Alan McCormack and Michael Harriman feature as Northampton Town win promotion to English League One

Alan McCormack and Michael Harriman led Northampton Town to promotion to English League One following a thumping 4-0 win over Exeter City in the League Two play-off final.

Dubliner McCormack secured his third straight promotion, having gone up in consecutive years with Luton Town, thanks to a comfortable 4-0 victory over the Grecians at Wembley.

Goals from Ryan Watson and Callum Morton gave the Cobblers a commanding 2-0 half-time lead before Sam Hoskins and Andy Williams added gloss to the scoreline late on.

Former Bray Wanderers and Reading defender Pierce Sweeney lined out for Exeter on the evening but was replaced late on as the Devon side pushed for a way back into the game.

Watson opened the scoring in front of an empty Wembley Stadium after just 11 minutes when his deflected strike wrong-footed Jonny Maxted.

The lead was doubled by Morton past the half-hour when he reacted quickly to a scramble in the box and stabbed into the net.

Things got worse for the Grecians when Dean Moxey was sent off early in the second for a bad tackle on Watson.

Northampton had to wait until nine minutes from time for goal numbers three, however, as Hoskins struck before substitute Williams added the fourth in the final minute.

"You have to have belief, and we've got a group of players and staff that have got belief in what we are trying to do,” manager Keith Curle told Sky Sports.

"We are very proud to play for the football club, the owners, the chairman and the investors. I've got to say thank you to my family because they play a big part. We are proud to represent the fans.



"We've got an identity and we have to make sure we didn't navigate away from our identity. We've been on a massive journey. I remember a season ticket holder throwing a season ticket at me."