th minute.

The visit of Fleetwood on Saturday was a top v second placed clash and had Town won they would have gone level points with the long term leaders. As it was by 5pm they were six points behind and frankly they had no cause for complaint.

Town opened looking nervous and it led to a bad start in which they could have been three down by the 15 minute mark but Beech twice erred in front of goal while wingman Singleton showed too much of the ball when clear and Dahl was able to pounce.

Flicked

To this point Town had created just one chance when Robinson got in a flicked header from Fairbrother's free kick but it sailed tamely at keeper Sharrock.

Next Town's Nolan swivelled to send a decent effort dipping over the bar but despite getting into the game now they were never in control at the back and two more close shaves ensued when Stevens fired wide before producing a fine save from Dahl.

All this had occurred within the opening 20 minutes and Fleetwood must have been thinking it just wasn't their day and as Town improved up to the break with Scully heading narrowly over the angle prior to Sharrock tipping Robinsons header over, the seeds of doubt were set.

Just after the hour, Fleetwood began forcing corners which Town repelled until the 65th minute when another left wing delivery by Pond found Gary McGunnell completely unmarked on the six yard line and the big centre back didn't have to leave the ground to head home the ultimate match winner.

Town had a chance to level within five minutes but Fairbrother scuffed his angled volley into the ground then on 76 minutes Sharrock flapped at a Scully corner kick but Barnes couldn't keep his effort down.

This Saturday Town have another 'big day' in the quarter finals of the Moore & Co NWCL Challenge Cup where Skelmersdale United is the venue for a tie which kicks off at 3pm.