A large crowd on Grand Prix weekend enjoyed an absorbing first pre-season game as a new era dawned at St James Park with all eyes already turned in anticipation to the National League opening day on 9 August. Both managers made full use of their squads with close to completely new starting line-ups after the break.

“The afternoon was everything we wanted it to be really with stern opposition, a cardio work-out and the chance to work on a few things we are looking to implement”, manager Gavin Cowan said. “I want to say a big thank you to Northampton for coming over. Kevin [Nolan] and Colin Calderwood are absolute class acts. It is good to build those relationships, it was a good turnout and everyone had an enjoyable afternoon.”

The game produced few clear cut chances in the first half. Shane Byrne’s shot was saved after Ryan Hayne’s cross and Jonny Maxted saved well late in the half as both ‘keepers were otherwise untroubled.

The second half opened up with The Cobblers’ Elliot List bringing a spectacular save from Cameron Gregory and new signing from Boston United Gregory again in action to keep Dean Campbell from opening the scoring on 74 minutes. At the other end Jack Price’s sweetly hit effort was blocked and Scott Pollock fired over from a free-kick as Saints put together some moments of fluid passing that cheered the crowd that was recorded as 999.

“There is a buzz around the club as you would expect having achieved something last season that had been the goal for a decade or more and we want to lean into that,” Cowan added. “Everybody should rightly be optimistic about the future of the football club. But our history is our history and no-one can ever take that away but now we are looking forward. We have a chance to kick on and set a new goal for ourselves. So all the talk is about how we can maintain our league status in the National League in what will be a long and challenging season. There will be some dark times of course but I hope there will be a lot of promise and a lot of progression for the club.”