League One + League Two roundup: Lincoln City seal historic promotion to the Championship

Lincoln City clinched promotion to the Championship for the first time since 1961 thanks to a hard-earned 2-1 victory at League One play-off chasers Reading.

Needing just one point to return to the second tier for the first time in 65 years, the Imps made a bright start and went in front in only the fifth minute through Ryan One.

Reading levelled in the second minute of stoppage time at the end, from a Lewis Wing free-kick, but Jack Moylan snatched the winner four minutes later to send Michael Skubala’s side up to the second tier of English football.

Here is a round-up of the key results from Monday’s action.

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Imps on the rise

City’s 2,884 fans in the packed away end had plenty to cheer early on when One nodded home a Reeco Hackett-Fairchild free-kick, which home goalkeeper Joel Pereira should perhaps have saved.

Reading, unbeaten at home in their previous 10 matches, were unable to make any headway against the Imps’ well-drilled defence.

Charlie Savage fired wastefully wide in a rare home attack, while defender Ryley Towler drove narrowly over as the visitors almost doubled their lead.

Lincoln were content to sit back for much of the second period, their job almost completed, as the Royals drove forward relentlessly but fruitlessly.

City substitute Alfie Lloyd headed wide from a Conor McGrandles cross before Reading equalised through Wing’s fine 20-yard free kick.

In the sixth minute of added time, Moylan slammed home from close range as Lincoln returned to the second tier and dealt a blow to the home side’s play-off hopes.

League One

Harry Leonard’s equaliser earned a share of the spoils from a 1-1 draw for Peterborough United against second-placed Cardiff City, who dropped yet more points in the promotion race.

Leonard immediately cancelled out Alex Robertson’s opener for the Bluebirds as their wobble extended to just two wins in eight games, with the gap between them and third – now occupied by Bradford City – down to seven points.

The Bantams came from behind to beat Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 at Adams Park, Aden Baldwin’s second-half dealing their play-off hopes a huge boost after Bobby Pointon had cancelled out Andre Vidigal’s opener for the Chairboys, who slumped to 11th.

Bolton Wanderers and Stockport County cancelled each other out with a 2-2 draw, which effectively ended both teams’ hopes of securing automatic promotion, Ben Osborn’s late own goal earning the home side a point.

Stevenage moved back into the play-off places with a 1-0 win at home to Blackpool, Harvey White firing the winner in the 66th minute to raise hopes of promotion, though seventh-place Plymouth Argyle’s 3-0 win at Barnsley kept the pressure on.

Luton Town kept alive their play-off hopes with a 3-0 win away at AFC Wimbledon, Burton Albion picked up a precious point in their battle for survival in a goalless draw at Mansfield Town, and Wigan Athletic took a significant step towards survival with a 3-1 win over Northampton Town at Sixfields.

And Exeter City ended a 15-match winless run to give their hopes of avoiding relegation a boost with a 3-0 thrashing of Doncaster Rovers, while Leyton Orient lost 2-1 at home to Huddersfield Town.

League Two

Milton Keynes Dons failed to take advantage of leaders Bromley not playing as they were held to a 1-1 draw away at Oldham Athletic, Mike Fondop with a late goal to deny Dons after Marvin Ekpiteta’s opener.

The Ravens take on Shrewsbury Town tonight.

Lucas Ness headed in his first two career goals to put Notts County into the top three following a 3-1 win over relegation-threatened Newport County at Meadow Lane, while Cheltenham Town dented Cambridge United’s automatic promotion hopes after Jake Eastwood scored a stoppage-time own goal in a 1-1 draw.

Late goals from Fletcher Holman and Aaron Drinan saw Swindon Town come from behind to beat Walsall 2-1.

Salford City’s automatic play-off hopes were dented as they went down to a 1-0 defeat at Crewe Alexandra, while Chesterfield boosted theirs with a 1-0 victory over Barrow.

First-half goals from Jaze Kabia and Harvey Rodgers boosted Grimsby Town’s play-off bid with a 2-0 win at 10-man Crawley Town, Gillingham were 2-0 winners against Accrington Stanley and Ellis Harrison scored twice as Bristol Rovers beat Harrogate Town 3-2.

Barnet moved to within four points of the play-off places with a 5-2 win over Fleetwood Town and Tranmere Rovers lost 1-0 at home to Colchester United, meaning all of the bottom sides in League Two suffered defeats on Easter Monday.

Full results (Easter Monday – League One)

AFC Wimbledon 0‑3 Luton Town
Barnsley 0‑3 Plymouth Argyle
Bolton Wanderers 2‑2 Stockport County
Exeter City 3‑0 Doncaster Rovers
Leyton Orient 1‑2 Huddersfield Town
Mansfield Town 0‑0 Burton Albion
Northampton Town 1‑3 Wigan Athletic
Peterborough United 1‑1 Cardiff City
Reading 1‑2 Lincoln City
Stevenage 1‑0 Blackpool
Wycombe Wanderers 1‑2 Bradford City

Full results (Easter Monday – League Two)

Barrow 0‑1 Chesterfield
Cheltenham Town 1‑1 Cambridge United
Crawley Town 0‑2 Grimsby Town
Crewe Alexandra 1‑0 Salford City
Fleetwood Town 2‑5 Barnet
Gillingham 2‑0 Accrington Stanley
Harrogate Town 2‑3 Bristol Rovers
Notts County 3‑1 Newport County
Oldham Athletic 1‑1 Milton Keynes Dons
Swindon Town 2‑1 Walsall
Tranmere Rovers 0‑1 Colchester United

READ MORE: Championship roundup: Ipswich Town seize second place as promotion race twists on Easter Monday