Last automatic promotion place and playoffs confirmed on final day of 22/23 League Two season

The last remaining automatic promotion place and playoffs were confirmed on what was the final day of 22/23 League Two season.

Going it Bank Holiday Monday’s action, we knew that Northampton must win at Tranmere to seal final promotion spot – with any slip-up would give Stockport, who host Hartlepool, a chance to overtake.

Carlisle, Salford, Bradford and Mansfield were battling for the final three play-off spots while Leyton Orient and Stevenage were already promoted and Hartlepool and Rochdale have also been relegated.

So how did the final day play out? Find out for yourself below…

GOAL: Tranmere 0-1 Northampton – Sam Hoskins (5 mins)
Sam Hoskins, the league’s top scorer, has scored a stunning goal! The 22-goal striker is on the perimeter of the area when a corner is cleared. He takes the ball down to his chest, and then leathers it into the back of net. Northampton is now firmly in control of its promotion destiny.

GOAL: Grimsby 1-0 AFC Wimbledon – Isaac Ogundere own-goal (7 mins)

GOAL: Sutton 1-0 Carlisle – Kylian Kouassi (17 mins)
Sutton throw a spanner into Carlisle’s playoff plans with their opener at Gander Green Lane. David Ajiboye does a great job down the right, rolling into Kylian Kouassi at the edge of box. He gets the ball out of his foot and strokes as coolly as possible into the bottom left corner. Carlisle are still in the top seven, but Mansfield may be encouraged by this news.

GOAL: Barrow 0-1 Stevenage – Jake Reeves (25 mins)

GOAL: Harrogate 0-1 Rochdale – Jimmy Keohane (24 mins)

GOAL: Stockport 1-0 Hartlepool – Callum Camps (penalty) (39 mins)
Callum Camps scores from the penalty spot. It was a calm effort that went right into the top left corner. Stockport won’t automatically go up, but a Tranmere strike would change this.

GOAL: Bradford 0-1 Leyton Orient – Jordan Brown (41 mins)
Leyton Orient are now in the lead and Bradford are dealt a major blow. Tom James sent a beautiful pass to Jordan Brown, who darted into the box. Brown picked up the ball on the six yard box, and as goalkeeper Harry Lewis ran out to the left, Brown slid the ball across him in the bottom right corner. The Bantams are still in the play off places but this gives Mansfield some hope.

GOAL: Swindon 1-0 Crawley – Charlie Austin (41 mins)

GOAL: Bradford 1-1 Leyton Orient – Brad Halliday (43 mins)
A cross from Liam Ridehalgh was not cleared well. It fell to Brad Halliday. It deflected a defender for Orient and left Laurence Vigouroux stranded.

GOAL: Swindon 2-0 Crawley – Jake Cain (43 mins)

GOAL: Colchester 0-1 Mansfield – Riley Harbottle (45+2 mins)
Davis Keillor-Dunn sent over the free-kick and it’s met by a terrific header from Riley Harbottle, who is up from the back. More goals needed however for the Stags.

GOAL: Newport County 0-1 Crewe Alexandra – Rio Adebisi (56 mins)

GOAL: Stockport 1-1 Hartlepool – Callum Cooke (62 mins)
Northampton will be ecstatic to see a Hartlepool strike! Callum Cooke’s super strike gives Pools, relegated to the second tier, the lead. Cobblers will have to settle for a single point as it is.

GOAL: Swindon 2-1 Crawley – Dom Telford (62 mins) pen

GOAL: Walsall 1-0 Doncaster – Connor Wilkinson (57 mins)

GOAL: Newport County 1-1 Crewe Alexandra – Omar Bogle (77 mins) pen

GOAL: Walsall 2-0 Doncaster – Isaac Hutchinson (74 mins)

GOAL: Harrogate 1-1 Rochdale – Toby Sims (74 mins)

GOAL: Salford 0-1 Gillingham – Cheye Alexander (84 mins pen)

GOAL: Sutton 1-1 Carlisle – Joe Kizzi own goal (86 mins)

GOAL: Walsall 2-1 Doncaster – Bobby Faulkner (84 mins)

MISSED PENALTY: Callum Camps (Stockport)
Stockport 1-1 Hartlepool

GOAL: Newport County 2-1 Crewe Alexandra – Omar Bogle (90+2 mins)

GOAL: Newport County 2-2 Crewe Alexandra – Lachlan Brook (90+3 mins)

GOAL: Colchester 0-2 Mansfield – James Gale (90+7 mins)
Mansfield must score ONE more goal. A fine strike from James Gale gives them hope.

Northampton promoted from League Two

NORTHAMPTON PROMOTED TO LEAGUE ONE 📈🚨 pic.twitter.com/WVj2TouyOx

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 8, 2023

Salford City can relax 😅

Their place in the League Two play-offs is confirmed 🙌 pic.twitter.com/zkP65CSrVd

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 8, 2023

The promotion party for Northampton is in full swing 🎉 pic.twitter.com/Cz3ArjlDOR

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 8, 2023

FULL TIME SCORES:

Barrow (0) 0-1 (1) Stevenage
Bradford City (1) 1-1 (1) Leyton Orient
Colchester United (0) 0-2 (1) Mansfield Town
Grimsby Town (1) 1-0 (0) AFC Wimbledon
Harrogate Town (0) 1-1 (1) Rochdale
Newport County (0) 2-2 (0) Crewe Alexandra
Salford City (0) 0-1 (0) Gillingham
Stockport County (1) 1-1 (0) Hartlepool United
Sutton United (1) 1-1 (0) Carlisle United
Swindon Town (2) 2-1 (0) Crawley Town
Tranmere Rovers (0) 0-1 (1) Northampton Town
Walsall (0) 2-1 (0) Doncaster Rovers

PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

Semi-Finals

First leg
13 May 2023
19:45
Salford City v Stockport County

14 May 2023
19:00
Bradford City v Carlisle United

Second leg
20 May 2023
18:30
Stockport County v Salford City

20 May 2023
21:00
Carlisle United v Bradford City

This is how fans reacted as the last automatic promotion place and playoffs are confirmed on the final day of the 22/23 League Two season…

ON NORTHAMPTON

@Coops_Colin: This one is for all the Bradford, Bristol Rovers, Stockport, Mansfield fans etc who doubted us. The Town are going up! GET IN THERE

@KezGoldsworthy: Huge congratulations to you all. I can’t wait to come to sixfields with burton again. Love travelling to Northampton

@PMarshall78: Congrats @ntfc on your promotion! Well down to everyone connected to the club. Just need you to smash Direby County home and away next season

@SteveRice: A moment of magic from the man of the moment. The response after last season’s farcical and heartbreaking finale is a testament to the players led brilliantly by Jon Brady. I love this club.

@footyhipstercom: The lightning does not strike twice!

@NeilSullivan7: Congratulations lads! I’m pleased for Jon Brady, see you next season 👍

@GrantTheHatter: Well done Northampton 👍🏻

@DannytheBeaver: @JeffStelling just tell me when and where to buy you a pint! #ntfc

@DoomWolfKTFC23: Congratulations from a Kettering Town fan

SCENES #ntfc pic.twitter.com/7yFmD1e91t

— James (@James_ChronNTFC) May 8, 2023

ON MANSFIELD:

@MarkBirtles: Pitch invading in September 🤣🤣 Look how it ends. Warra season for you boys 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👌

@HJPM2001: Genuinely feel sorry for you guys did your bit good luck next season all the best

@alfiegilberttt: At least we can watch the playoffs in peace. Lads gave it everything a few new players (younger wel be up there again)

@DamonGiles2: Gutted. So close. Watched on ifollow and fans were absolute class once again. Never stopped singing all afternoon 👌🏼👏🏼👏🏼🟡🔵⚽️ Roll on August 🙏🏼

@MelSpedding_: 1 Bluddy goal! 😂 I’m not even mad, I love this team 💛💙 and what a season it’s been, roll on next season COYS 💛💙💛💙

@MichaelVorLad: Absolutely brutal to miss out om playoffs by one goal, unlucky #stags

@Asslesschaps9: Most Mansfield thing ever as if we’ve missed out by a single goal ffs 🥲 #stags

@oggy79: Gutted for Mansfield wanted them in the playoffs not Salford 😂😂

@dazfellows: Mansfield missing out by a goal is sweet. Imagine what NonLeagueNigel could’ve done with the extra signing that a deal for DJ would’ve facilitated. They thought they’d been really clever but all they actually managed to achieve was to fuck themselves over.