Rampant Bradford City scored three times in ten minutes to take a firm grip on Saturday's big Wembley play-off.
This was a poor display from Northampton Town and defensively they were shambolic, conceding all three goals within their six yard area.
Hanson on 15 minutes with an unchallenged header and it was the same for McCardle on 19 while Wells vollyed home from six yards for the third.
The Cobblers failed to threaten the Bantams goal and faced a mountain to climb in the second half to retrieve their season.
Aidy Boothroyd's decision not to start with Bayo Akinfenwa was, inevitably, called into question at half-time but the Cobblers boss could not have foreseen his pre-match plans being thrown into such chaos.