Lincoln win promotion to Championship after 65-year absence from second tier

Lincoln clinched promotion to the Sky Bet 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, Lincoln 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.

Harry Leonard’s equaliser earned a share of the spoils from a 1-1 draw for Peterborough against second-placed Cardiff 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 – down to seven points.

Bradford came from behind to beat Wycombe 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 Wycombe, who slumped to 11th.

Bolton and Stockport 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’s 3-0 win at Barnsley kept the pressure on.

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

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

In League Two, MK Dons failed to take advantage of leaders Barrow not playing as they were held to a 1-1 draw away at Oldham, Mike Fondop with a late goal to deny Dons after Marvin Ekpiteta’s opener.

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 dented Cambridge’s automatic promotion hopes after Jake Eastwood’s scored a stoppage-time own goal in a 1-1 draw.

Late goals from Fletcher Holman and Aaron Drinan saw Swindon come from behind to beat Walsall 2-1, Salford’s automatic play-off hopes were dented as they went down to a 1-0 defeat at Crewe while Chesterfield won 1-0 at Barrow.

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

Barnet moved to within four points of the play-off places with a 5-2 win over Fleetwood, Grimsby won 2-0 at Crawley and Tranmere lost 1-0 at home to Colchester.