Gillingham picked up a point in the goalless draw at Sixfields that keeps them in League One for another season.
Ady Pennock’s side went into the game knowing they needed to at least equal or better Port Vale’s result at Fleetwood Town and in the end, their game ended goalless too ensuring the Kent team secured their third tier status for another season.
A tight game saw Gillingham miss an early penalty, with Josh Wright’s spot kick saved by David Cornell, and fail to take other chances to secure survival.
As the Kent side avoided demotion to League Two, the Valiants following Swindon Town, Coventry City and Chesterfield into the fourth tier.
There was extra spice going into the game with former Gills boss Justin Edinburgh now at The Cobblers and his refusal to shake Ady Pennock’s hand before the match added more tension with the visitors buoyed by around 1,000 travelling fans.
Cornell was preferred to Adam Smith in goal and repaid the decision with smart stops to deny Jake Hessenthaler and Lee Martin in the first half. Northampton’s best chances came late in the first half, with Marc Richards heading wide from six yards and Shaun McWilliams seeing an attempt blocked.
Gillingham’s created chances to grab a win that would’ve guaranteed survival early in the second half, but McDonald and Mark Byrne fired strikes wide while Cornell denied Ryan Jackson.
The game ultimately petered out, with the result seeing Cobblers boss Justin Edinburgh pick up a point against the side who sacked him earlier in the season.
It also added up to a nervy conclusion for the visitors, as the clash finished before Port Vale’s game, but the away team would ultimately be cheering survival to end their season.
Northampton Town line up: Cornell, Moloney, Buchanan, Anderson, Diamond, Boateng (Anderson 65), Richards, Revell, McWilliams, Nyatanga, Taylor.
Subs not used: Smith, McCourt, Beautyman, Phillips, Iaciofano, McDonald.
Booked: Taylor (42), Moloney (75).
Gillingham line up: Nelson, Jackson, Martin, Ehmer, Oshilaja, Rehman, Byrne, Wright, Hessenthaler, McDonald, Parker.
Subs not used: Holy, Wagstaff, Osadebe, Quigley, List, Muldoon, Cornick.
Referee: Mr Darren England
Attendance: 7,034 (1,054 away)