Saturday 27 April 2024 18:57, UK
Sutton United were relegated from Sky Bet League Two after a 4-4 draw with MK Dons at Stadium:MK.
Jack Payne and Alex Gilbey put the hosts well in front before Stephen Duke-McKenna halved the lead just after the restart.
The sides then took it in turn to score as Emre Tezgel's strike was cancelled out by Charlie Lakin, only for Ellis Harrison to put the Dons further ahead again.
Duke-McKenna netted again before Harry Smith brought Sutton on level terms at the death, but a failure to win saw Sutton relegated after three seasons in the English Football League.
Payne's arced finish and Gilbey's strike gave the Dons a two-goal advantage at the break, but Sutton went on the attack after half-time and Duke-McKenna's angled drive crashed in to bring the visitors back into the game.
Tezgel's instinctive finish put the Dons 3-1 up on the hour mark before a long-range effort by Lakin cut the deficit once again.
Substitute Harrison again restored the two-goal cushion with 20 minutes left, but Duke-McKenna's second effort of the match saw Sutton continue their fight.
Smith headed home in stoppage time but it was not enough for Sutton to avoid relegation.
Sutton's Steve Morison:
"We left some points out there since I've come in, which from a club point of view is disappointing.
"I think we almost felt we could do it and to go in, it's really weird.
"Every message I seem to be having is that we've done well to be in with a chance in the last eight, but from a professional point of view, you don't ever believe that because you want to get the job done.
"But look, 2-0 down at half-time, we had to be honest and say they were really good and we couldn't lay a glove on them.
"We came out for the second half with a couple of tweaks, won the second half, could've had more and you can't ask for more than that coming away from home against MK Dons and scoring four goals but unfortunately not winning the game.
"That's just football. I'm really proud of their efforts and it's a really good place to start from. I'm pleased they put a performance in like that and we can use that as ammo to start next season.
"I'm not going anywhere. Why would I? I've been treated amazingly since I've been here and love coming to work and this group of players."
Semi-final first legs
Crawley vs MK Dons (3pm) - Monday May 6
Crewe vs Doncaster (5.30pm) - Monday May 6
Semi-final second legs
MK Dons vs Crawley (8pm) - Thursday May 9
Doncaster vs Crewe (8pm) - Friday May 10
Final
Sunday May 19 (1pm)
