The Winners and Losers of League Two's Final Day Choas

League Two’s final day saw chaos – in every form. Whether it was last minute winners, playoffs being secured or team’s entire seasons being ruined in a flash, League Two delivered in its purest form. Join me as we go through the winners and losers from League Two’s final day.

Winner – Bradford City –

Bradford City were League Two’s main winners on Saturday with the Bantams securing automatic promotion through a 3rd place finish. But, they left it until the latest of moments. For large periods of the game, Bradford were on top with large spells of possession although could not break through the low-block approach Fleetwood had aimed to implement at Valley Parade. Then as the 90th minute approached, chances and lots of them. Firstly, a Jack Shepherd effort hit the post. Then, serial promotion winner Antoni Sarcevic skied over from 4 yards out leading many in the stadium to believe that was it, playoffs it would be. However, what followed was chaos. In the 96th minute, Tommy Leigh punted the ball up, it was headed away by a Fleetwood centre back before George Lapslie’s deflected effort rolled into the bottom corner sending the Kop behind the goal and the entire stadium into limbs. 2 pitch invasions followed before a minute of play. Martin Coy then signalled full time to the reaction of a 3rd pitch invasion, bigger and better than the two that has preceded it.

Scenes that no Bantams fan will ever forget as their side secured promotion in the most dramatic way possible.

🔥 FULL-TIME SCENES! 🔥

Bradford City snatch promotion to League One with a last-gasp winner!

The Bantams are BACK! ⬆️#ITVFootball | @EFL | @officialbantams pic.twitter.com/sA6UD5h41Y
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) May 3, 2025

Loser – Walsall –

For large periods of Saturday’s second half, it looked like George Hall’s effort into the Crewe goal on the hour mark would send the Saddlers up. For the first time in 14, Mat Sadler’s team found a way but it wasn’t enough even when it seemed certain that it would be. What followed was disappointment, despair and tragedy that Walsall would have to settle for the play-offs. In reality, it can be said that the Saddlers only have themselves to blame being more than 10 points clear in January before only winning 3 in 14 in their run-in – with one of these falling in that final day clash with Crewe. This is why Walsall are the main losers from Saturday’s final day.

Saddlers fans, that away end was absolutely immense today and we’re so grateful for your outstanding support this season 👏

Today was a hard one to take but we will regroup and be ready for what lies ahead, together ❤️ pic.twitter.com/LrbMpzMiCb
— Walsall FC (@WFCOfficial) May 3, 2025

Winner – Chesterfield –

Going into the final day, a lot needed to happen for Chesterfield to make the play-offs and even if they were to do this, it would be only 7th where they would face 4th. But for Cook’s side who are in their first season back in the EFL, it didn’t matter. For the Spireites, the play-offs were secured following a 1-0 win away at Accrington Stanley which saw Will Grigg extend his goal-scoring tally for the campaign. And following results at Grimsby and Salford, Chesterfield clinched 7th place and will now be in the playoffs where they will face Walsall – the most out of form team in the 4 teams spanning 4th to 7th.

This time next Sunday, we will begin our first EFL play-off campaign for the first time since 2015...

𝗪𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘁 𝗪𝗲? 💙#Spireites pic.twitter.com/2vWvnjZwAi
— Chesterfield FC (@ChesterfieldFC) May 4, 2025

Losers – Grimsby and Salford –

The aim for both was simple – win and they would be in the playoffs. The Mariners welcomes Wimbledon for their final day although a Hutchinson goal just after half-time for the Dons put an end to Town’s play-off hopes whilst securing AFC Wimbledon’s place consequently.

The Ammies travelled to already relegated Carlisle United who were playing for nothing but pride and contracts. But the Cumbrians raced into a 2 goal lead with 2 goals in 2 minutes from Wearne and Dennis. And even with a Salford fightback through Cole Stockton and Hakeeb Adelakun, Robinson’s side weren’t able to do enough to secure a place in the playoffs even with the Manchester side holding the coveted 7th spot going into the final day action.