Fleetwood secure FA Cup second round place with victory at Barnet

Posted Sunday, November 10, 2019 by PA

Fleetwood eased into the FA Cup second round with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Barnet thanks to goals from Ched Evans and Ash Hunter at The Hive.

In a match bereft of clear-cut opportunities, Evans capitalised on sloppy Barnet defending to give the visitors the lead midway through the first half.

Fleetwood defended resolutely after half-time and sealed victory with a minute to go through Hunter’s precise finish.

It might have been a very different afternoon for the League One side when Barnet’s Josh Walker was put through on goal and seemed to be brought down by last man Danny Andrew.

But referee John Busby deemed the contact insufficient for a card and waved play on.

The visitors went ahead after 28 minutes when Dan Sweeney miscontrolled Lewie Coyle’s innocuous looking cross, presenting Evans with the simplest of close-range finishes into the roof of the net.

Evans nearly had a second four minutes before half-time, but saw his half volley acrobatically saved by Scott Loach.

Despite a spirited second half performance, Barnet could not find an equaliser, and the tie was put beyond them when Hunter curled past Loach to secure Fleetwood’s place in the draw for the second round.