Madden fires Fleetwood into third round

Posted Monday, December 02, 2019 by PA

Fleetwood clinched a place in the FA Cup third round thanks to substitute Paddy Madden’s second-half winner in a 2-1 win at Crawley.

Wes Burns carved out an early opportunity for Fleetwood with a dangerous ball across the six-yard box, but there was nobody on hand to connect.

The recalled Jack Sowerby later put a deflected shot wide after good work by Josh Morris, and Ched Evans was thwarted on the edge of the area by goalkeeper Glenn Morris following a clever flick by Burns.

Fleetwood took the lead four minutes before the break, when a cross by Burns was met by Evans and Josh Morris tapped the ball home at the far post.

But Crawley replied four minutes later through striker Ollie Palmer, who smashed in his fifth of the season after a flick from former Fleetwood striker Ashley Nadesan.

Palmer had a shot blocked shortly after the interval following good work by Reece Grego-Cox, moments after Kyle Dempsey had driven over at the other end.

Crawley had a let-off when Morris wastefully shot over in front of goal, before Madden pounced to restore Fleetwood’s lead from close range in the 65th minute.

Madden almost struck again when he headed a fine delivery from Dempsey inches wide.