Forest Green Rovers played out a 1-1 draw Northampton Town in their EFL Trophy opener, but failed to win a bonus point in a 4-2 penalty shoot-out defeat.

A Josh March goal was cancelled out by Scott Pollock as the tie ended 1-1 after the 90.

The game gave Rob Edwards a chance to make seven changes from the 2-0 defeat to Port Vale on Saturday. Josh March and Jack Evans were handed their first starts of the season as Ebou Adams returned from suspension.

The away side also wrung the changes in GL6, with manager Jon Brady bringing in former Rovers goalkeeper Jonny Maxted, who played for the club back in the 2015/16 season.

Rovers certainly looked the brighter in the opening stages and Taylor Allen found space on the near side early on. He fired an inviting cross into the box toward Josh March only for the ball to be taken off his foot as he looked to strike.

Ten minutes in and March had the first real chance of the tie. The attacker raced in on goal, but his powerful shot flew beyond the net into the North Stand, housing the traveling supporters. Rovers’ early pressure paid off five minutes later however and March didn’t miss this time around.

A long ball from Jordan Moore-Taylor found the feet of Jack Evans on the far side. Evans rolled the ball cheekily through the retreating defenders legs before playing March in on goal.

The striker set his sights and fired into the far corner beating the helpless Maxted via a deflection off Michael Harriman. A really well worked goal by FGR as March netted his first goal of the season.

The away side were quiet in the first half but had a great chance to get it back to 1-1 just before the half hour mark. Shaun McWilliams drove at the Rovers backline before playing in number nine Nicke Kabamba.

The big front man made his way toward goal and unleashed a shot only to be denied by the oncoming Lewis Thomas. The first real action of the evening for Thomas in front of the fans in the South Stand.

The Cobblers had the last real action of the half some 10 minutes later creating some space on the edge of the box. Midfielder Jack Sowerby letting fly but failing to test Thomas as he saved comfortably down to his left. 

Into the second period and Rovers thought they’d made it two just seconds after the interval. A ball across the box from Adams found the goal scorer March who put the ball in the back of the net, only for the linesman flag to save the away team. 

That proved costly as minutes later the away side got back on level terms. Sam Hoskins played a cross to the far post where young Scott Pollock rose to meet the ball. The midfielder guided his header into the far corner.

Thomas saved well down to his left as he did in the first half not long after, but the game became cagey as it passed the hour mark with either side really able to create any clear cut opportunities.

Head Coach Edwards brought on the cavalry as the tie headed toward penalties with Jack Aitchison, Jamille Matt and Matty Stevens all entering the field of play.