Lincoln City have got their ticket back to the English Championship after a decade-long absence. A 2:1 win at chasers Reading led to bliss.
Lincoln secured promotion from League One to the second-tier Championship thanks to a hard-fought 2:1 win at play-off contenders and former Premier League side Reading. The East Midlands club last played at this level in 1961.
“The Imps” only needed one more point to secure promotion. Scotsman Ryan Oné made it 1-0 in the fifth minute. Reading equalized in the second minute of stoppage time with a free-kick from Lewis Wing, but Jack Moylan scored the winner for the visitors four minutes later in front of 17,144 fans.
Cardiff drop points
Harry Leonard’s equalizer secured a 1-1 draw elsewhere for Peterborough against second-placed Cardiff, who dropped points in their fight for promotion. Leonard immediately equalized Alex Robertson’s opening goal for the Bluebirds, extending their slump to just two wins in eight games and narrowing the gap to third-placed Bradford City – now league newcomers – to seven points. Nevertheless, Cardiff still have a good chance of returning directly to the Championship.
Bradford turned their game around to beat Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 at Adams Park. Aden Baldwin’s second-half goal gave their play-off hopes a huge boost after Bobby Pointon had equalized Andre Vidigal’s opening goal for Wycombe, who slipped to 11th place.
Dampener for Bolton
Bolton Wanderers, in the Premier League until 2011/12 and occasionally in Europe, and Stockport County drew 2-2 in front of just under 24,000 fans, effectively ending both teams’ hopes of direct promotion; a late own goal from Ben Osborn at least secured a point for the hosts. Both clubs will be hoping to secure their third ticket to England’s second-highest division via the play-offs between third and sixth in the league.