Cardiff City secured an immediate return to the Championship after a 3-1 victory against Reading on the final day of the League One season. The South Wales club, supported by around 3,000 away fans at the Madejski Stadium, confirmed their promotion thanks in part to a last-minute equaliser from Exeter City that denied Stockport County the opportunity to leapfrog Cardiff in the table. Alongside Cardiff, Lincoln City also clinched Championship status after a 2-2 draw at Stevenage, leaving them just one point shy of the League One title.

Exeter City’s dramatic stoppage-time equaliser came from an unlikely source as goalkeeper Jack Bycroft became the first goalkeeper in 15 years to score in a League One match, heading home after the Grecians fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Stockport. The result leaves Exeter just two points behind their Devon rivals Plymouth Argyle, who secured a 3-1 away win at AFC Wimbledon, a side enduring their sixth consecutive loss.

Elsewhere at the bottom of the table, Leyton Orient’s 2-0 home defeat to already relegated Rotherham United has left their survival hopes in peril, while Charlton Athletic could not escape danger, drawing 1-1 at relegated Sheffield Wednesday, who extended their winless streak in league competition to 37 games.

In the Championship, Bolton Wanderers drew 3-3 with Huddersfield Town in a match marked by an incident of racist abuse directed at a Bolton player on social media. The club did not disclose the player’s identity but confirmed that appropriate authorities and platforms had been notified. Ibrahim Cissoko’s late curling strike in stoppage time salvaged a point for Bolton, who were reduced to ten men.

Barnsley, also down to ten men after an early sending off for Vimal Yoganathan, fought back to draw 2-2 with play-off hopefuls Bradford City. The result came shortly after the club announced that head coach Conor Hourihane, 35, would depart at the season’s end. Luton Town, victors of the Vertu Trophy, came from two goals behind to earn a 2-2 draw away at Mansfield Town.

Hull City remain in the play-off positions despite a 1-1 draw with Birmingham City, with Joe Gelhardt scoring his 14th goal of the campaign. Hull have now gone four league games without a victory, their longest winless run under manager Sergej Jakirovic. Meanwhile, Wrexham, Hull’s nearest challengers for a play-off spot, secured a 2-0 win over Stoke City thanks to a goal from George Thomason directly from a corner.

At the lower end of the table, Bristol City’s interim manager Roy Hodgson suffered his first defeat in four matches as his side lost 4-2 at home to Norwich City. Mohamed Touré netted his second hat-trick for Norwich since joining in February. Sheffield United continued their strong form with a 2-0 victory over Watford, courtesy of a brace from Patrick Bamford.

Relegation-threatened Leicester City’s situation worsened after a 1-0 loss at Portsmouth. Ibane Bowat’s goal secured Portsmouth their third consecutive win and significantly boosted their survival chances, leaving Leicester eight points adrift of safety with just three games remaining.

West Bromwich Albion extended their unbeaten streak to eight matches with a 2-0 win at Preston North End, although the club faces uncertainty over a possible points deduction that could impact their final standing. Derby County kept their play-off aspirations alive with a 1-0 win over Oxford United, thanks to a solo effort by Jaydon Banel. Oxford, meanwhile, remain in danger of relegation and must win their remaining fixtures to have a chance of survival.