We look back on our last Six opening-day fixtures in the League. This season will see Stevenage be our first game of the season. What do you think the result will be.
2022/2023 – Northampton 3 Colchester 2
Northampton controlled the first half and they deservedly moved in front after 27 minutes when Danny Hylton’s sublime touch and pass released Hoskins into the penalty box and he finished emphatically.
Colchester levelled just before the break, though, as Tyler Magloire was harshly adjudged to have fouled Noah Chilvers in the penalty box and Freddie Sears converted the subsequent spot-kick.
The second half was scrappy but Northampton were awarded a penalty of their own with 16 minutes to go when Cameron Coxe was penalised for handball and Hoskins stepped up to score his second of the match.
Again Colchester struck back when Chilvers finished off brilliant work by Frank Nouble four minutes later, but that was in vain as Hoskins turned provider to tee up Haynes for a dramatic winner.
2021/2022 – Northampton 1 Port Vale 0
Northampton got their League Two season up and running with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over 10-man Port Vale at Sixfields.
The Cobblers fielded eight debutants but it was an old name that scored the only goal of the game as Benny Ashley-Seal’s first-half strike ultimately proved the difference.
Vale started on top but they fell behind in the 23rd minute when a long throw into their box caused problems and Ashley-Seal was on hand to score from close-range after Nicke Kabamba’s shot had been blocked.
Tom Pett drew a low save out of Liam Roberts as Vale sought a quick response and the visitors should have been back on level terms before half-time when Devante Rodney picked out James Wilson but the striker somehow steered wide.
Vale’s chances were severely hampered 10 minutes into the second half when goalkeeper Lucas Covolan came racing out of his goal and saw red for tripping Kabamba.
Shaun McWilliams had a long-range shot tipped away by substitute goalkeeper Aidan Stone late on as Northampton claimed three points on the opening day.
2020/2021 – Northampton 2 AFC Wimbledon 2
A flying start saw the Dons take the lead after just 20 seconds when Cian Bolger lost possession just outside the penalty box and Luke O’Neill nipped in before setting up Ethan Chislett who fired the ball into the far corner.
Cobblers debutant Benny Ashley-Seal volleyed narrowly wide in response before the home side levelled in the 19th minute as Matty Warburton curled a delightful 25-yard free-kick into the top corner.
Ryan Longman squandered a good chance to hit back immediately but it was not long until Wimbledon regained the lead, with Joe Piggott teeing-up Nesta Guinness-Walker and he calmly slotted home.
Shane McLoughlin missed a great chance to extend the visitors’ lead and he was made to pay for that miss after 32 minutes when Ricky Korboa blasted into the bottom corner after Wimbledon failed to clear their lines.
The second half was a little less frenetic but Fraser Horsfall headed over for Northampton before substitute Sam Hoskins volleyed the best chance wide.
2019/2020 – Northampton 0 Walsall 1
Summer signing Clarke netted just 13 minutes into his Saddlers debut and his well-taken header proved the difference with Northampton guilty of missing several chances.
The Cobblers named nine debutants in their team but it was Walsall who struck first when Clarke turned in Danny Guthrie’s corner via the crossbar.
Northampton came back well and only some fine goalkeeping by Liam Roberts denied them an equaliser as he kept out close-range efforts from both Sam Hoskins and Charlie Goode.
Mat Sadler’s last-ditch defending also prevented Harry Smith from scoring as the Saddlers maintained their lead through to half-time.
The visitors threatened a second in the early moments after the break with Stuart Sinclair seeing a shot blocked and David Cornell standing firm from Cameron Pring.
The Cobblers pushed for an equaliser but Hoskins blazed over and Joe Martin’s free-kick dropped wide before Roberts preserved all three points for his side with a brilliant late stop from Goode.
2018/2019 – Northampton 0 Lincoln 1
Green stooped low to head home shortly after half-time and that proved to be the difference as last season’s beaten play-off semi-finalists rode their luck to make the perfect start.
All the early chances came for Northampton but visiting goalkeeper Josh Vickers kept his side in the game with smart stops from Sam Hoskins and Daniel Powell, who both lacked conviction when through on goal.
Vickers used his legs to keep out Powell for a second time later in the half while debutant Harry Toffolo had Lincoln’s best chance of the opening period, volleying over from the edge of the box.
The Imps broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half when Neal Eardley’s pinpoint cross was headed into the top corner Green.
Northampton sought a quick response but Vickers was there again to preserve the points for his side, twice denying Andy Williams who should have done better with two glaring chances late on.
2017/2019 -Shrewsbury 1 Northampton 0
Experienced striker John-Lewis, one of Shrewsbury manager Paul Hurst’s 11 summer signings, converted Alex Rodman’s low cross from the left to wrap up three points with time running out.
Shrewsbury enjoyed more of the possession in a goalless first half but the best chance fell Northampton’s way in the 17th minute when Dean Bowditch’s effort was cleared off the line by Toto Nsiala.
Big defender Nsiala then had a shot blocked at the other end before heading a Shaun Whalley cross wide.
Rodman was next to threaten for Shrewsbury when he cut inside and fired wide of the near post from 20 yards.
Junior Brown headed off target for the hosts early in the second half while Northampton found chances hard to come by with little to concern Shrewsbury keeper Dean Henderson.
Just as deadlock looked likely, Shrewsbury were rewarded with time almost up when Jon Nolan, classy in midfield, set up Rodman to cross for John-Lewis to fire home from 12 yards to seal the club’s first opening day win since 2010.
2016/2017 – Northampton 1 Fleetwood 1
Last season’s runaway League Two champions Northampton took just nine minutes to open their account in the third tier. When David Buchanan’s shot was only partially cleared, Alex Revell’s effort hit the upright and the ball bounced into the net off the diving Chris Neal.
Fleetwood found it difficult to create openings but the lively David Ball had a deflected shot saved by Adam Smith before shooting into the side-netting from a tight angle.
The Cobblers went close when Matt Taylor’s free-kick caused problems at the far post and Revell’s close-range effort was cleared off the line by Amari’i Bell.
Northampton should have increased their lead just before the interval when Kenji Gorre volleyed over from six yards from Harry Beautyman’s pinpoint cross.
But Fleetwood were back on level terms seven minutes after the restart when Northampton failed to deal with Conor McLaughlin’s cross and Nirennold stole in at the far post to score.
The Cobblers went close straight from the restart when Zander Diamond turned Taylor’s free-kick over the bar from close range and Marc Richards fired straight at Neal.
At the other end Ball’s shot on the turn was saved by Adam Smith as Fleetwood got on top. Richards should have restored Northampton’s lead when he shot weakly at Neal while Fleetwood’s Eggert Jonsson volley from the edge of the box flew wide.