Forest Green Rovers were left feeling frustrated, as they were beaten 1-0 by Northampton Town.

Despite striking the woodwork three times, Rovers simply couldn’t find a way through a resolute Cobblers defence.

Mark Cooper brought both Jack Aitchison and Joseph Mills back into the side, while Adam Smith retained his spot between the sticks.

Smith had to be ready just three minutes into his League debut for Rovers, the former Northampton keeper called into action early on as Ryan Watson's dinked cross was headed goalwards by Michael Harriman.

The FGR stopper acrobatically tipped the effort over.

Just six minutes into the encounter, Rovers struck the woodwork.

Aitchison's free-kick in was headed up by Liam Kitching, with Matt Mills challenging the keeper. The ball eventually made its way to Shephard, whose left-footed effort rolled onto the base of the post.

With the game finally settling down after an electric first few minutes, Adams was given the ball on the edge of the area, and his effort took a high, looping deflection which almost caught out David Cornell.

Smith was called into action again as the half-hour mark drew near, making another smart stop to deny Paul Anderson on the angle, Hoskins then missing a great chance from resulting ball in.

With the half-time whistle imminent, Smith was finally beaten.

Hoskins was first to react as a corner comes into the six-yard box, the midfielder prodding home from close range.

Ten minutes into the second half, Aitchison let fly from range, his rocket glancing off the top of the woodwork, as Rovers began turning up the heat.

Just four minutes later, Rovers hit the bar, again.

Frear, fresh from the bench, latched onto a loose ball in the area, and although his effort is blocked, Adams is there at the back post to fire onto the underside of the bar.

Aitchison continued to trouble the Cobblers backline, and he had a great chance with fifteen minutes to play.

Adams’ deft flick set the Scotsman in, but Cornell was quick off his line to smother the shot.

The hosts could have capped the game off late on as Andy Williams raced through on goal, but, under pressure from Kitching, he fired over.

Despite late pressure from Rovers, they couldn’t break down a resolute Northampton Town.

Northampton Town XI: Cornell, Goode, Turnbull, Hoskins, Watson, Adams, Lines (Williams 80'), Wharton, Oliver (Smith 72'), Harriman, Anderson (McWilliams 66')

Unused subs: Arnold, Hall-Johnson, Martin, Warburton

Forest Green Rovers XI: Smith, Bernard, M.Mills, Kitching, Winchester, Adams, Shephard, J Mills, Stevens (Mondal 70'), Aitchison, Collins (Frear 57')

Unused subs: Wollacott, Rawson, Morton, Dawson, McGinley

Referee: Antony Coggins

Attendance: 4,534 (139 away)

Man of the match: Liam Kitching

Next time out: Swindon Town, The New Lawn, Saturday, December 21, 3.00pm