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Northampton were in financial difficulty earlier this season

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.

Northampton fans ran onto the pitch at the final whistle

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.

Northamptonshire cricket captain Alex Wakely congratulates the Cobblers