Match ends, Northampton Town 2, Bristol Rovers 2.
NorthamptonNorthampton Town2Bristol RoversBristol Rovers2
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.
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.
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
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Northampton Town 2, Bristol Rovers 2.
Goal!
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.
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Attempt missed. Cristian Montaño (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left.
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Attempt missed. James Collins (Northampton Town) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left.
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Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Lee Brown.
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Foul by James Collins (Northampton Town).
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Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Northampton Town. Jason Taylor replaces John Marquis.
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Foul by Ricky Holmes (Northampton Town).
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Ollie Clarke (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
John Marquis (Northampton Town) is shown the yellow card.
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Hand ball by John Marquis (Northampton Town).
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Zander Diamond (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers).
Booking
Daniel Leadbitter (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Ricky Holmes (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Daniel Leadbitter (Bristol Rovers).
Substitution
Substitution, Northampton Town. James Collins replaces Nicky Adams.
Substitution
Substitution, Northampton Town. Lawson D'Ath replaces Sam Hoskins.
