Sean Clancy and Mike Wilde came off the bench in the second half against Northwich Victoria on Saturday, and linked up for the second goal which sealed Town's place in the first round of the FA Trophy.

Mellon said: "I don't have a first team – I have a squad who can play first-team football. They always have to be ready to play because they don't know what team I'm going to choose.

"We don't try to be clever or get ideas above our station. We know that certain players suit certain games better than others.

"On Saturday it worked out well. The players who have come off the bench have done us proud.

"They can be proud that they are part of a group and, as you saw, we are a tight group who will play for each other tooth and nail, which is important because it's a long season."

Wilde had been on the pitch barely two minutes when he met Clancy's cross for his eighth goal of the season – but the modest striker said: "The team were already playing well at that stage and my goal was just the icing on the cake."

*Fleetwood goalkeeping coach Eric Nixon is running a Christmas course for children.

The three-day course from December 21-23 will run alongside the club's school holiday football club at Memorial Park, next to Highbury Stadium.
Nixon's course is aimed at aspiring young keepers aged six to 16 – boys and girls – and the fee is £10 per day or £30 for all three.

For bookings/further details, contact Nixon via 07843 865873 or eric.n@ntlworld.com

*SQUIRE'S Gate FC bid for a fifth successive win and clean sheet in the Vodkat League away to Padiham tonight (7.45pm), when a point will lift them into the top six in the premier division.