Late drama saw Fleetwood Town come back to share the points in a six-goal thriller against Milton Keynes Dons at Stadium MK.
It was a thrilling first half with four goals in the first 40 minutes as Fleetwood’s Ged Garner and the Dons’ forward Scott Twine both grabbing braces and creating further chances.
Twine then completed his hat-trick ion the second half, but the action wasn’t done yet as Dan Batty came off the bench to drill one home with one minute to go.
MK Dons started the game with two early chances as Troy Parrott looked to be a threat straight away, The Tottenham Hotspur loanee had a shot blocked from a distance while also weaving his way through Town’s defence, but he was unable to get his shot away.
With the next chance of the game, Fleetwood took the lead inside the first 15 minutes through G.Garner who made no mistake in poking the ball into the back of the net from close range.
It was great build-up play from Fleetwood, who wore their black and red strip, as Paddy Lane played it across the 18-yard box to Harrison Biggins who sent G.Garner through on goal with a lovely first-time pass.
Fleetwood began to gain momentum after scoring their opener and it was Lane’s turn next to trouble the opposition goalkeeper, his shot from the edge of the box was parried away by Andrew Fisher.
Just before the half-hour mark MK Dons were back on level terms through a well-taken strike from Twine. The home side’s number nine cut inside on the left-hand side of the box and curled it into the top right corner of Alex Cairns’ goal.
There was a switch in momentum after the equaliser as the Dons nearly found themselves in the lead, if not for a great save from Cairns. Max Watters was bearing down on goal but Cairns made himself big and parried the ball behind for a corner.
It wasn’t long until Fleetwood took the lead once again and it was G.Garner once again. Lane was also involved yet again as he excellently played the forward behind the host’s defence and he slotted it away for his second of the game.
It was an action-packed first half as G.Garner nearly claimed a hat-trick but his effort from just inside the box was deflected wide for a corner.
Dons forward Twine was back in the action as he scored a great goal from 20 yards out as he let fly and there was nothing Cairns could do to stop it from nestling the back of the net.
The first 15 minutes of the second half saw the home side control the majority of the ball but Town’s defence was making it near impossible for them to create any serious chances that worried Cairns.
MK Dons took the lead in the 73rd minute through a Twine free-kick from 25-yards out. Cairns was at full stretch and still couldn’t reach the forward’s effort as it hit the underside of the bar and bounced over the line.
Fleetwood left it late, but they found their equaliser. In a second half with very few chances, substitute Batty produced a fantastic strike as he drilled it from the right-hand side of the box into the bottom left corner, to ensure that Fleetwood would leave Milton Keynes with a point.
MK Dons XI: Fisher (GK), Jules, O’Hora, Darling, O’Riley (C), Twine, Robson, Parrott, Harvie, Kioso, Watters (Eisa 72’).
Unused Subs: Ravizzoli (GK), Lewington, Kasumu, Baldwin, McEachran, Boateng.
Town XI: Cairns (GK), Andrew, Clarke, Camps (Batty 79’), Rossiter (C), G.Garner, Matete, Hill, Johnson, Biggins (J.Garner 79’), Lane.
Unused Subs: Crellin (GK), Edmondson, Clark, Conn-Clarke, Johnston.
Attendance: 6564 (100 away)