MATCH REPORT | FLEETWOOD TOWN

A LATE STRIKE FOR THE HOSTS WRAPPED UP THE VICTORY IN OUR FINAL PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY

Fleetwood Town 2 (Batty 42’, Vela 88’)
Dundee United 1 (Mulgrew 66’)

3pm, Saturday 23rd July 
Highbury Stadium
 
Starting XI: Birighitti, Smith, McMann, Mulgrew, Fletcher, Edwards (c), Sibbald, Levitt, Harkes, Cudjoe, Watt.
 
Substitutes: Eriksson, Graham, Niskanen, Clark, Chalmers, Meekison, Freeman, MacLeod 

FIRST HALF

United’s intent was clear to see during the opening exchanges. Steven Fletcher did well to flick on Ryan Edwards’ long ball before interchanging well with Tony Watt. Our number nine then picked the ball up on the edge of the area before firing his shot just wide of the post.
 
Just before the ten-minute mark Fleetwood had their opening chance of the game through Paddy Lane. The winger picked the ball up in the United half before cutting inside on his left food and sending a curling effort just wide of the far post.
 
Fletcher went close again for the Terrors. Cudjoe broke the lines with a cute pass into the striker, who showcased his technical ability by spinning his man and firing a shot agonisingly wide of the target.
 
United looked comfortable in possession throughout the first half, with both full backs being involved in attacks down either side of the pitch. There was also a calmness on the ball from the midfield trio Harkes, Levitt and Sibbald who dictated a lot of our play going forward.
 
Sibbald opened the game up once more, doing well to latch onto a loose ball just outside the Fleetwood penalty area. He was eventually brought down under the challenge of Josh Vela which awarded Steven Fletcher a shooting opportunity from the free kick. However, his dipping effort sailed just over the top of Jay Lynch’s crossbar.
 
The deadlock was eventually broken after 42 minutes. Birighitti did extremely well to claw an effort away from goal following a Fleetwood corner. The ball then broke to Dan Batty on the edge of the area whose shot took a wicked deflection before nestling in the bottom corner – sending United in behind at the break.
 

SECOND HALF

The opening five of the second half failed to establish any real momentum, however it was end to end stuff shortly after with both sides going close.
 
Some lovely interchange between the United attack left Fletcher in space, who looked to be hauled down on the penalty spot. The referee waved play on as Ellis Harrison led the Fleetwood counter only to be denied by two incredible close range saves by Birighitti.
 
On the hour mark United made three changes with Fletcher, Sibbald and Watt being replaced by Clark, Niskanen and Freeman.
 
The latter was involved in the build-up straight away winning a corner from which United found their equaliser. Levitt’s deep cross dropped in the area before being side-footed home on the half-volley by Charlie Mulgrew.
 
The Terrors looked the team out for victory, breaking into the Fleetwood penalty area on numerous occasions but just falling short of testing Lynch between the sticks.
 
United made three final changes towards the later stages as Graham, Meekison and Chalmers replaced Mulgrew, Levitt and Cudjoe.
 
After a spell of United possession, it was the hosts who found a late winner against the run of play. With two minutes to go, Cian Hayes layed off Josh Vela inside the area who thundered a left footed effort beyond Birighitti.
 
The Englishman’s strike was enough to secure the victory for the home side in our final pre-season game of the 2022/23 campaign.

Thanks to the 1,000+ Arabs for making the trip South!
 
We return to competitive action next weekend with an away trip to Kilmarnock on Saturday.
 
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets for the match.