Accrington Stanley 1 Fleetwood Town 0: Town thwarted by Charles strike and Savin's saves

Callum Camps is among several Fleetwood players denied by Accrington keeper Toby Savin

Sam Finley can't wait to get started at Fleetwood

The visitors dominated for much of this Lancashire derby but Accrington goalkeeper Toby Savin proved to be Fleetwood's nemesis.

The 19-year-old, who only made his senior debut last month, made a string of fine saves.

Fleetwood paid the price when their former player Charles met Colby Bishop's pass and headed home from close range in the 73rd minute.

The game started slowly as Town gave a second debut to last week's loan signing Callum Connolly, while Charlie Mulgrew started his first game for the club.

It took until the 18th minute for Fleetwood to register their first effort on goal, when Barrie McKay's effort from outside the box was tipped around the post by Savin.

The visitors continued to up the ante, with Accrington feeling the pressure.

Savin spilled the ball to Danny Andrew from Wes Burns' cross but the Fleetwood left-back hit his shot wide.

Fleetwood were beginning to bare their teeth and their slick movement through the middle of the park was causing Accrington's youthful side no end of problems.

McKay again tested Savin, who made another good save, before new boy Mulgrew - who joined Fleetwood on loan from Blackburn Rovers on Friday - teed up the Scottish midfielder, but his effort went wide of the woodwork.

Accrington managed to breach their opponents' defence for the first time as the interval approached when defender Cameron Burgess headed over the bar, with their best chance of the half coming moments later.

Fleetwood defender Harrison Holgate's late tackle on Chelsea loanee Tariq Uwakwe saw him earn a yellow card from referee Darren Drysdale.

Joe Pritchard's resulting free-kick found Charles only for the forward to blaze the ball high and wide from six yards out.

There was still time for Barton's men to register another effort on goal, when Paddy Madden won the ball from Michael Nottingham, Stanley's recent signing from Blackpool, and fed McKay but he was left cursing his luck again as Savin tipped his left-footed effort over the bar.

Sean McConville's introduction at half-time gave the home side extra impetus, with the midfielder - making a league record 308th appearance for Accrington - controlling matters from the centre of the park.

Savin again made a brilliant save with his legs to deny Callum Camps before Accrington's Matt Butcher and Joe Pritchard both saw their efforts cleared.

John Coleman's team went ahead when Charles pounced with 17 minutes to go.

Barton introduced two more debutants in Tom Edwards and former Stanley midfielder Sam Finley but Town couldn't rescue the game.

Bishop nearly doubled Accrington's advantage, but his diving header was saved well by Leutwiler as Fleetwood left the Wham Stadium frustrated and empty handed.

Stanley: Savin; Burgess, Hughes, Sykes; Nottingham, Russell (Barclay, 66), Pritchard, Butcher, Uwakwe (McConville, 45); Charles, Bishop. Subs not used: Baxter, Mohammed, Rodgers, Allan, Fenlon.

Fleetwood: Leutwiler; Connolly, Holgate (Edwards, 73), Mulgrew, Andrew; McKay, Camps, Whelan, Burns (Finley, 83), Morris (Evans, 73), Madden; subs not used: Cairns, Boyes, Duffy, Saunders.

Referee: Darren Drysdale