Tale of two halves

After 5 minutes it was looking like a bleak day for the home support as Fleetwood took a two goal lead against Preston in the first ever competitive meeting between the two sides, Jordan had headed the first from a corner in the first minute and a Laird own goal had made it two minutes later.
For those North Enders living in the Blackpool area i.e. me life was looking distinctly grim. To be fair to the visitors they deserved it as North End started off as they were still on the coach returning from Tuesdays game at Gillingham. They were faster to the ball and looked as if they wanted it more than us.
To say North End were pedestrian was an understatement, giving Fleetwood plenty of time to funnel back to defend en masse, as high hopeful balls were wellied into the Cod box. Apart from a couple of Gallagher efforts this was pretty ordinary fare from the Whites. After their initial burst Fleetwood did not really threaten the home goal and consensus at half time was the home side were up the creek without a paddle.
Credit to Grayson hooked Reid and Browne, on went Davies and Welsh went to 442 and it was amplifiers up to 11 as North End battered the black and red wall. Huntington had already had a header cleared of the line, when on the hour Garner headed home a right wing cross, three minutes later scores level as a free kick form the right was again nodded home by Garner. Game most definitely on, by now Fleetwood had gone to a 10-0-0 system, did not help them much, 11 minutes from time Davies header Garner volley North End in front, great finish by Garner.
Fleetwood had to change system and had to come out to play but apart from a couple of long distance Crainey efforts didn't remotely look like leveling.
As with last Saturday it was not the fact we had scored more goals than the visitors it was apparently the referees according to the Cod's manager Alexander. My take on that was if he had gone for the kill at two up they might have got something, he didn't and they didn't.


Preston North End 3 Fleetwood Town 2 Att 13280