Tranmere Rovers 0-1 Northampton Town: Will Hoskins scores as Cobblers seal promotion to League One
Northampton #Northampton
Sam Hoskins’ 22nd league goal of the season put the Cobblers ahead inside five minutes
Northampton Town sealed promotion to League One as a sumptuous Will Hoskins volley earned victory over Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park.
The Cobblers needed maximum points to be certain of going up and held their nerve in a tense match, meaning Stockport County’s result against already relegated Hartlepool was irrelevant.
As it happened, Stockport failed to keep their side of the bargain, missing an injury-time penalty as they drew with Pools, meaning Jon Brady’s side finished third and four points clear of County.
Northampton fans celebrated wildly as the news of that spot-kick miss – and the subsequent final whistle at Edgeley Park – filtered through.
Supporters poured onto the pitch, with matchwinner Hoskins and numerous team-mates mobbed and carried aloft as they all celebrated.
More to follow.
Cobblers heal scars of last season
Northampton’s charge towards promotion this season was, according to boss Jon Brady, built on the “big scar” that was left by missing out on automatic promotion on goal difference on the final day of last season, when Bristol Rovers beat Scunthorpe 7-0 to pip them.
Then losing to Mansfield in the play-offs could have further derailed the Cobblers.
Instead, they have been amongst the challengers all season after winning eight and losing only one of their first 11 league games.
They stuttered a little in October when they won only one of their six league fixtures, and again early in the new year when they picked up just six points from a possible 18.
But since winning at Colchester at the end of February, they have won eight of their 14 games, losing only twice, to take a stranglehold on a top-three place.
Defeat by Bradford in their penultimate game meant, once again, the Cobblers would have to sweat on the final day, but there was to be no freakish last-gasp drama to deny them this time.
And although it has been very much a team effort, undoubtedly the quality of League Two’s player of the year Sam Hoskins has played a huge part in their success.
No-one has done more than him and it was fitting that his stunning strike set Northampton on their way to joining champions Leyton Orient and Stevenage in League One next season.
Line-upsTranmere
Formation 4-2-3-1
23Hewelt
2Dacres-Cogley5Davies14Turnbull3Bristow
24Hendry4O’Connor
32Taylor17Hughes11Hawkes
10Hemmings
Substitutes
Northampton
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Burge
20Lintott6Sherring35Dyche24Haynes
17McWilliams12Leonard
7Hoskins11Pinnock9Appéré
19Bowie
Substitutes
Referee:Craig Hicks
Attendance:8,225
Live Text
Match ends, Tranmere Rovers 0, Northampton Town 1.
Second Half ends, Tranmere Rovers 0, Northampton Town 1.
Danny Hylton (Northampton Town) is shown the yellow card.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match (Tranmere Rovers).
Attempt missed. Jay Turner-Cooke (Tranmere Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Josh Hawkes.
Corner, Tranmere Rovers. Conceded by Harvey Lintott.
Offside, Northampton Town. Sam Sherring tries a through ball, but Danny Hylton is caught offside.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Lee Burge (Northampton Town).
Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Joel Mumbongo replaces Jordan Turnbull.
Attempt missed. Sam Hoskins (Northampton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by William Hondermarck.
Attempt blocked. Josh Hawkes (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ethan Bristow.
Substitution, Northampton Town. David Norman Jr. replaces Louis Appéré because of an injury.
Substitution, Northampton Town. Danny Hylton replaces Kieron Bowie.
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Tom Davies.
Attempt blocked. Kieron Bowie (Northampton Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Louis Appéré.
Foul by Tom Davies (Tranmere Rovers).
Harvey Lintott (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Jake Burton (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.