MK Dons miss out on title after final day draw away at Fleetwood Town

MK Dons missed out on the League 2 title after a 1-1 draw at Fleetwood Town on the final day of the League 2 season.

A stalemate at Highbury combined with a win for Bromley over Walsall means that MK Dons had to settle for second place in the table, joining newly crowned champions Bromley and third place Cambridge United in winning automatic promotion to League One next season.

Ronan Coughlan’s overhead kick gave the Cod Army the lead, with Callum Paterson scoring an equaliser for the visitors only for MK Dons to be unable to find a second goal to complete their turnaround.

Paul Warne’s side had arrived in Lancashire already assured of automatic promotion thanks to last weekend’s win over Tranmere, with that result good enough to send the Dons top of the table going into the final weekend of the season.

The visitors had some early chances, with Gethin Jones heading wide early on and home keeper Jay Lynch keeping out an attempt by Dons captain Alex Gilbey.

Fleetwood got close as Coughlan eluded a challenge and saw a strike denied by MK Dons keeper Craig MacGillivray.

Less than a minute later, Coughlan would duly put Fleetwood in front. The striker met James Bolton’s cross with a fine overhead kick, and duly saw his shot beat MacGillivray to put the home side ahead.

MK Dons got back level 13 minutes after falling behind, as Ben Wiles released Paterson, who in turn steered a shot beyond Lynch.

At around the same time MK Dons equalised, Bromley opened the scoring against Walsall, meaning Warne’s side needed another goal to meet their title-winning ambitions.

Perhaps the Dons’ best second half opportunity saw Liam Kelly miss the target with an effort from inside the box, before Paterson hit an effort wide and Lynch made saves to deny Joe Tomlinson and substitute Rushian Hepburn-Murphy.

But the Dons couldn’t find a way through, ultimately having to settle for a point and for second while Bromley’s 3-1 win confirmed they would be the team lifting the title after all.