Kelly helps Athletic gain a point

GOAL . . . Liam Kelly

FLEETWOOD 1, ATHLETIC 1

LIAM Kelly scored a vital second-half goal to earn Athletic a point at Fleetwood.

The captain netted his sixth of the season to cancel out Stefan Scougall's opener in the second half, to keep the hosts below John Sheridan's side near the bottom of Sky Bet League One with only four games left.

Athletic were poor in the first half, unable to get much going at all and with Fleetwood keeping Joel Coleman busy.

Antoni Sarcevic twice forced him into solid saves and a long-range effort was beaten away from Wes Burns, as the tentatrive visitors were exposed on occasion.

At the other end, though, Sheridan's side should have had a penlty and the benefit of playing against 10 men. Jonathan Forte was hauled down by Conor McLaughlin as he lined up a shot inside the box, but referee Graham Salisbury mystifyingly waved away the protests.

Forte headed wide and Liam Kelly could not deflect a powerful cross-shot from Curtis Main back on target as Athletic got going in the second half.

But after Bobby Grant had flicked a header narrowly wide, the home side scored after 67 minutes. Wes Burns skinned Anthony Gerrard for pace down the left and Scougall arrived to slot in coolly from close range.

But Kelly made it count - just - when his rebound from a saved Main header just crossed the line before Nathan Pond could clear it away.

Athletic were the stronger side as the game wore on, but had to settle for a point.