Sam Lavelle’s late goal gave struggling Carlisle a vital win as they beat hosts Fleetwood 2-1.

Cedwyn Scott had put them ahead in the first half before Fleetwood’s Ronan Coughlan looked to have rescued a point with a 70th-minute equaliser.

However, captain Lavelle forced in Carlisle’s winner five minutes from time.

The visitors had the first chance after 10 minutes but Jordan Jones skied his first-time finish.

The EFL’s bottom side did edge ahead nearly 10 minutes later. Carlisle duo Josh Williams and Kadeem Harris linked up effectively and the latter sent a low ball across the face of goal, where Scott had a simple close-range finish.

With Fleetwood struggling to create anything, the only disappointment for Carlisle was that they only led 1-0 at the break.

Coughlan came close to deflecting a Jones cross into his own goal but Cod Army keeper Jay Lynch saved, and in first-half stoppage time another dangerous cross from Jones found Joe Hugill but he could not apply the finish.

Carlisle had a golden chance to double their lead early in the second half on a lightning-fast break but Harris fired wide after Callum Whelan slid him in.

The visitors’ wastefulness looked to have cost them when they surrendered possession in their own half and Coughlan leapt on the chance to smash in Fleetwood’s leveller.

However, when Sean Fusire lofted a ball into a crowded Fleetwood box, Lavelle got a vital touch to send it over the line via the foot of the post.