Town 1 - 1 Northampton

Macca returned to the Mariners line-up, but Reddy had to be on the bench, for this all-important game. Mendes started up front, with Cohen able to resume his wide role after filling in for McDermott.

Woodhouse picked up the ball, brought in Goodfellow but looking for the return Woodhouse had wandered offside.

Woodhouse, Bolland McDermott and Cohen made progress, and there was an appeal for handball but referee Taylor ignored the calls.

Cohen clipped the ball towards Mendes as the Blundell Park crowd lifted the rafters, and the ball was over hit as it was collected by Lee Harper.

Gary Jones flicked the ball near post and the ball was cleared as Mendes tried to meet it, as Town dictated the early exchanges.

Croft won a free-kick and took it himself, but it was just too high for Rob Jones.

Whittle conceded the first corner of the game as Northampton produced their first serious attack after 10 minutes. Curled in from the left, Town conceded a second successive corner, headed clear by Whittle and Town broke through Mendes and Cohen, with the shot coming in from Cohen.

The ball broke for Mendes after 12:47 and it took a great save from Harper to keep Town out. At the same moment in the game at Oxford the home side had taken the lead ... with Town technically now in third spot!

Cohen went through the middle and got past one challenge before the ball was collected ... as Orient drew level with Oxford, and Town slipped back to fourth!

Northampton came more into the game from the fifteenth minute, and Gavin Johnson threw in long, with Whittle heading clear, and Northampton pressured through Johnson before Rob Jones cleared.

Mendes tried to go past his man and was fouled by Dyche. Woodhouse took the kick, found the head of Gary Jones and he placed it wide, with a large section of the crowd thinking the ball was in the back of the net.

Woodhouse then tried a long range strike which needed a good save from Harper on 22 minutes.

Macca robbed Johnson of the ball and returned it to Mildenhall, as Crofty went down injured, and had to leave the pitch for further attention from Dave Moore. He rejoined the battle though still not running freely.

Mendes stole the ball, but Doig stepped in to rob the Trown man of a shooting opportunity. Woodhouse then won a free-kick just outside the box. Woodhouse took the kick, headed out, and then cleared by Low.

Kalala was stripped ready to replace Croft and came on after 29 minutes. Woodhouse dropped to left-back.

Dyche put the ball out of the ground on the half-hour as Town pressed. Woodhouse took the corner, and Whittle drove the ball which was blocked on the 6 yard box.

Kalala found Gary Jones who was felled in the box, but Paul Taylor the referee who is hardly the most popular man at Blundell Park after last season's Darlington game, turned down a certain penalty. Russell Slade let the match official know of his dissatisfaction with the decision.

Mildenhall came out a long way to take Town's next free-kick, which went straight to his opposite number.

Goodfellow raced Chambers for the ball and hit it early, but he was off target.

The Referee did award a free-kick to the Mariners for a handball, but this was outside the penalty area. Woodhouse lifted the ball over the goal line.

Gary Jones brought another save out of Harper as Mendes and McDermott set up the chance.

Goodfellow brought in Mendes, and he was caught by Crowe on the edge of the area, which saw the former Town player booked.

Goodfellow took the free-kick and Woodhouse drove over the Pontoon bar.

Town 0 - 0 Northampton

Gary Jones conceded an early free kick, and Northampton were the first on the attack. Northampton won a throw, taken long, but Rob Jones cleared, as each side gave the ball away, until the Cobblers were caught offside through former Boston forward Andy Kirk.

Andy Kirk had a chance immediately afterwards, and he mis-hit the shot with Mildenhall getting to the ball.

With five minutes of the second-half gone, it was the more relaxed Northampton who were on top, but Mendes won the first corner of the second half, and though Whittle got to the ball he couldn't direct the ball goalwards and Northampton broke away.

A challenge by Rob Jones saw Andy Kirk fall dramatically, and win a free-kick by Hunt, with Kalala challenging well at the expense of a Northampton corner. Lowe shot but well off target.

Gary Jones was next to be penalised for a handball.

Hunt threw long into the box, cleared by Whittle, and the Cobblers continued their dominance.

A great run by Cohen was clipped in, and when it was cleared Woodhouse clipped it back in and the Cobblers defence cleared for a corner to Town. The ball went right across goal as Kalala tried a flying header.

Jones got the ball in the box and Doig hit the ball into touch. Macca threw long, and as the ball came out Macca was found again, racing into the box, but Harper was equal to the chance at the expense of a Town corner, which Rob Jones headed wide.

After 60 minutes Parkinson came on for Marc Goodfellow, and ex Mariner Jason Lee replaced Jess.

Woodhouse won a corner for Town after 65 minutes, Kalala hit the shot, but it hit Whittle and went to safety.

Reddy stripped off, and came on for Mendes after 68 minutes.

Macca threw into the Osmond goalmouth as Gary Jones headed over.

Gilligan replaced Andy Kirk with 20 minutes of the game left.

Reddy found Parkinson who won a corner, with the match being all the Mariners. Kalala chipped it back in, Bolland low ball was cleared, and then Town won a throw in. Macca threw it in long, and won another corner.

Woodhouse's corner was glanced wide.

Gary Jones fell to the spot on 74 minutes and this time Paul Taylor pointed to the spot. Kalala claimed the ball.

74:52 Goal!: Kalala smacked the ball into the back of the net.

Blundell Park went wild, and the Town fans tried to lift further their heroes and sing them home to promotion.

Macca found Cohen, then Reddy who won a throw in.

Macca threw to Reddy and won another Town throw.

Gary Jones found Parkinson whose tight-angled drive was saved by Harper.

Parkinson got away with the ball, found Gary Jones, and then Kalala, and with Reddy closing Harper skied the ball out.

Town battled with the Cobblers and Bolland went down injured, but as Northampton put in a long free-kick Town cleared their lines.

Reddy whipped a cross towards Gary Jones, but Crowe cleared his lines.

Reddy won the ball again, and took the ball to the corner as three defenders surrounded him.

Bolland came back on after treatment to his nose.

Whittle had a brilliant challenge on Low as he threatened the Town goal.

Northampton won a free-kick in a dangerous position on the curve of the D, Whittle blocked it on the ground and then Northampton put the ball out for a Town goal-kick.

Reddy broke chased by four defenders one of whom stretched a leg and robbed the Town man.

Three minutes of time were signalled.

Whittle headed behind for a Northampton corner

93:00 Goal!: Northampton put the corner in after the ball had been cleared off the line.

Full-time: Town 1 - 1 Northampton