Scott Wharton’s bid for a third promotion from League Two is still intact after a dramatic comeback from Northampton Town in their play-off semi-final second leg.

The Cobblers trailed 2-0 to Cheltenham Town after last week’s meeting at Sixfields but overturned that deficit with a 3-0 win at The Jonny Rocks Stadium on Monday night.

Cheltenham hadn’t lost by more than one goal, or conceded three goals in a game, all season, and posted the best defensive record in the EFL.

But Keith Curle’s side upset the odds as a first half Vadaine Oliver header, and two after the break from West Brom loanee Callum Morton sent the Cobblers to Wembley after a 3-2 aggregate win.

Wharton started both legs and has now played 42 times for the Cobblers during his season-long loan, his fifth separate loan in League Two.

He spent the first half of last season with Lincoln, having finished the 2017/18 campaign with the Imps, before switching to Bury in January to help the Shakers to promotion as they finished as runners-up to the Sincil Bank side.

As well as those two promotions, Wharton has experienced the play-offs before, playing the first leg of Lincoln’s semi-final against Exeter City, who the Cobblers will meet in the Wembley final on June 29. 

A delighted Keith Curle told his club’s website: “I’m very proud, not just of this performance but of all the work that has gone on behind the scenes.

“It hasn’t been easy but everything has been done correctly by the people in the background at the club and that gave us the platform to go out and play football.

“It was important we had the belief, our plan was to get the first goal because we knew that was vitally important.

“The focus of the players has been very good and if in life you believe in something you are a step closer to doing it.

“A 2-0 lead is a difficult one to defend and we felt we could really impose ourselves on the game tonight.

“We embrace the way we play, the players will have a day to enjoy their achievement but then we focus on Exeter and trying to replicate this performance."