Fleetwood Town squandered a two-goal lead as Morecambe fought back to secure a 2-2 draw at Highbury on Monday evening.
Charlie Adam’s side looked in control after first-half goals from Ryan Graydon and Ronan Coughlan, but a determined Morecambe side, under Derek Adams sitting in the stands, clawed their way back with late strikes from Yann Songo’o and Hallam Hope to snatch a point.
Fleetwood dominated the opening stages, creating several chances with Stuart Moore denying both Danny Mayor and Graydon early on. Despite a scare when Jamie Stott hit the bar for the visitors, Fleetwood took the lead in the 34th minute. Mayor delivered a pinpoint cross that Graydon met with a diving header. Shortly before halftime, Phoenix Patterson set up Coughlan for a composed finish, doubling Fleetwood’s advantage.
However, the second half told a different story. Morecambe’s four halftime substitutions gave them renewed energy, and the Shrimps piled on the pressure. Their persistence paid off in the 75th minute when Songo’o lobbed the ball over David Harrington, and with five minutes left, Hallam Hope bundled the ball over the line to complete the comeback.
Fleetwood manager Charlie Adam reflected on the match, saying, “It was two different halves, wasn’t it? First half really good, second half we allowed them to come onto us and we never really got enough pressure on the ball at the top end of the pitch.”
Despite the disappointment, Adam praised his side’s first-half attacking play, describing the goals as a result of “good link-up play” but conceded that they “never really got going” in the second half.
“I thought our movement was really good first half,” added the former Rangers midfielder. “We created numerous chances, they hit the bar in the first half aswell and that gave us a bit of a fright. We bounced back, managed to get that second goal and in the second half we never really got going. Fair play to Morecambe, they asked us questions and put balls into our box but we are disappointed with the goals we lost.”
The result leaves the Cod Army in 12th position with nine points, albeit also with a game in hand on many of the teams above them. For struggling Morecambe, it may have been a valuable point, but even at this early stage they appear to have a huge task on their hands – they’re still bottom of the table, four points adrift of safety.
Writer’s View
This result will feel like a missed opportunity for Fleetwood, who seemed to have the game firmly in their grasp by halftime. Charlie Adam’s team displayed sharp movement and clinical finishing in the first half. Still, they could not maintain that intensity after the break, allowing Morecambe to dictate play and take advantage of defensive lapses. Adam’s post-match comments underline his frustration at the lack of control in the second half, especially their inability to stop their source of play as Morecambe gained momentum.
The collapse in the second half also raises concerns about Fleetwood’s ability to manage games when in front. While their attacking prowess was evident, the defensive frailties in the latter stages cost them dearly. Adam’s challenge moving forward will be finding a balance between their forward play and tightening up at the back to avoid similar situations. This draw, though frustrating, offers lessons that will be crucial as Fleetwood aim to push up the table.
