Antoni Sarcevic delivered on his promise to get Fleetwood promoted for the sixth time in 10 seasons as his free-kick settled the League Two play-off final against Burton at Wembley yesterday.

Following the semi-final win over York, the former Manchester City midfielder declared he would elevate the Cod Army into the third tier for the first time in their history and, with 15 minutes to go, he proved he was true to his word.

Sarcevic’s 30-yard free-kick was not intended for the net but goalkeeper Dean Lyness lost the flight of the ball and was powerless to prevent the ball arching over him.

It meant Fleetwood, the smallest town to have a Football League club, completed a remarkable journey from North West Counties Division One in the 2004-05 season to League One in a decade to give chairman Andy Pilley the perfect 44th birthday present.

Burton included Billy Kee in their starting line-up despite the fact the striker had been at his heavily-pregnant wife’s side until 6am with their child due any moment.

Kee had vowed to included “Wembley” in the new arrival’s name should he score in a winning cause but the chances of the latter part of that agreement being met looked unlikely early on as Fleetwood flew out of the blocks.

Fleetwood dominated the majority of the match and spurned a number of chances to take the lead.

But just as Burton were growing into the game, Phil Edwards’s rash challenge on Josh Morris gave Fleetwood a 75th-minute free-kick from 30 yards out near the touchline.

Sarcevic swept the ball in with his right foot and Lyness, with Nathan Pond — a veteran of Fleetwood’s five previous promotions — in front of him, got caught under the ball and could only help it on its way into the net.

There was the usual madness late on with Pond squandering a three-on-one breakaway situation, but the Cod Army held on to continue their staggering rise up the football pyramid.