Exeter City were condemned to a third play-off final defeat in the space of four years, as Northampton Town hit four goals past the ten-man Grecians in front of an empty Wembley Stadium.
The Grecians trailed by two goals at half-time through Ryan Watson and Torquay-born Callum Morton; and their misery was compounded on 59 minutes when left-back Dean Moxey for a lunge on Ryan Watson - scorer of the Cobblers' opening goal.Further goals from former Yeovil Town forward Sam Hoskins then made it three with ten minutes to go and experienced striker Andy Williams - another former Glover - completed the scoring in the 89th minute.
Watson's deflected strike in the 17th minute gave the lead before West Bromwich Albion loanee Callum Morton, who one-time Cobblers' boss Gary Johnson was close to signing for Torquay United on loan in January, doubled the Cobblers' advantage in the 31st minute.
The Grecians had keeper Jonny Maxted to thank as he made a string of fine saves to keep the Cobblers to bay. Leading scorer Ryan Bowman found himself through on goal on the stroke of half time, but the ball bounced off his leg and went behind for a goal kick.
Any hopes City had of making a comeback were extinguished in the 59th minute when Moxey saw red for his challenge on Watson.
Their misery was further compounded in the final ten minutes as Hoskins side footed home on 80 minutes before Williams within a minute of coming off the bench to replace Morton in the 89th minute.
So instead of being a first promotion for Grecians manager Matt Taylor, it was a first promotion for Northampton manager Keith Curle. Former Manchester City and England defender Curle, who played for and managed Torquay United, had experienced a play-off final defeat with Mansfield Town in the 2003-04 season and was the Carlisle United manager when the Grecians beat them in the League Two play-off semi-finals in the 2016-17 campaign.
