Wigan Athletic striker Josh Magennis celebrated his 500th career appearance in style by scoring the winning goal against League One champions Portsmouth at Fratton Park at the weekend.
The 33-year-old, who started out his professional career as a goalkeeper, came off the bench to bag the decisive goal against the South Coast outfit with just seven minutes remaining.
Speaking to the club website after the 2-1 success, Magennis pointed out: “Throughout the course of the season we’ve proven against the so-called bigger teams that we can put in a performance, and there’s no better place to do that than at the home of the champions of League One this season.
“The first half was probably some of the best football we’ve played all season and we caused them some real problems.
“We showed the opposite side in the second half where we had that fight and desire to see the game out. We gave everything and it was a massive result."
Elsewhere in the division, Alfie McCalmont returned to the starting line-up for already relegated Carlisle United as they fell to yet another defeat, going down 3-1 at home to Dale Taylor’s Wycombe Wanderers.
Striker Conor Washington was an unused substitute as Derby County moved to the brink of automatic promotion with a narrow 1-0 success at Cambridge United, meaning a point from their final game of the season at home to Carlisle United will ensure the return of Championship football to Pride Park next season.
Shayne Lavery was in the Blackpool team who kept their hopes of a play-off place alive with a 3-2 home victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Barnsley, although Fleetwood Town duo Carl Johnston and Stephen McMullan will be playing their football in League Two next term after the Lancashire club were relegated despite a 1-0 success at Leyton Orient.
In League Two Charlie McCann scored for already relegated Forest Green Rovers who defeated Morecambe 2-1 at the Mazuma Stadium.
Meanwhile, in the Scottish Cup, Ross McCausland came on as a 16th minute substitute as Rangers set up a 25 May final with Old Firm rivals Celtic thanks to a 2-0 victory over Hearts at Hampden Park.
In the FA Cup semi-finals, Jonny Evans was again absent through injury as Manchester United set up a repeat of last year’s final against Manchester City following their penalty shoot-out victory over Championship side Coventry City at Wembley.
Liverpool were without the injured Conor Bradley for a second successive game as they moved level on points at the top of the Premier League with Arsenal after a 3-1 success at Fulham.
Midfielder George Saville was in the Millwall team who secured their Championship status for next season with a 1-0 win at Sunderland who brought midfielder Corry Evans on from the bench for his first appearance for the Black Cats since January last year.
Finally, in the U18 Premier League, Kieron Morrison scored both goals for Liverpool in their 2-1 victory at Sunderland whose consolation goal was scored by former Glentoran youngster Rhys Walsh, while Cole Brannigan found the net in Aston Villa’s 4-2 reverse at Arsenal.
