Rochdale and Notts County both secured promotion on a decisive day at the top of Coca-Cola League Two.
County have been through a turbulent season at boardroom level and have had four managers along the way, but are unbeaten since Steve Cotterill's appointment in February and secured their elevation with a 4-1 triumph at home to Morecambe.
Lee Hughes struck twice to earn the Magpies a 3-0 half-time lead, Ricky Ravenhill with the second, and Ben Davies rounded off the win after David Artell pulled one back.
Dale needed just a solitary Chris O'Grady goal to see off Northampton and move to 82 points, one behind County and 13 ahead of fourth-placed Rotherham, who have just three games remaining.
The striker netted his 21st of the season after Chris Dagnall diverted Tom Kennedy's corner into his path in the 23rd minute. County and Dale meet at Meadow Lane on Tuesday in a game which will go a long way to determining the destination of the title.
The Millers were held to a goalless draw by Cheltenham, allowing third-placed Bournemouth to move eight points clear and to the brink of promotion with a 2-0 win over Darlington. Anton Robinson and Brett Pitman scored the second-half goals, the latter from the penalty spot.
Just three points covers Rotherham, Bury, Aldershot, Dagenham and Redbridge and Chesterfield in the battle for the play-off places.
The Shots and Bury were forced to come behind for draws, Ben Harding cancelling out Clayton Donaldson's first-minute opener as the former drew 1-1 with Crewe while Efe Sodje earned the Shakers a point after Port Vale had led for 52 minutes through Marc Richards' 30th-minute penalty.
Graeme Montgomery's goal deep into injury time earned the Daggers a 2-1 win after Romain Vincelot had cancelled out Shaun Harrad's opener for Burton.
Meanwhile, Shrewsbury beat Lincoln, Grimsby were beaten 3-0 at home by Torquay, Hereford recorded a 2-1 win at Accrington and Michael Flynn struck in the last minute as Bradford beat Barnet by the same scoreline.
Source: PA
