FLEETWOOD, England (Interstat) — In a dramatic Women’s FA Cup match that defied pregame projections, Fleetwood Town Wrens FC scored twice in the final minutes to secure a 2-1 comeback victory over Barnet FC on Saturday at Highbury Stadium.

The visiting Bees from London took a surprising early lead and appeared poised to hang on for a narrow upset, but a stunning three-minute span late in the second half saw the home side Wrens net two quick goals to advance to the next round of the competition.

Barnet’s Zech Medley, a defender, opened the scoring in the 11th minute, giving the lower-ranked side an early advantage. That single goal looked as though it might be enough for much of the match, aligning with the pregame simulation from Interstat, which had projected a final score of 1-0 in Barnet’s favor.

The game’s momentum, however, shifted irrevocably in the dying moments. Fleetwood’s Harrison Holgate, also a defender, finally broke through for the equalizer in the 86th minute, setting the stage for a frantic finish.

Just three minutes later, substitute Callum Stead completed the turnaround for the Wrens, scoring the decisive goal in the 89th minute to send the home crowd into a frenzy. The assist on one of the late goals was credited to Fleetwood midfielder Harrison Neal.

The match was not without its disciplinary moments. Neal was shown a yellow card in the 63rd minute for a challenge, a booking that came as his team was still searching for its first goal of the contest.

The result was a stark contrast to the statistical expectations. Despite Interstat’s ELO system giving Fleetwood Town Wrens FC a 73.90 percent probability to win, their predictive game simulator had ironically forecast a low-scoring victory for the underdog Barnet side. The actual on-field outcome proved both projections partially correct while ultimately favoring the home team’s resilience.

With the victory, Fleetwood Town Wrens FC begins its campaign in the Women’s FA Cup with a win and no losses in the competition. Across all competitions this season, the Wrens now hold a perfect record of one win and no losses.

For Barnet FC, the loss is a difficult start to their FA Cup season, leaving them with a record of no wins and one loss in the tournament. Their overall record across all competitions now stands at no wins and one loss.

The match showcased the unpredictable nature of cup football, where pregame analytics and on-field performance can diverge sharply. Fleetwood’s ability to find two goals from defensive players and a substitute in the final four minutes of regulation demonstrated a depth of scoring options and a persistence that ultimately carried the day.