The Valiants taste defeat on the west coast
The Valiants had plenty of the ball in the early stages but just one attack for the hosts saw them take the lead. A cross from the right was initially cleared only as far as Jayden Stockley who powered the ball into the net after only eight minutes.
On 26 minutes we believed we had brought the game level through a scramble following a corner but it was adjudged that Jesse Debrah had handled the ball in the build up.
The Valiants were awarded a free kick in a dangerous area, right on the edge of the D. Both Ethan Chislett and Conor Grant stood over the free kick with the former having the effort on goal but the strike had a little too much on it as it went over the bar.
In first half stoppage time Harvey Macadam raced away on goal with Alex Iacovitti in pursuit. Macadam’s first shot was blocked before his second attempt rolled wide of Connor Ripley’s goal.
The Valiants produced a chance early in the second half after good link up play between Jenson Weir and Chislett. After Weir initially lost possession he regained it quickly and played in Chislett who took on an effort from outside the area but Jay Lynch got his body behind it and kept it out.
Shortly after the hour mark Bosun Lawal almost doubled Fleetwood’s lead as his dipping effort from outside of the area had to be tipped over the bar by Ripley.
But just three minutes later the lead was extended to two when Ronan Coughlan nipped in at the back post following a cross from the right to convert from close range.
We tried to answer back seven minutes later with substitute Tom Sang’s cross finding Ryan Loft in the box but his header flew over the bar.
Coughlan came close to making it three in the final ten minutes of normal time. He raced away and took an effort on goal but it was straight at Ripley and cleared away.
A late goal from Ryan Broom who smashed home from a corner made it 3-0 to round off a dissapointing afternoon.
Fleetwood Town | Jay Lynch, Carl Johnston (90+6' Imari Samules), Brendan Wiredu, Bosun Lawal, Elijah Campbell, Jayden Stockley (90+6' Harrison Holgate), Danny Mayor (69’ Gavin Kilkenny), Ryan Broom, Ben Heneghan, Harvey Macadam (59’ Ryan Graydon), Ronan Coughlan (90+6' Junior Quitirna)
Unused Subs | Stephen McMullan, Phoenix Patterson
Port Vale | Connor Ripley, Nathan Smith, Ryan Loft, Ethan Chislett, Conor Grant (81’ Jack Shorrock), Jason Lowe (66’ Tom Sang), Alex Iacovitti, Gavin Massey, Jensen Weir (68’ Baylee Dipepa), Jesse Debrah (Funso Ojo 46’), James Wilson (46’ Alex Mighten)
Unused Subs | Jayson Leutwiler, Kacper Lopata