What did we hope for today? A rollicking victory no less, goals for the forwards, preferably some from midfield too, and a clean sheet. But at the back of our minds was of course ‘first things first, let’s make sure we win and keep the distance from the relegation zone’. We did get the win, with goals from a forward and a midfielder, and over the 90 minutes we deserved it. Just that the first 20 minutes or so Fleetwood took us apart on several occasions and really will be kicking themselves for not taking the lead. If that had happened it would have been a different game. It didn’t, it wasn’t.
The team showed MacGillivray return in goal following his absence for the birth of his daughter. The central defence was unchanged from a week ago, with Famewo and Clare either side of Inniss (and Pearce on the bench again), but for the wing-backs Matthews dropped out and Blackett-Taylor was given a start on the left flank (over Purrington and Soare, with the game coming too soon for new loan Castillo) with Jaiyesimi switching back to the right. Morgan also kept his place in central midfield to accompany Dobson and Lee, Gilbey staying on the bench, while Aneke and Burstow kept their places up front, with Washington and Leko the options to come on. Also of interest from the sidelines would be whether new first-team coach Terry Skiverton would be prominent.
Again, the first period of the game was pretty much all them as we had no answer to their movement and contributed to our problems with more loose passes in our own half. I hope JJ has everyone watching this period of the game on replay on Monday as on another day we could easily have found ourselves two down and, as was underlined away at Crewe, it’s a long way back from that. In the first minute Dobson didn’t quite manage an interception and we were peddling back, leading to Famewo giving away a free-kick just outside the box, which was curled over the bar. Clare lost possession and chasing back after their guy gave him a nudge in the back, prompting him to go over in the box. Would have been a soft penalty but on another day … And still in the first 10 minutes a Fleetwood corner saw a training ground routine which ended with their centre-half completely unmarked to head powerfully over the bar when he should have scored.
Another Fleetwood free-kick from a similar position produced a similar but closer effort, then a poor pass across our back line by Inniss saw Clare stretch and fall over, almost letting their guy in. All this time we had moments when we looked dangerous, usually involving the wide men (and Clare getting forward to link up with DJ) but really looked as though we were just finding our feet. And to be fair as the game progressed we did just that.
We might have been grateful to have passed 30 minutes of the game with no goals but then had our best chance of the first half. A ball into the box was well held up by Aneke and fell to Lee. His first shot was blocked by a defender but it sat up for him again and his second was just not quite wide enough of the keeper, who stuck out a left hand to save low down.
That was a reflection of the changing rhythm of the game and in the remainder of the first half Fleetwood were generally on the back foot, giving us hope that in the second half, attacking the Covered End, we might deliver the win without necessarily having to make changes just yet, even if a sober assessment of the first half could have identified a few who were not having the hoped-for impact on the game.
Indeed, the second half was less than 10 minutes old when we took the lead. Blackett-Taylor, who not surprisingly had the beating of them for pace, was pulled down. The free-kick wide on the left picked out Inniss beyond the far post and his powerful header back just needed a touch. Surrounded by three defenders and the keeper Burstow provided that touch. A knack for being in the right place at the right time is very encouraging. The goal had me thinking back to so many involving the late Dave Shipperley heading back across goal for Killer to stick in the net.
Not long after Burstow was involved in another incident in front of goal as a corner went across their defence and straight into the net, only for the ref to decide that Burstow had been impeding their keeper. It looked the right call at first sight, but on the replays there was an element of doubt.
Anyway, Fleetwood now chasing the game made changes and a switch to a front three did cause us fresh problems, without them carving out a clear opportunity. Dobson took one for the team when their guy showed him a clean pair of heels. After the hour we responded with Lee giving way for Gilbey, who did bring extra drive and was to prove instrumental in tying up the game. Aneke picked up a silly yellow as he was fouled, not given, then he fouled, was given, but he kept going with the ball.
With 10 minutes of normal time remaining Washington came on for Burstow and not long after that Purrington for CBT, who had gone down with cramp. Both decent changes to provide fresh legs and defensive cover as we ran the clock down. Four minutes of stoppage time to see out and first Morgan blew an opportunity to calm nerves. A free kick into the box, Aneke challenges and it falls outside the box to Morgan. He did superbly to first dink the ball over their guy’s challenge, then to dummy a shot and wrongfoot two defenders, only to plant the ball wide of the far post. But almost from the restart Gilbey won the ball well and drove down the right, his low cross took a deflection and looped up, and an incoming Morgan shot on the volley from around the penalty spot, through the legs of their diving keeper. Redemption in an instant.
That was that, just left to the two Charlton Academy goalscorers to handle the tunnel leap. Fleetwood will go away and ponder on their failure to make it count when they were on top, we will just take the win and ponder on nothing more than three points, before thoughts turn to what sort of team we ought to send out for Hartlepool away and the Papa Johns thing, with an extended period before the next league game. There’s still plenty to work on and more changes expected before the transfer window closes. For now it’s a glass of good wine to celebrate the win.
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