Port Vale 2-2 Northampton
Port Vale 2-2 Northampton: former Valiant Lee Collins provided a crucial own-goal as the Vale came from behind to secure a point and all but secure promotion to League One.
In front of a lively 12,000-plus crowd at Vale Park, the Valiants initially looked lethargic and had an awful start as Northampton defender Clark Carlisle scored after just three minutes.
However, Port Vale equalised when Liam Chilvers, who was having one of his best Vale games, headed in striker Tom Pope’s cross just before the break.
But Northampton Town took a deserved lead through a goal from O’Donovan before defender Collins’ sliced clearance saw Vale level.
As news of results elsewhere filtered in, Port Vale fans celebrated at the end knowing that only an unlikely 28 goal swing in favour of Cheltenham on the final day will stop them going up.
It is due reward for a fantastic campaign by manager Micky Adams’ team in a rollercoaster of a season. The celebrations at Vale’s next match at Wycombe will be long, loud and well deserved.
Full-time: Port Vale 2-2 Northampton
Vale: Neal, Yates, Purse (Shuker), Chilvers, Jones, Myrie-Williams, Griffith (Morsy), Dodds (Birchall), Loft, Hughes, Pope
Subs: Johnstone, Duffy, Lloyd, McCombe