LONG WAIT ENDS FOR COD ARMY
FLEETWOOD boss Graham Alexander is backing his players to find the back of the net on a regular basis after they ended a barren run of seven hours of league football without scoring.
Jamille Matt coolly slotted home his first goal since October on 74 minutes, which proved to be enough to help the Cod Army grind out a win that leaves them within four points of the automatic promotion places.
“I thought it was great finish from Jamille, we could have had one or two more but one was enough,” said Alexander.
“We want to build on the solidity that we have shown in the last three games; I think if you take the Plymouth game of the equation we’ve been pretty solid, but we haven’t scored enough goals.
“I believe that the players we have got are good enough to score goals, but players will go through little patches when they have barren spells; we have to show the confidence and belief in them because we brought them to this club to do a job.”
Fleetwood were almost caught napping in the 21st minute when Torquay defender Aaron Downes attempted a speculative shot from 40-yards that narrowly cleared the crossbar.
On 37 minutes, the Gulls were awarded a free-kick after Fleetwood skipper Mark Roberts was adjudged to have handled the ball by referee Steve Rushton. Joss Labadie took the resulting freekick, which was comfortably collected by Cod Army keeper Chris Maxwell.
Torquay made a positive start to the second half as Kevin Nicholson forced a save from Maxwell from a free-kick within the opening minute of the re-start. Four minutes later, Gulls’ goalkeeper Martin Rice was called into action as he produced a smart save to deny Matt.
In the 54th minute, Cod Army captain Roberts was twice called upon to produce two important blocks in quick succession to deny Gulls’ skipper Lee Mansell from finding the target.
The play then switched to the opposite end of the pitch, as Antoni Sarcevic had an effort which was tipped onto the post by Rice before bouncing to safety.
The Cod Army finally broke the deadlock in the 74th minute when Matt slotted home after being sent through by substitute Jon Parkin.
Despite a period of late pressure, the Gulls couldn’t find an equaliser but manager Chris Hargreaves has refused to throw in the towel.
“I said to the players as long as there is a breath left in me I will keep fighting and they will do the same,” said Hargreaves.
“They fought like Lions and I’m with them, they know that and I’ll be with them right until the death.
“Sometimes out there it’s one spark of quality or one lack of concentration that either loses or gains a goal.
“We need to concentrate for 90 minutes and for one split second some cover wasn’t applied. “I’m hurting more than
anyone.”