U21 Professional Development League 2
Team: Salamon, Agbude, Leahy, McDowell, Wilkie, Dyke, Dillon, trialist, Bennie, Pearman, Sutton
Subs: Halliday, Cuthbert, Coomes, Trujillo, O’Brien
On a mainly overcast afternoon at the TSG Training Centre, Daniel Bennie’s low cross aimed at Emmerson Sutton was well intercepted by a Cods defender, and the ball then went for a corner.
Rangers took the lead on 12 minutes after Cian Dillon had taken control of Kaleb Dyke’s through ball.
Then, Jack McDowell got hold of a loose ball before shooting just wide of the upright.
On 17 minutes, following a free kick in a wide-right position, the attempt at goal ended up hitting a Fleetwood defender and going to safety.
At the other end, good defending by Jack McDowell when he reached the ball ahead of an opponent before taking it wide and laying it off.
Mr Wharton booked Cian Dillon for tugging a Cods player’s shirt.
The No.8 trialist let fly from range but his shot went straight at the keeper.
On the half-hour mark and with an R’s player grounded and in need of some attention, the players took a drinks break.
A good ball in from the right found Daniel Bennie and his shot came off a defender for a corner. Half-time: 1-0.
Fleetwood mounted an attack straight from the kick-off, which was then put behind, but the resulting corner came to nothing.
Four minutes into the second-half, Jack McDowell headed over from Cian Dillon’s cross.
The visitors equalised three minutes later after Matteo Salamon had parried the ball away, but Calum Warbrick was following up to finish from close range.
Around the hour-mark, Paul Furlong brought on Jake Coomes and Gabriel Cuthbert at the expense of Kobi Agbude and Jack McDowell respectively.
These changes saw Jake Coomes going to right-back and Gabriel Cuthbert slotting in at centre-back. Also, Cian Dillon took up his usual No.9 position, whilst Daniel Bennie moved over to the right-wing.
After Fleetwood were awarded a free kick 20-odd yards out, Pele Smith’s shot came off the wall, before going away to safety.
On 69 minutes, a cross from the left found Calum Warbrick, whose header closely evaded the crossbar.
Rangers regained their lead four minutes later following a poor corner from the visitors. This led to Emmerson Sutton running the length of the pitch and getting into the box, where he was fouled.
Cian Dillon stepped up and smashed the ball into the corner.
At this point, Archie O’Brien replaced the trialist.
Emmerson Sutton tried to take Daniel Bennie’s excellent cross in his stride, but the ball bobbled away from him.
The final change saw Ashley Trujillo coming on for Emmerson Sutton.
A swift counter-attack with three R’s players outnumbering their opponents, ended up with Luke Hewitson saving from Ashley Trujillo
Fleetwood forced a dramatic draw against the run of play in the 90th minute following a free kick. From which, Matteo Salamon made a superb finger-tip save and from the resulting corner Raffaele Cirino knocked the ball in at the far-post.
The following week the Development Squad travelled to Barnsley.
Steve Russell