Fleetwood Town 1 Carlisle United 2: Sam Lavelle's late header earned Carlisle United a crucial and dramatic victory at Fleetwood.

The captain forced in a cross from sub Sean Fusire to spark big celebrations in a packed away section at the Highbury Stadium.

Fleetwood's Ronan Coughlan had earlier cancelled out Cedwyn Scott's poener but Lavelle's 85th-minute header cut Carlisle's survival gap from seven to five points.

It proved a memorable afternoon on the Fylde Coast as Carlisle won their first game of 2025 to move off the bottom of League Two.

Scott scored his first goal for the club when he turned home Kadeem Harris's low cross in the 19th minute.

Carlisle had much the better of the first half but were pegged back in the 70th minute when Coughlan pounced.

Lavelle, though, had the final say to breathe much-needed life into Carlisle's survival hopes, on a day new defensive signing Paul Dummett went off injured just five minutes into his debut.

Lavelle heads home in the 85th minute (Image: Richard Parkes)

Williamson made three changes to his side, handing first Blues outings to Paul Dummett and Josh Williams, with Scott also coming into the XI for his full debut.

They replaced Elliot Embleton, who dropped to the bench, and both Ben Barclay and Stephen Wearne, who were out of the squad, the latter through illness.

Aaron Hayden was also out of the 18 but fit-again Terell Thomas and Ethan Robson returned to the bench.

Fleetwood boss Wild made one change, Mark Helm replacing Shaun Rooney, while Harrison Neal was among the subs against his former club.

And things started in unfortunate fashion for United as, after Fleetwood's Coughlan had the game's first shot blocked, Dummett went down hurt.

He could not continue, a hamstring injury seeing him substituted as Thomas took his place in the middle of the back three.

United, though, with Williams at right wing-back and Harris further forward along with Scott behind Joe Hugill, grew into the game and became the dominant side in the first half.

Williams and Harris combined well on the right and a short corner in the 11th minute eventually found its way to Jordan Jones, but he shot high over the bar from a good position.

Phoenix Patterson failed to pick out a team-mate when breaking into the United box, but Carlisle's pace on the break with Williams and Harris was a key part of their strong start, as debutant Williams proved too quick for Brendan Wiredu, who brought him down and was booked.

United worked the free-kick back from halfway, to the annoyance of some of their fans, but moments later they were pushing into Fleetwood territory - and then scored.

Williams and Harris again combined and when Harris drove the ball across goal, Scott was free at the back post to poach the opening goal.

Cedwyn Scott is mobbed after his opener (Image: Richard Parkes)

Carlisle grew further in confidence, Scott almost threading Hugill through before a spate of bookings saw Will Patching yellow-carded for a foul, along with respective coaches Ian Watson and Adam Temple amid exchanges in the technical areas.

Callum Whelan saw a shot deflected wide as United continued to advance, while a Jones free-kick was sliced towards his own goal by Coughlan but straight into the arms of keeper Jay Lynch.

Fleetwood tried to create a rare opening on 32 minutes but Thomas dispossessed Coughlan with impressive composure.

Later, Patterson was fed by Matty Virtue but took the ball too far wide to worry Gabe Breeze.

In first half added time, Carlisle released Jones down the left and his cross just eluded Hugill in the middle.

That was an example of United working the ball forward much quicker than in previous games, the Blues a more threatening unit as a result even if there was a shortage of other clear-cut chances.

Before half-time Lavelle, on the right of the back three, did well to block a Patterson attempt.

Wild responded with a half-time change, Kian Harratt replacing Finley Potter, and when the sub broke at United, Williams needed all his pace to prevent the attacker making his way through.

Breeze pushed a goalbound Patterson free-kick away before Carlisle came close to doubling their lead as Harris led a counter-attack against an outnumbered defence, finding Whelan to his left and the latter looking to return the ball to Harris, who rifled wide first-time.

United made a double change just after the hour mark as Scott went off with a knock and Patching was also replaced after a strong showing, Embleton and Sean Fusire coming on.

Neal was then introduced for the hosts along with Mackenzie Hunt, who almost set up a leveller but Harratt, free in the box, headed just wide - and the offside flag was up in any case.

The home side, though, had more urgency about them and after Hunt rifled a chance high and wide, they levelled.

Carlisle's short goal kicks were already causing consternation among the travelling fans and duly Fleetwood's eager press won the ball back again - and Coughlan was sent into the box to rifle powerfully inside Breeze's near post.

Ronan Coughlan equalises for the hosts (Image: Richard Parkes)

That was the striker's last involvement as he was hurt in a challenge whilst scoring, Coughlan stretchered off to be replaced by Danny Mayor, with Shaun Rooney also on for the hosts at Rhys Bennett's expense.

United had now lost much of their earlier control and Mayor headed a cross wide as the home side sought a second.

Amid Fleetwood's pressure, which saw the visiting fans' anxiety grow, Carlisle did break on 82 minutes but Hugill couldn't get Jones' cross on target.

United, though, then hit the hosts again. They could have scored when Jones kept the ball in on the left and Hugill got behind the defenders to square for Harris, but Lynch saved his sliding finish.

When the resulting corner broke out of the box, though, Fusire curled over a fine cross from the left which Lavelle attacked, and keeper Lynch could only push his header against the post and in as the away end erupted.

Carlisle then battled to prevent the hosts coming back again and after Breeze denied Neal, a goalline clearance denied Fleetwood as a 90th-minute corner caused a scramble.

United should have wrapped it up with a 95th-minute third when Embleton skipped past a challenge and squared for Hugill, but the Manchester United loanee could only poke the finish wide.

A last-gasp Fleetwood free-kick from Hunt went wide - and the full-time whistle brought a roar from the travelling fans, who chanted, 'We are staying up' after United's first win of 2025.

Fleetwood: Lynch, Broom (Hunt 65), Potter (Harratt 46), Bennett (Rooney 72), Bolton, Wiredu, Bonds, Virtue (Neal 65), Helm, Patterson, Coughlan (Mayor 72). Not used: Hewitson, Hughes.

Goal: Coughlan 70.

Booked: Wiredu, Potter, Bennett, Rooney, Temple (coach).

United: Breeze, McArthur, Lavelle, Dummett (Thomas 5), Williams (Harper 86), Jones, Patching (Fusire 62), Whelan, Harris, Scott (Embleton 62), Hugill. Not used: Lewis, Robson, Ellis.

Goals: Scott 19, Lavelle 85.

Booked: Patching, Hugill, Watson (coach).

Ref: Matt Corlett.

Crowd: 3,517 (1,087 United fans).