Northampton Town Elite began their NFYL South Premier Division campaign with a 3-1 defeat at home to Portsmouth on Wednesday.
Tyrun Primus scored the Cobblers’ opening goal of the season.
The first chance of the match fell to the wide player inside three minutes, but his tame shot on the turn was easily collected by the Portsmouth goalkeeper.
He made amends less than a minute later though, opening the scoring with a back post volley from a deep cross.
Bradley Cheshire had two opportunities to double the Cobblers’ lead either side of the half-an-hour mark, forcing the ’keeper into a smart diving save with a powerful half-volley before spotting the visiting stopper off his line but not getting enough on his chip.
Portsmouth grew into the game and began threatening the Northampton goal as the half went on, Tom Ladyman saving a low effort at the near post and an attacker heading just over from the resulting corner.
Their pressure eventually told on the stroke of half-time as they equalised when a strike from the edge of the area nestled into the bottom corner.
And the visitors turned the game on its head just before the hour when the Cobblers failed to deal with a corner, the ball was played back into the middle and an attacker turned home from close range.
Huge chances fell to both sides within a minute of each other soon after, Portsmouth side-footing wide from a cutback with the goal gaping and Northampton substitute Archie O’Donnell breaking through on goal but shooting straight at the ’keeper.
Portsmouth doubled their advantage and secured all three points on the opening day when an attacker twisted and turned in the Cobblers area before firing into the bottom corner with 10 minutes to go.
Cobblers: Tom Ladyman, Zack Douglas, Tyrun Primus, James Lewis, Nico Mountford-Hill, Jack Culwick, Bradley Cheshire, Romeo Ingham, Jonny Harris, James Owen, Elliot Balchin-Love
Substitutes: Billy Panter, Sonny Reeves, Aiden Bell, Ollie Galbraith, Archie O’Donnell