Meet the Manager...
Arrived at Belle Vue in the summer of 2006, a Bangor-born 24/08/1975 COUNTRY WALES striker who began his career as a trainee at St Mirren where he made 10 appearances before signing for Brighton in July 1999 and making 22 starts. A free transfer took him to Worthing, then Lincoln City and Chester. Made a permanent move to UniBond Premier side Droylsden in January 2004 after spending a successful couple of months on-loan. Left Rhyl in March 2007 to manage Bradford Park Avenue.
FTFC Goals: Ricky Mercer, Jamie Milligan
Report by Derick Thomas
The end of season Peter Swales Shield fixture between UniBond Premier League champions Fleetwood Town and UniBond Division One North champions Bradford Park Avenue took place at Highbury Stadium on a fine, sunny Saturday afternoon. Both teams had already celebrated their own promotion successes the weekend before and saw this match as a low-key finale to their individual seasons.
Fleetwood Town kicked-off in a ground reminiscent to their Football League neighbours at Bloomfield Road. The demolition contractors were present at Highbury Stadium all week and the game kicked-off with one stand missing from behind the Park End goal. The flattening of the well-known landmark indicated the start of the seven-figure redevelopment of Highbury Stadium scheduled for the summer months. Prior to kick-off, both team displayed their respective championship trophies and the two skippers came together for a joint photo with their silverware.
Jamie Milligan and Steve Connors
The game started with no real chances for either side, although Fleetwood came closest with a well placed cross from Lennie Reid but ended just a touch too high for Phil Denney. Fleetwood went close in the opening ten minutes with a splendid Phil Denney move. His cross landed at the feet of Andy Moran who could only fire straight at the keeper. Town continued their pressure when Ricky MERCER put his name on the score sheet after 17 minutes. Mercer nodded in from the near post from a Jamie Milligan corner. Town finished the half on top and went into the break with their solitary goal intact. Commenting at half time, rested Andy Bell said, "we've had the better of the game and it’s been more like a practice match. It was a good header by Mercer for the goal and it's been comfortable so far".
Both sides started the second half in good style and Ricky Mercer could only see his header end up in the hands of the Bradford keeper. The visitors showed their championship form on 52 minutes. Steve CONNORS' close range effort beat Danny Hurst to bring the teams level. The goal lifted the visitors and the Yorkshire side renewed their efforts against the Fleetwood defence. Town did come back with substitute Ashley Dunn putting an effort over the bar after 71 minutes. This marked the ascendancy from the UniBond Premier champions and Steve Foster was unlucky to see a narrow angled shot saved. Fleetwood enjoyed a strong period and their pressure paid off when MILLIGAN scored straight a corner on 80 minutes. That wasn’t the end of Bradford and their efforts meant Danny Hurst needed to maintain his championship form.
Fleetwood 2 Bradford 1
The UniBond “Club of the Month” awards were an exact repeat of November’s with the Premier Division prize going to FLEETWOOD TOWN, BRADFORD PARK AVENUE picking up the First Division North and Champions elect RETFORD UNITED taking the First Division South accolade. In another coincidence it was the second time all three clubs had picked up the awards this season.
Fleetwood’s month saw them go unbeaten in five games winning five which included a victory that lowered Premier Division leaders Witton Albion unbeaten home record. In the First Division North Bradford Park Avenue began the month with defeat at Harrogate Railway but after that it was plain sailing all the way with eight straight wins in which they conceded only one goal. Retford United’s domination of the First Division South continued unabated during March in which they enjoyed the perfect record of seven wins in as many games.
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