League One: Northampton Town 0-1 Stevenage (Carl Piergianni '81)

Stevenage captain Carl Piergianni grabbed a late winner for Steve Evans side a wet and and windy Northampton on Saturday afternoon that saw an incredible 25 minutes additional time added in total at the end of both halves, following FIFA's controversial directive.

In front of 7,049 fans, including 961 vociferous visitors from North Herts, Stevenage continued last season's excellent form to kick-off the new campaign with a hard-fought victory over Jon Brady's side.

The football season is back this weekend, with Stevenage's return to League One action a successful one, following their outstanding campaign last term that saw them promoted from the fourth tier as runners-up.

In a lively start at a wet but atmospheric Sixfields Stadium, Boro's No3 Dan Butler tested Cobblers keeper Lee Burge early on, prior to Northampton's Patrick Brough thudded Taye Ashby-Hamond's bar 180 seconds later.

Three minutes later the home side's bustling No16 Tyreece Simpson found himself in space bearing down on the Stevenage goal.

The 21-year-old former Ipswich Town youth opened his body up to increase the angle before firing low past Ashby-Hammond. Fortunately for Boro fans the ball hit the far post and away to safety.

Boss Evans then found his way into referee Lewis Smith's notebook with a yellow card for dissent, following captain Carl Piegianni's caution for kicking the ball away on six minutes - much to the delight of the home faithful.

After such a breathless start the match fell into a shapeless spell before Ben Thompson narrowly fired past Burge's right-hand post just before the half hour mark. Six minutes before the interval Ashby-Hammond performed bravely to block the onrushing Simpson and prevent a scoring chance.

As the weather got progressively worse the football in the second half become more of a war of attrition with both sides deservedly earning their stripes by maintaining an excellent intensity despite the difficult conditions.

Just as the match appeared to be heading for a goalless draw, up stepped Boro captain fantastic Piergianni to slot home after a manic goalmouth scramble that saw the ball cleared off the line twice in a matter of seconds.