Fleetwood 4 Colchester 0

Fleetwood Town made it eight goals in the space of five days as they put Colchester United to the sword at Highbury.
Highbury StadiumHighbury Stadium
Highbury Stadium

Graham Alexander’s men added a clean sheet and four more goals to Tuesday’s 4-3 victory at Bury equalling their biggest Highbury win since promotion to the Football League.

The scoreline was hard to imagine after a drab opening 20 minutes.

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The first half offered little in terms of opportunities until Jimmy Ryan picked up the pieces from Antoni Sarcevic’s poor corner - taking advantage of a half cleared ball and smashing a 25-yard drive past Elliott Parrish.

Once ahead the host didn’t wait long to double their advantage, Sarcevic picking out the run of David Ball who, having attempted to squeeze a shot towards the near post - his effort deflected, looping over the hapless Parrish and into the net.

Colchester managed to hold Fleetwood until the break but conceded a third within minutes of the restart, Amari’i Bell making the most of a scrappy move down the left, Jamie Proctor stealing in to sidefoot home his cross.

From that point it was damage limitation for Tony Humes men who had Gavin Massey as their best creative outlet - the forward twice getting the better of his man but both times blazing over.

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Sub George Elokobi did almost beat Chris Maxwell, a timely clearance preventing Moncur making the most of the loose ball.

The hosts left it late to add a fourth, Jamille Matt finally obliging with three minutes remaining, sidefooting home another Bell cross after Colchester too easily surrendered possession.

Former Squires Gate man Jack Sowerby came on to make his Fleetwood debut - nearly adding a fifth, his effort at the back post deflected over.

Fleetwood assistant manager Chris Lucketti hailed Town’s impressive strike force who have kicked into action after a struggling start.

He said:”We’re delighted, delighted we everybody.

“We worked hard and got a just reward.

“It was nip and tuck early on.

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“It took a bit of quality from Jimmy Ryan, and the lads got a lot of quality, to get the game going but from there we pressed on.

“It’s a bit of luck for the second but I don’t think we’ve had any of them for 12 months.

“It’s great to have all the strikers scoring.

“We’ve got Declan McManus too who is off the mark and will get goals.

“If we can get the strikers playing well and scoring regularly and playing like we have today we’re going to be in for a good season.”

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And he admitted it’s been an astonishing turn around - Fleetwood criticised for not taking their chances a week earlier at Oldham.

“A week is a long time in football,” said Lucketti.

“Eight goals later everybody is over the moon.

“We know we’ve played well, even in the games we’ve lost.

“We’ve been creating chances.

“The difference is that in the last two games we’ve taken those chances.”

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