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Latest team to win promotion to League One via the League Two Playoff Final confirmed

The latest team to win promotion to League One via the League Two Playoff Final has been confirmed following tonight’s much anticipated clash.

It was of course a playoff final with a difference, no fans were allowed in at Wembley due to the government’s coronavirus guidelines.

Supporters were able to watch on in spirits from the comfort of their own homes as the game was televised on Sky Sports.

Northampton Town were the team to seal that all important promotion which saw them return to League One for the first time since the 2017/18 season where they suffered relegation.

Last season, the Cobblers finished a dismal 15th in League Two under Keith Curle, who came into the club in October 2018 by replacing Dean Austin, however their current boss can take the praise after he guided them from relegation candidates to safety.

This season saw Northampton finish the 2019/20 season in 7th place, the last playoff position, based on a PPG version of the League Two table. The campaign had nine remaining games to be played, but due to club’s finances, it was voted to cancel by the majority.

In the semi final 1st leg, Keith Curle’s men suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to 4th place Cheltenham Town, however they turned the tie completely around in the second leg by winning 3-0 (3-2 on aggregate) thanks to goals from Vadaine Oliver and a double from Callum Morton.

Their opponents for the final was Exeter City, who made it this point in the playoffs three times in four years.

They also fell behind in the semi final first leg when they lost in a drub 1-0 defeat at Colchester United, the Grecians managed to not register a single shot on target.

Again like Northampton, Exeter managed to perform a surprise comeback at their home ground, hitting three past the U’s to win 3-2 on aggregate.

So, how did the final play out?

Northampton got themselves off to a flying start, after it took Ryan Watson just 11 minutes to get on the scoresheet.

Watson did well on the edge of the box to work space for a strike, and his effort deflected into the net.

That lead was doubled a quarter of an hour later when on-loan West Brom forward Callum Morton, who shone in the semi final second leg with two second half goals.

Scott Wharton and Jordan Turnbull both won headers in the box which lead to Morton prodding the ball into the net. A well-worked set-piece and an instinctive finish.

Exeter got themselves more of the ball after the two goals, however went into the break with no efforts on target compared to the eight earned by the Cobblers.

Matt Taylor’s side started brighter in the second half, before making substitutions within 5 minutes of the restart, before going on to have Dean Moxey get shown a straight red for a late challenge on Watson on the 59th minute.

A fight back from Exeter couldn’t be found and Northampton ended any hopes of that when Sam Hoskins scored 10 minutes from time to send the Cobblers back to League One.

Andy Williams gave Exeter more misery by adding to Northampton’s goals, making it 4-0 before the final whistle blew.

Fans reacted after the latest team to win promotion to League One via the League Two Playoff Final was confirmed…

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