Final Standings

Last updated : 20 April 2002 By Andy Beill
Mansfield took back 3rd place from Cheltenham to win automatic promotion. The Stags beat Carlisle 2-0 at Field Mill, and with the Robins losing 2-0 at champions Plymouth it sees Mansfield taking the last promotion spot by a single point.

Cheltenham finish 4th and so will play 7th-placed Hartlepool in the play-offs after the Monkey Hangers won 2-0 at Exeter today.

Rochdale came from behind to win 2-1 against Bristol Rovers at Spotland, with McLoughlin getting the winner from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute. 'Dale play Rushden & Diamonds in the play-offs after they sealed their place with a 4-2 win at Halifax. The Shaymen had taken a 22nd minute lead but four second half goals saw the league newcomers claim victory, with Fitzpatrick getting a late consilation goal for Town.

Scunthorpe missed out on the play-offs on goal difference. A last minute goal from Martin Carruthers gave them a 1-0 victory against York at Glanford Park, but 8 goals seperate them from Hartlepool in the last play-off spot.

Shrewsbury also missed their chance of an extended season. A result against Luton would have ensured them of a place in the play-offs, but Gregor Rioch scored an own goal in the first half and Steve Howard sealed it deep into stoppage time to make it 2-0.

10th-placed Kidderminster lost 1-0 to Leyton Orient, but they were already out of the running before today.

Meanwhile Cambridge, Wrexham, Bury and Bournemouth played their last Division 2 games today; they have all been relegated to the Third Division.

Reading won promotion to Division 1 after drawing 1-1 with 3rd-placed Brentford, who needed to win to take 2nd-place. Instead, the Bees will be in the play-offs along with Cardiff, Stoke and Huddersfield.

In the Conference, Boston stay top after beating Farnborough 4-0. Dagenham & Redbridge are 2 points behind them after drawing 0-0 at Scarborough. They each have two games left to play, when just one of them will win promotion to the Football League in the final game of the season on Sunday 28th.