Match Preview

Fleetwood travel to mid-table Hawcourt Park this Saturday looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the Lancs/North Cumbria campaign.

It's consecutive away trips for Steve Woodburn's men following victory at promoted Trafford MV and said a good first period allowed him to change the line-up for the final 40 minutes.

"Last Saturday was a good day-out for us. We play well at home and I challenged the boys to carry that form away and we've been doing just that. That was certainly the case in the first half when our pressure effectively put the game beyond them at the break with a 25-point lead.  
 
"Trafford have run plenty of teams close this season and I was expecting a tougher battle in the middle of the park. But our forwards played exceptionally well and applied pressure from the opening whistle.  
 
"That meant we were able to switch things around with Danny Tomlinson involved again and Chris Jones having a decent run after time on the bench. It was important to make the most of the situation and allow vital game-time around the squad. They all slotted in really well and responded to my half-time instruction to open up the game."  
 
"We did just that and made plenty of line breaks but we weren't composed in the follow-up. Otherwise it would have been a score to make others in the league to sit up and take notice. Saying that we used the time wisely," added Woodburn. 
 
Woodburn has turned his attention to changing styles of play brought by the seasonal deteriation in weather and pitches.

"Work continues on adapting our game to the changing weather conditions as opposed to our running game in the sunshine. The winter months demand a different approach and we already have an eye on that situation. A number of teams may see that as our weak point but our preparations have already started."  
 
The player/coach is wary of a Hawcourt backlash following a heavy defeat to Cumbrian rivals Aspatria last week.

"It will be a tough trip to Hawcourt Park on Saturday. They are either strong or under-power depending on the way shifts fall in the Barrow shipyards. I believe they will be strong this weekend. They have a big forward set and it won't be easy.  
 
"Confidence and putting teams under pressure continues to be my message. If we do that we are halfway there and I'll be demanding the same this weekend."

Fleetwood 2nd XV host Leigh at Melbourne Avenue on Saturday whilst the 3rd's travel to Leyland Warriors. 

By Derick Thomas, Clean Sheet Media