Youth: Macclesfield 5-0 Fleetwood

Steve Carlin made nine changes to Fleetwood’s line-up as the youth-team suffered a hefty defeat at Moss Rose on Saturday.

Steve Carlin made nine changes to Fleetwood’s line-up as the youth-team suffered a hefty defeat at Moss Rose on Saturday.

The academy manager brought in first-year players for the Youth Alliance league match, but goals from Macclesfield’s Joel Swift, George Whiteoak, Jake Prescott, Paul Lewis and Liam Leary proved to be the difference on the day.
Fleetwood created two opportunities to take the lead in the opening ten minutes, when Aiden Wainwright was slotted in by Jordan Lazenbury, but saw his first-time attempt tipped around the post by Macclesfield goalkeeper Connor O’Keefe.
And Wainwright was then unable to stretch and connect with Ben Cartwright’s cross after a driving run by the midfielder.
Despite a decent start, the young Cod Army fell behind on 22 minutes, as a defensive mistake let in the Silkmen’s striker Swift, who beat new goalkeeper Liam Bleeker to give the hosts the lead.
Macclesfield doubled their lead only four minutes later through Whiteoak, who headed in after a flick-on by Captain Kieron Kenny.
The home side continued to attack in the second-half and added a third just four minutes after the break, as Leary’s low cross was tucked away by Prescott.
Prescott then linked up with Lewis in the 70th minute to score Macclesfield’s fourth, when Lewis turned past two defenders before beating Bleeker in goal.
And the Silkmen’s fifth and final of the day was well-taken by Leary, who fired home a half-volley five minutes before the full-time whistle.
The result leaves Fleetwood 12th-placed in the North West Youth Alliance, but Carlin believes the result could have been different on another day.
He said: “On a different day, and with different mind-sets, the score would have been different, especially if we had converted our two early chances.
“We made nine changes from the team that played against Wrexhan, although Macclesfield were quite strong and exuberant.
“I do believe that, no matter what team we put out, it will be a strong side. It’s just the naivety of the first-years who need to demand more from one another, and learn from results like these.
“It’s a learning curve for them. We’ve got to ensure that they communicate a lot more. Its sloppy mistakes that get often get punished, and that’s what has happened against Macclesfield.