Fleetwood’s grit impresses Pete Wild after late leveller at Bromley

Pete Wild hailed the grit of his Fleetwood side after James Norwood’s stoppage-time equaliser rescued a 2-2 draw at Bromley.

James Bolton gave Fleetwood a first-half lead, but Marcus Dinanga and Nicke Kabamba appeared to have won the game for Bromley.

But Norwood struck the leveller to maintain both sides’ unbeaten start to the League Two campaign.

Fleetwood boss Wild said: “It’s a point gained. It was a strange game.

“First half we were lively, soaked up early pressure and grew into the game.

“We worked some really good opportunities and should have gone in further ahead.

“Second half we were disappointed with the decision for the second goal but we showed our desire and grit again – just like we did at Barnsley.

“It’s a great point against a very good side. Bromley make you work very very hard for points and this was no exception.

“The draw ultimately was a fair result, we had chances they had chances and on reflection it’s fair.

“Good teams stay in games, and we are a good side. We have experienced heads who knew when it was backs against the walls, we had to find a way to stay in it and another chance would come”

It took Fleetwood eight minutes to take the lead when Denver Hume’s corner was turned home by Bolton through a crowd of legs.

Bromley equalised with their first real shot on target on the half-hour mark with Dinanga stooping low to head in Michael Cheek’s knock down.

Mitchell Pinnock went close twice after the restart as Bromley piled on the pressure and Andy Woodman was aggrieved with referee Oliver Mackey’s decision to not give a penalty when Corey Whitely went down in the penalty area.

Bromley took the lead 17 minutes from time when Kabamba guided a header home, but Norwood poked home at the second attempt in stoppage time to ensure a share of the spoils.

Ravens manager Andy Woodman said: “Fleetwood are a good side who are a bit like us. We knew it would be a tough game against them, so it was no surprise.

“I asked the team at half-time to lift it 10 or 20 per cent if they wanted to get the result and to be fair they gave that to me.

He added: “I thought we worked more than enough opportunities in the second half to win the game, and my only disappointment is we could have put the game to bed before Norwood gets the equaliser.

“As for the penalty decision I have asked the referee to explain it to me when he gets the chance. I don’t think there were many people in the ground that didn’t think it was a stonewall penalty.”