Summary

  • Northampton Town are promoted to League One

  • Deflected Watson strike puts Cobblers in front

  • Morton guides Northampton into 2-0 lead with far-post finish

  • Hoskins extends advantage after Moxey sent off for poor tackle

  • Williams makes it 4-0 with first touch on as substitute

  • Match thought to be first-ever competitive behind-closed-doors game at Wembley

  • Northampton promoted along with Swindon, Crewe & Plymouth

  • Get involved via #bbcefl on Twitter

  1. goal

    GOAL: Exeter 0-4 Northamptonpublished at 89 mins

    Andy Williams

    What a way to come off the bench - Andy Williams flicks home with his first touch, seconds after coming on.

    It came from another well-executed long throw from Charlie Goode from the right. Northampton dominate in the air, yet again.

    They are cruising in to League One now, against 10-men Exeter, who will just want to get home quickly now, or wake up after a bad dream.

    Northampton Town players celebrate with Andy WilliamsImage source, Rex Features
  2. SUBSTITUTIONS (Northampton)published at 88 mins

    Exeter 0-3 Northampton

    Goal-scorer and tireless runner Callum Morton goes off, along with the man who got the opener so long ago, Ryan Watson.

    Andy Williams and Paul Anderson come on for two minutes of glory.

  3. YELLOW CARD (Exeter)published at 86 mins

    Exeter 0-3 Northampton

    Aaron Martin goes in to the referee's book for a late one on Callum Morton. Keith Curle is looking to make his final two changes.

  4. Postpublished at 82 mins

    Exeter 0-3 Northampton

    It's been as one-sided a game as you could realistically hope for in a play-off final, for Northampton fans.

    Cobblers have had nine efforts on target to Exeter's one.

  5. goal

    GOAL: Exeter 0-3 Northamptonpublished at 80 mins

    Sam Hoskins

    Northampton Town players celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    League One - say hello to Northampton Town. It's a game-ending third goal for Keith Curle's men.

    Callum Morton battles away, scraps and nudges the ball to Mark Marshall, who goes on a good run down the right, gets in to the area and squares it unselfishly in to the path of Sam Hoskins to roll the ball in to the bottom corner first time.

    Northampton are 10 minutes away from promotion.

  6. Swearing klaxonpublished at 78 mins

    Exeter 0-2 Northampton

    James Law
    BBC Sport at Wembley

    It's quite fitting that, bang on 21:00 BST - after the watershed - I hear my first clear bout of on-field swearing.

    It's been a staple of behind-closed-doors games, when the lack of fan noise means there's no hiding place for potty-mouthed players.

    I won't tell you what was said but it was fruity!

    WembleyImage source, Rex Features
  7. Postpublished at 77 mins

    Exeter 0-2 Northampton

    To their credit, Exeter have looked better since going down to 10 men. They're battling away, not giving up.

    But it's looking likely to be too little, too late.

    Exeter City v Northampton TownImage source, Rex Features
  8. SUBSTITUTIONS (Northampton)published at 75 mins

    Exeter 0-2 Northampton

    Now here's a double change for Cobblers, with Alan McCormack and Vadaine Oliver getting a rest.

    Arsenal loanee James Olayinka and striker Harry Smith come on instead.

  9. PENALTY APPEAL (Exeter)published at 74 mins

    Exeter 0-2 Northampton

    Exeter scream for a penalty as Archie Collins goes down in the area just as he was about to pull the trigger, but replays show Cobblers substitute Mark Marshall took the ball.

  10. CLOSE!published at 71 mins

    Exeter 0-2 Northampton

    This should be 3-0, game over, job done. Callum Morton is played clean through and is one-on-one with the keeper, but just places narrowly wide of the far post. He had so much time as he tried to add to his first-half goal, but it wasn't to be.

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:00 British Summer Time 29 June 2020

    #bbcefl

    Red cardImage source, Rex Features

    Anfield Dan: Northampton have dominated this game physically and mentally. Moxey’s red card has put the final nail in the coffin for Exeter. A very one-sided affair

    George: Exeter just not up for this at all.

  12. Postpublished at 68 mins

    Exeter 0-2 Northampton

    Here's the second-half drinks break. One last chance for Exeter boss Matt Taylor to inspire his 10 men.

    Exeter City manager Matt Taylor talks to his players during a drink breakImage source, Rex Features
  13. Postpublished at 67 mijns

    Exeter 0-2 Northampton

    Things have turned around remarkably for Northampton, who actually lost five of their final seven league games prior to the pandemic-enforced lockdown in March.

  14. Postpublished at 64 mins

    Exeter 0-2 Northampton

    With Northampton's extra man now as well, it's extremely hard to see Exeter turning this around, on the evidence of the first hour.

    But stranger things have happened in this game we all love...

  15. Silence after the red mistpublished at 61 mins

    Exeter 0-2 Northampton

    James Law
    BBC Sport at Wembley

    There was no audible reaction to that red card at all.

    I had to double-check that referee Michael Salisbury had actually sent Dean Moxey off, because it stayed so silent.

    It's those moments when the lack of crowd is particularly eerie.

  16. RED CARD (Exeter)published at 59 mins

    Exeter 0-2 Northampton

    Dean MoxeyImage source, Rex Features

    Curtains for Exeter. Dean Moxey is off.

    It's a nasty one. He goes in very late on Ryan Watson - seemingly in retaliation to a poor Cobblers tackle seconds earlier - and it's a straight red. Feet out of control. No complaints.

  17. Postpublished at 57 mins

    Exeter 0-2 Northampton

    It's hard to think of any examples tonight where an Exeter player has won an aerial battle with anyone in the Northampton XI.

    Physically, it's felt like a very one-sided affair.

  18. YELLOW CARD (Northampton)published at 55 mins

    Exeter 0-2 Northampton

    Moments after Cobblers were appealing for a penalty at one end - there was nothing in it, for me - they have Ryan Watson booked for a poor challenge on Randell Williams at the other. It gives Exeter a free-kick wide on the right, but they don't cause any problems from it.

  19. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:44 British Summer Time 29 June 2020

    #bbcefl

    You can have your say on the action - and the empty seats - via #bbcefl on social media.

  20. SUBSTITUTIONS (Exeter)published at 51 mins

    Exeter 0-2 Northampton

    Exeter made a double change. Jayden Richardson and Alex Fisher go off, with Tom Parkes and Archie Collins coming on instead.