Northampton Town 2-2 Bristol Rovers

Northampton were in financial difficulty earlier this season

Northampton Town secured promotion to League One despite being held to a draw by Bristol Rovers at Sixfields.

Nicky Adams headed the hosts into an early lead before Sam Hoskins side-footed in a second after the break.

Matt Taylor's header and Ellis Harrison's low effort saw Rovers fight back to earn a point to boost their own hopes of automatic promotion.

But the Cobblers, who faced a petition for administration earlier this season, are guaranteed a top-three spot.

They have lost only once in the league since Kelvin Thomas's takeover of the club in November.

Northampton fans ran onto the pitch at the final whistle

Fifth-placed Plymouth's loss to AFC Wimbledon meant this season will be the end of Northampton's seven-year spell in the fourth tier of English football, following relegation in 2009.

The Cobblers, who only escaped relegation to non-league on the final day of the 2014 season, are now 12 points clear at the top with five games remaining.

Rovers now lie fourth, two points behind third-placed Accrington.

The attendance of 7,579 was the largest ever recorded at Sixfields and Northampton's biggest for a league game since 1987.

Northampton skipper Marc Richards will miss the end of season run-in as he is to undergo an Achilles operation next week.

Northamptonshire cricket captain Alex Wakely congratulates the Cobblers

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Northampton

• 1Smith
• 2Moloney
• 5Diamond
• 18McDonald
• 16Buchanan
• 21O'Toole
• 23Rose
• 11Holmes
• 14HoskinsSubstituted forD'Athat 77'minutes
• 10AdamsBooked at 37minsSubstituted forCollinsat 77'minutes
• 27MarquisBooked at 81minsSubstituted forTaylorat 82'minutes

Substitutes

• 4Taylor
• 7D'Ath
• 8Byrom
• 15Potter
• 19Collins
• 22Prosser
• 26Clarke

Bristol Rovers

• 1Mildenhall
• 2LeadbitterBooked at 79mins
• 4Lockyer
• 5McChrystal
• 3Brown
• 23BodinSubstituted forEasterat 71'minutes
• 14Lines
• 16LawrenceSubstituted forMontañoat 56'minutes
• 8O Clarke
• 10Taylor
• 30GaffneySubstituted forHarrisonat 56'minutes

Substitutes

• 6Parkes
• 9Harrison
• 11Gosling
• 15J Clarke
• 17Easter
• 21Montaño
• 25Puddy

Referee:

Tony Harrington

Attendance:

7,579

Match Stats

Home TeamNorthamptonAway TeamBristol Rovers

Possession

Home51%

Away49%

Shots

Home10

Away10

Shots on Target

Home4

Away2

Corners

Home5

Away3

Fouls

Home12

Away12

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Northampton Town 2, Bristol Rovers 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+6'

Second Half ends, Northampton Town 2, Bristol Rovers 2.

Goal!

Posted at 88'

Goal! Northampton Town 2, Bristol Rovers 2. Ellis Harrison (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lee Brown.

Posted at 86'

Attempt missed. Cristian Montaño (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left.

Posted at 85'

Attempt missed. James Collins (Northampton Town) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left.

Posted at 84'

Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Lee Brown.

Posted at 83'

Foul by James Collins (Northampton Town).

Posted at 83'

Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Substitution

Posted at 82'

Substitution, Northampton Town. Jason Taylor replaces John Marquis.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Ricky Holmes (Northampton Town).

Posted at 81'

Ollie Clarke (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Booking

Posted at 81'

John Marquis (Northampton Town) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 81'

Hand ball by John Marquis (Northampton Town).

Posted at 80'

Zander Diamond (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 80'

Foul by Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers).

Booking

Posted at 79'

Daniel Leadbitter (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 79'

Ricky Holmes (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 79'

Foul by Daniel Leadbitter (Bristol Rovers).

Substitution

Posted at 77'

Substitution, Northampton Town. James Collins replaces Nicky Adams.

Substitution

Posted at 77'

Substitution, Northampton Town. Lawson D'Ath replaces Sam Hoskins.

Goal!

Posted at 76'

Goal! Northampton Town 2, Bristol Rovers 1. Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Daniel Leadbitter.

Posted at 74'

Foul by John-Joe O'Toole (Northampton Town).

Posted at 74'

Jermaine Easter (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 73'

Foul by John Marquis (Northampton Town).

Posted at 73'

Ollie Clarke (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Substitution

Posted at 71'

Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Jermaine Easter replaces Billy Bodin.

Posted at 70'

Attempt missed. John-Joe O'Toole (Northampton Town) header from the right side of the six yard box is just a bit too high.

Posted at 70'

Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Steve Mildenhall.

Posted at 70'

Attempt saved. Nicky Adams (Northampton Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner.

Posted at 69'

Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Tom Lockyer.

Posted at 69'

John Marquis (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 69'

Foul by Daniel Leadbitter (Bristol Rovers).

Posted at 67'

Foul by John Marquis (Northampton Town).

Posted at 67'

Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 65'

Rod McDonald (Northampton Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 65'

Foul by Ellis Harrison (Bristol Rovers).

Posted at 62'

David Buchanan (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 62'

Foul by Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers).

Posted at 60'

Attempt saved. Sam Hoskins (Northampton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Posted at 57'

Attempt missed. Sam Hoskins (Northampton Town) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left.

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