Fleetwood Town ends pre‑season unbeaten run with narrow loss to Hartlepool United

Fleetwood Town travelled to Victoria Park on 1 August 2026 for their final pre‑season friendly before the 2026/27 Sky Bet League Two campaign. Hartlepool United scored a late goal to win 1‑0, handing the Cods their first defeat after an unbeaten pre‑season record of four wins and a draw.

Matt Lawlor praised the match as a “perfect test” for the squad, noting the physical nature of the contest and the need to sustain performance for the full 90 minutes. Fleetwood hit the post through Harrison Neal early in the second half, and striker Ched Evans missed a close‑range chance, while goalkeeper Jay Lynch made a double‑save for Hartlepool. Lawlor said the side must improve their control and finishing to avoid similar outcomes in the upcoming season.

The result follows a 1‑1 draw with Championship side Bolton Wanderers earlier in the summer, and both clubs will use the experience to fine‑tune preparations for their respective league campaigns.