Fleetwood Freeport 2

Middlewich Athletic 3

North West Counties Division Two

BRAVE Athletic fought back from an early 2-0 deficit to clinch a stunning victory in this North West Counties Division Two thriller.

Athletic had an horrendous start to the match, with Paul Quine and Steve Rowlands both failing fitness tests before kick-off.

This meant that Dave Heywood and Gavin Tier were drafted into first team action from the reserves, and player-manager Dave Twite made his first appearance in Athletic colours since November 1996 by naming himself as one of the substitutes.

The problems didn't stop there for Twite as after only five minutes of play Simon Evans was carried off with badly damaged ankle ligaments after a late challenge by Graham Yeo. Referee Brand brandished the yellow card.

Athletic had to reorganise but Fleetwood took advantage by scoring two goals in quick succession. John Riches bagged a brace with the game only 15 minutes old.

Middlewich had to settle down and this they did, playing the more attractive football with Olliver and Griggs combining well to set up a chance for Tier, who saw his effort well saved by Clowes.

But Tier wasn't to wait long for his debut goal. A superb run down the left by Olliver and a deep cross to the back post was met by the unmarked Tier who headed past Clowes.

The second half saw Middlewich start where they left off in the first, totally outplaying Fleetwood with Payne, Parkinson and Heywood playing some lovely one-touch pass and move football.

But it was Tier's pace and Danny Griggs' skills that were really causing the home defence problems.

An equaliser was inevitable and it was Griggs who got it with a sweet left-foot drive into the corner which gave Clowes no chance.

At this point Fleetwood's new player-manager Mark Hughes, the ex-Tranmere defender, entered the fray but even his presence couldn't stop the Athletic onslaught.

The third goal came after Griggs was brought down on the edge of the box.

Ian Tier floated the ball into the area and it was met by the head of the inspirational Gary Payne who smashed his header into the Fleetwood net, silencing the crowd of 300.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.