Fleetwood Town beat Sunderland 2-1 in dramatic fashion to win their last game at Highbury on Tuesday night.
Fleetwood welcomed Sunderland to Highbury - the club's 55th guest in the Football League - in what was a really tight but exciting game of football. The visitors started brightly but only capitalised on one chance, when Lee Cattermole headed home, unmarked, from a corner ball.
Both teams came out the second half, and despite being a goal down, it was Fleetwood that were the better side and eventually found an equaliser through Paddy Madden, as he slotted home Lewie Coyle’s cut back.
Town continued to be a threat in the latter stages, andd left it late to get the winner, with Ashley Nadsesan heading home in injury time to secure three points.
Sunderland started off brightly on their first league visit to Highbury, after Chris Maguire was picked out on the left. The Scotsman then darted to the byline to cut the ball back to the in-form Max Power, but his effort was kept out by a brilliant save from Alex Cairns.
The visitors continued to put pressure on Fleetwood’s defence and just four minutes later, threatened again. This time the Black Cats were able to beat the offside trap, with Lynden Gooch finding Will Grigg who’s effort ricocheted off of the crossbar.
With the game opening up and both teams getting periods of the ball, Fleetwood tried to capitalise and in the 27th minute, released Wes Burns down the right wing. The wing-back’s cross was deflected into the path of Ashley Nadesan who could only force Jon McLaughlin into making a good save at his near post.
Two minutes later, Lee Cattermole opened the scoring and put Sunderland in the lead. The experienced midfielder was able to nod home from a corner, after he was picked out unmarked, from a corner ball.
Fleetwood reacted well and a corner ball whipped in by Ross Wallace forced an awkward clearance from Jack Ross’ men which fell to Ash Hunter, but his volley was hit wide and into the away support.
The teams came out equal to each other in the second half, cancelling out any action or attack that was building up. The Cod Army almost found an equaliser after Burns was able to beat Brian Oviedo and deliver the ball into a dangerous area, but Nadesan couldn’t quite meet it.
The game remained quite open but there were warning signs for the visitors down the right wing as Burns and Madden had threatened time and time again. Eventually, Fleetwood found the equaliser they were looking for.
Lewie Coyle was played through and cut the ball across to Madden before reaching the by-line, and the Irishman calmly slotted home his 19th goal of the season, levelling the score in the 74th minute.
Fleetwood continued to pose a threat in the latter stages and forced Sunderland into giving away a corner in injury time. The corner was swung in by Wallace and met by the head of Nadesan, who nodded home to secure a win for Fleetwood on the final home game of the season.
Fleetwood Town XI: Cairns (GK), Coyle, Clarke (Sowerby 46’), Eastham, Burns, Madden (C), Hunter, Wallace, Nadesan, Husband, Biggins.
Subs not used: Jones (GK), Southam-Hales, Baggley, Rydel, Hill, Mooney.
Sunderland XI: McLaughlin (GK), Oviedo, Ozturk, Cattermole (C), Maguire (Honeyman 70’), Gooch, Flanagan, O’Nein, Morgan, Grigg (Sterling 65’), Power.
Subs not used: Ruiter (GK), Matthews, Leadbitter, Dunne, Hume.