Drivers faced queues in both directions following a crash on the A43 between Northampton and Kettering this morning.

Police were called to the accident involving three vehicles at about 7.45am.

A police spokesman said an ambulance was also called, but there were no injuries.

Traffic was reduced to one lane as officers directed traffic around the scene between Moulton and Sywell.

There were queues in both directions, including vehicles queuing back to the Hannington turn for drivers heading towards Northampton.

Police said the road was cleared by about 8.50am, with one vehicle left to be recovered.

Brackley Town were swept aside in a powerful first half display by AFC Telford as they set out to prove a point to new manager Rob Smith, winning Monday’s Vanarama National League North clash 2-0.

From the first minute Telford were on the front foot putting the visitors under intense pressure with former Saint Izak Reid especially lively. It was no surprise when the home side went ahead in the 13th minute as Sean Clancy fired in off the post after good work by Reid.

Reid grabbed an easy second goal after a defensive mix-up in the 21st minute and Telford had chances to extend their lead as when Dan Crane twice saved well first from Reid and then from Dave Hibbert and when Hibbert’s 30 yard drive was a whisker wide.

Saints rallied late in the half and the revival continued after the break as finally some urgency and pace was brought to their game. Substitute Sam Smith controlled Greg Kaziboni’s cross and shot just wide and Ritchie Batchelor collecting a loose ball fired just over. At the other end Hibbert’s header went close.

With 15 minutes remaining Batchelor was felled as he bore down on goal with Jack Deaman getting his marching orders and Saints a penalty and way back into the match. Smith struck his spot-kick to the keeper’s left but James Montgomery - the grandson of Sunderland’s 1973 FA Cup hero Jim Montgomery - kept it out.

Sants again went close as Moyo headed just over and in added-time his shot was blocked and Stephan Morley fired over but there was to be no breakthrough as Telford claimed a deserved first win of the season.

Villagers are being asked for their views on a planning document which will help shape the development of Moulton in the coming years and propose building a new community centre.

The Moulton Neighbourhood Development Plan has been prepared by the village parish council and submitted to Daventry District Council (DDC) recently.

It is the fourth such plan in Daventry District to reach this stage, after plans for West Haddon, Spratton and Kilsby.

Now the district council has launched a six-week consultation to allow people to comment on it, with those comments then set to be passed to an independent examiner, appointed to inspect the plan.

Among the rules contained in the plan, it proposes a new community centre is built at Sandy Hill and would make it a rule that all housing developments of five homes or more are built with at least 40 per cent affordable housing.

The plan can be viewed at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/Moulton

Alternatively, copies of the relevant documents are available at DDC’s Lodge Road offices and Moulton Library, in Doves Lane.

The consultation will close at 4.30pm on Friday, 16 October.

Following the consultation and examination process, Moulton residents will be asked in a referendum whether they support the plan.

It must receive support from more than half of those voting for it to be adopted.

If adopted it will form part of the wider development plan for Daventry District and will be used to help determine future planning applications in the Moulton area over the next 15 years.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was bitten by two dogs in Northamptonshire.

The incident happened at about 3pm on Sunday, August 30, in the woods off Norton Road in Corby.

The man was walking his dog when two pitbull-type dogs came over and started attacking it.

As he bent down to separate them he was bitten, suffering deep cuts to his arm as a result, and needed hospital treatment.

There were several people around at the time of the incident who may have witnessed it and police are appealing for them to come forward.

Anyone with any information can call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance attended and was the first to arrive on the scene.

The medics helped to assess and treat the patient, who was a man in his 40s, cleaning and dressing his wound, as well as providing pain relief and antibiotics.

The man was taken to Kettering General Hospital by land ambulance.

A Northamptonshire gang of violent armed robbers, who used weapons including a shotgun, hammer and metal pole, have been sentenced to a combined total of 66 years and four months in prison.

The gang, George Pavlou, Shekuduka Katampe, Kalil Robinson, Daniel Barden, Addeell Qureshi, Kieron McGrath, Gavin Gordon and Raheem Bestman worked together to carry out a series of offences between August 18, 2014 and October 10, 2014.

The eight men appeared at Northampton Crown Court on Friday, where they were sentenced for a series of offences relating to aggravated burglary, attempted burglary and damage as well as an overall conspiracy to commit these offences.

Officers believe that the motive for these offences was to steal money and drugs.

The following burglaries were carried out by a combination of the offenders:

-On August 28, 2014, in Irchester Road, Rushden, they used violence to get into the victim’s home where they tied the victim up, assaulted him using a hammer and stole firearms.

-Between September 9 and 10 2014, in Thorn Hill, Briar Hill, Northampton, armed with a sawn off shot gun, the offenders used violence to get into the victim’s home.

-On September 30, 2014, in Kenmuir Avenue, Northampton, they smashed a window to get into the family home where two young children sleeping.

In September 2014, a lengthy and complex investigation started when officers from the organised crime team linked the offences as a series being committed by the same group.

An operation was planned to arrest all suspects on January 13 this year and resulted in a variety of charges being secured against the offenders.

The pre-arranged attacks involved the gang wearing balaclavas and other face coverings. They used extreme violence using weapons in the victims’ homes.

His Honour Judge Fowler sentenced Daniel Barden, aged 26, of Dorset Road, Northampton, who pleaded guilty to burglary in Kenmuir Avenue and aggravated burglary in Irchester Road, to four years in prison for the Kenmuir Avenue offence and 16 month for Irchester Road, both sentences to run consecutively.

Shekoduka Katampe, aged 29, of Castle Street, Northampton, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary in Irchester Road. He was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison.

Addeell Qureshi, aged 21, of Worcester Close, Northampton, pleaded guilty to burglary in Kenmuir Avenue. He was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

Gavin Gordon, aged 28, of Freehold Street, Northampton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary in Thorn Hill and conspiracy to have a firearm with intent. He was sentenced to six years in prison for the Thorn Hill offence and six years for possession of a firearm to commit, both sentences to run consecutively.

Kieron McGrath, aged 19, of Duke Street, Wellingborough, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary in Irchester Road and Thorn Hill, conspiracy to have a firearm with intent and conspiracy to commit burglary in Kenmuir Avenue. He was sentenced to six years and eight months for the Irchester Road offence to be served concurrently to the other sentences.

He was also sentenced to six years for Thorn Hill, to run consecutively, six years for possession of a firearm with intent, to run consecutively and three years for the Kenmuir Avenue offence, to run consecutively.

Kalil Robinson, aged 21, of Harborough Road, Northampton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary in Irchester Road and conspiracy to commit burglary in Kenmuir Avenue. He was sentenced to ten years in prison for the Irchester Road offence and four years for the Kenmuir Avenue offence, both to run consecutively.

George Pavlou, aged 19, of Kingswell Street Northampton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary in Kenmuir Avenue. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

Raheem Bestman, aged 20, of Lancaster Street, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary in Irchester Road. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

Detective Constable Vitty Andreoli-Tear, from the Organised Crime and Drugs Team, said: “This ruthless gang committed offences, using violence and weapons in the victims own homes were they should have been safe.

“As a result of an extensive investigation, we were able to arrest and successfully charge the offenders. I have no doubt that had they not been arrested, they would have continued on their rampage of aggravated burglaries for their own criminal needs.”

Luther Burrell has admitted his disappointment at not making England’s World Cup squad, but vowed to pour his efforts into Saints’ forthcoming trophy bid.

The centre was cut by Stuart Lancaster last week, with the national boss opting to select Jonathan Joseph, Brad Barritt, Henry Slade and Sam Burgess for the tournament.

It was a shock for Burrell, who had formed a strong partnership with Joseph during this year’s Six Nations, which saw England finish runners up to Ireland on points difference.

And the 27-year-old will now throw himself back into life at Franklin’s Gardens ahead of the start of the new Aviva Premiership season on October 16.

“I want to thank everyone for their support & encouragement. Having worked so hard it was obviously disappointing not to be chosen...,” Burrell wrote.

“I intend to focus on my game & the forthcoming season with @SaintsRugby but remain totally behind the team &wish them a successful World Cup.”

Burrell has 13 England caps to his name, scoring three tries in the process.

He made his Test debut in the narrow Six Nations defeat against France in Paris last year and could still be called upon should there be an injury to one of the England centres.

Lancaster’s men begin their World Cup campaign against Fiji at Twickenham on September 18.

A busy road in the Weston Favell area of Northampton is currently closed in both directions after a crash involving two cars.

Motorists on the A43 are currently facing delays after a crash between the Fir Tree Walk and Weston Favell junction of Wellingborough Road.

Traffic on the A43 vis backed up to the Riverside junction. Motorists are also being advised of a traffic light failure on Wellingborough Road in Weston Favell.

Stagecoach buses tweeted that buses scheduled for Lumbertubs Way are being re-routed down Booth Lane.

Saints stars Courtney Lawes and Tom Wood will start for England in the final World Cup warm-up match on Saturday.

And Kieran Brookes also takes his place in the squad for the clash with Ireland at Twickenham, starting the game on the bench.

England kick-off their World Cup campaign against Fiji at Twickenham on September 18.

And the clash with Ireland will be a real test as Stuart Lancaster’s men look to bounce back from a narrow defeat in France.

Lancaster said: “We are excited about this weekend and playing at home and it is another opportunity for these 23 players as we finalise our preparations for the World Cup.

“It’s great to see Brad (Barritt) back along with the guys that missed the Six Nations such as Ben Morgan, Joe Launchbury and Owen Farrell, who now have a Test match under their belts, and it leaves us with lots of options both starting and from the bench.

“The players know that having made the 31 is not enough and we have seen in training how determined they are to be in that squad to play Fiji in the opening game.”

England (v Ireland, Twickenham Stadium, 2.30pm BST, Saturday September 5, 2015)

15 Mike Brown (Harlequins, 38 caps)

14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 10 caps)

13 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)

12 Brad Barritt (Saracens, 22 caps)

11 Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 15 caps)

10 George Ford (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)

9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 48 caps)

1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 32 caps)

2 Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps)

3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 51 caps)

4 Courtney Lawes (Saints, 39 caps)

5 Geoff Parling (Exeter Chiefs, 24 caps)

6 Tom Wood (Saints, 37 caps)

7 Chris Robshaw (capt, Harlequins, 38 caps)

8 Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby, 28 caps)

Replacements

16 Jamie George (Saracens, 1 cap)

17 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 22 caps)

18 Kieran Brookes (Saints, 11 caps)

19 Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 23 caps)

20 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 18 caps)

21 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, 22 caps)

22 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 30 caps)

23 Sam Burgess (Bath Rugby, 1 cap)

Northampton’s riverside heritage was celebrated at the Northampton Festival of Water over the Bank Holiday weekend and was opened by keen boaters and celebrated acting couple Timothy West and Prunella Scales.

The free festival. on the waterfront at Becket’s Park on the River Nene, was organised by the Inland Waterways Association supported by Northampton Borough Council, the Environment Agency and the Canal & River Trust.

A spokesman for the organisers said: “Showers on Sunday and rain Monday slowed things down somewhat but couldn’t dampen the party atmosphere.

“Highlights of the weekend included youngsters trying their skills at bricklaying and digger driving, demonstrations of boat handling skills in a huge variety of craft on the water by the Northampton Sea Cadets, a series of excellent and informative talks from a number of renowned waterway personalities and a marvellous programme of entertainment which saw the big marquee in the park packed to the seams all weekend.”

It was held in Northampton to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the opening in 1815 of the Northampton Arm, which connected the Grand Union Canal (or Grand Junction as it was then known) to the Nene in Northampton, creating a route to the East Anglian waterways and the Wash by water. The Arm enabled ironstone and limestone to be carried to local blast furnaces, grain and flour to and from mills along the Nene, coal from North Warwickshire and timber from London’s Surrey Docks to Northampton.

Next year the festival will be held in Walsall and the Mayor of Northampton, Councillor Penny Flavell handed over a ceremonial “tiller pin” to the Mayor of Walsall.

Mohammad Azharullah captured three of the six wickets to fall as Essex ended a truncated opening day of the LV=County Championship Division Two match between Essex and Northamptonshire at Chelmsford on 177 for 6 from 52.2 overs.

The 31 year-old fast-medium bowler had figures of 3 for 51 having also beaten the bat on a number of occasions on a difficult wicket for batting although , Mark Pettini and James Foster improved the home side’s fortunes with an unbroken stand worth 58 runs in 17 overs before bad light brought proceedings to a close.

Play did not get underway until 1.45 p.m. after rain had left the outfield wet but the visitors attack soon made up for lost time reducing their opponents to 119 for 6 at one stage as they exploited the dampness in the pitch.

England Under-19 batting star Dan Lawrence was the first victim of the day when, having scored 8, he pushed forward to a ball from Rory Kleinveldt that nipped away to be caught at 3rd slip.

The home side had advanced their total to 48 when they lost three wickets in 23 balls whilst adding five runs as Northamptonshire took a firm grip on proceedings.

Opener Nick Browne, needing 85 runs to become the first Essex batsman to reach 1,000 first-class runs in a season since Ravi Bopara in 2008, was caught for 24 when pushing at a ball of width from Azharullah.

Tom Westley had scored 20 out of 52 when he edged a fine delivery from Ollie Stone that moved away late and landed in the gloves of wicket-keeper David Murphy and one run later, Jesse Ryder failed to offer a stroke to a ball from Azharulllah and was bowled.

Bopara and Ryan ten Doeschate doubled the score with a 62 runs partnership for the fifth wicket spanning 15 overs with ten Doeschate playing positively form the start of his innings.

He struck successive boundaries off the first two deliveries sent down by Maurice Chambers when the former Essex pace bowler was introduced into the firing line sending the ball to the deep extra-cover boundary and then to deep mid-wicket.

The stand was ended with the total on 115 when Bopara, who had played circumspectly to reach 19, offered a sharp catch to Ben Duckett at short mid-wicket to give Kleinveldt a second wicket.

Four runs later, ten Doeschate’s aggressive and entertaining innings spanning 56 balls and containing a total of seven boundaries was brought to an end when he was struck on the pads attempting to work Azharullah into the leg side.

However Pettini and Foster averted further problems. Both experienced players adopted a responsible approach to master the visitors attack whilst also executing well-timed drives on either side of the wicket .

Both worked the ball nicely off their feet to keep the scoreboard before Foster increased the tempo with three boundaries in one over from the wayward Chambers to raise the 50 partnership.

Pettini was 29 not out and Foster 25 when play was called off and they will resume tomorrow with the responsibility of collecting batting points and positing a meaningful total.

Northamptonshire bowler Rory Kleinveldt said: “We started very nicely and hopefully we can finish the job off tomorrow morning and then go and put on a big score.”

With neither side able to attain promotion, there was only pride at stake for both teams. Kleinveldt continued: “Obviously there is not a lot to play for at the moment but it’s still first-class cricket and you have to stay professional and do your best.”

Essex batsman Mark Pettini said: “We would have put them in if we had won the toss and batting was difficult. The pitch had been under covers for a couple of days and the ball was nipping around a bit.

“If we can put together a couple of good partnerships, we are in with a chance of getting a good first innings score and that’s the target tomorrow.”

By-elections could be held at a village parish council in Northamptonshire after three members, including the chairman, announced their resignations for “personal reasons”.

Daventry District Council was informed that councillors Lynn Hogg, Michael Heaton and Fiona Keable had resigned from Spratton Parish Council on Thursday, August 27.

When contacted for comment the clerk of the parish council, Gill Evans, said the three members had stood down due to “personal reasons”.

A spokesperson for Daventry District Council said a by-election would be held to replace the members only if 10 or more Spratton residents request one from the district council in the next 14 days.

If not then the parish council will be able to choose, or “co-opt”, three new members.

Councillor Hogg and had only taken over as chairman of the parish council on May 19 with Councillor Keable announced as vice chairman at the same time.

A former Brackley town councillor has narrowly avoided a jail sentence after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a young girl.

Stuart Dancer, aged 66, of Ellesmere Close in Brackley, was a Brackley town councillor from May 2003 until May 2007.

After a trial at Northampton Crown Court, a jury unanimously found him guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Brackley in April last year

At a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Judge Michael Fowler said he was “disappointed” with Dancer’s inability to accept the jury’s verdict.

Judge Fowler, who sentenced dancer to the three-year community order including completion of a sexual offenders programme, said Dancer’s “ridiculous attitude” had almost resulted in him being sent to jail.

He said: “You pre-sentence report is a disappointment in that you continue to protest your innocence.

“I have no hesitation at all in accepting the jury’s verdict in this case. This is exacerbated by the fact you have a history of sexual offences.

“Most of the male population manage to live a life without being before the court for exposing their penis but on three separate occasions you found yourself before the court for this offence.

“This is not chance or misfortune but demonstrates your corruptive behaviour as to what appropriate sexual behaviour is.”

Dancer will have to sign the sexual offenders’ register for the next five years.

Prime Minister David Cameron vowed today he will “not waver” in his commitment to open 500 new free schools over the next five years with free schools approved for Corby and Northampton as part of the first phase.

The Government’s commitment to open 500 free schools over the next five years will create 270,000 school places across the country.

Today, the first 18 projects of this parliament have been given the green light, creating more than 9,000 places across the country.

They will join the 252 already open and the 52 new free schools opening up their doors as schools head back this week.

These will bring the total number of free school places created since 2010 to more than 236,000.

The first wave includes Corby Free Special School, which will address the need for more special school places in Corby, and Catch22 Northamptonshire Academy, which will be an alternative provision school for four to 16-year-olds in Northampton.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “As a One Nation Government we are clear that every family should have access to a great local school and every child should get the very best education - and free schools are a crucial part of that aim.

“The aim of this policy is crystal clear - to increase the number of good and outstanding school places so that more parents have the security of knowing their child is getting a great education.

“Today’s announcement shows that we will not waver in pressing ahead with our plans to open 500 more of these innovative and exciting schools over the next five years, creating 270,000 places, delivering an excellent education and giving parents across the country real choice for their children.”

The Government has committed to opening 500 more free schools in this Parliament, creating good school places in communities across the country.

To achieve this, two waves of schools will be announced every year up to 2020, with application deadlines in March and September.

The latest application window to set up a free school opens on 28 September and runs until 7 October, with pre-application registration opening today.

The 18 new schools announced today include a number that will be set up by teachers themselves, showing the programme is putting power back in the hands of those who know children best.

Free schools are brand new schools set up by parents, teachers, charities, academy sponsors and existing schools in response to demand from the local community, either where there is a shortage of places, or where the parents are not happy with the places on offer.

74 per cent of open free schools are located in areas where there was a need for more school places and around half are in the 30 per cent most deprived communities in the country.

They are also more likely to be rated outstanding by Ofsted than other schools – and research has shown they are helping to raise standards in neighbouring schools by introducing fresh ideas and competition.

17 per cent of all free schools are dedicated to special needs or alternative provision, giving more help to those most in need.

Corby Free Special School will be run by the Maplefields Teaching School Alliance, a special needs provider with all of its five member schools judged to be outstanding by Ofsted.

The Corby Free Special School will address the need for more special school places in Corby, where parents and their children often have to travel significant distances to access a suitable education.

This bespoke school for up to 100 local pupils, provided by highly experienced and incredibly passionate educationalists, will help to transform the lives of many children and their families in North Northamptonshire.

MP for Corby and East Northants Tom Pursglove said: “In light of considerable house building in the Corby area, I have been a huge advocate of the need for infrastructure to accompany growth and I am delighted with the announcement of a new free school in Corby.

“To my mind, today’s announcement signals the Government’s commitment to investment in Corby and I will continue to campaign to secure a new Enterprise Zone, working alongside Corby Borough Council, East Northamptonshire Council and Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership.

“Going forward, I will also maintain the pressure for fairer funding for Northamptonshire schools and I am pleased the Government are taking action on this.”

The Catch22 Northamptonshire Academy in Northampton will be a new alternative provision school for four to 16-year-olds in Northampton.

Opening in 2016, the new school will provide 100 much needed places for children who are struggling in a mainstream setting.

The school will be led by Catch22 Multi-Academy Trust, an established provider of alternative provision that already runs four schools in Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Buckinghamshire and Bristol.

All these schools have been judged to be good by Ofsted within the last two years.

The new school will offer personalised pathways to its pupils to help reintegrate them back in to mainstream provision.

The school is supported by Northamptonshire County Council, which sees it as a valuable contribution to alternative provision in the area.

Tributes have been paid to Joy Beverley after the “I saw Mommy Kising Santa Claus” singer, who was evacuated to Northampton during World War Two, died at the age of 91.

As one third of the vocal trio The Beverley Sisters, Joy also had hits with Greensleeves and Little Drummer Boy in the 1950s.

Sadly reports have emerged that the 91-year-old, who was married to former Wolverhampton Wanderers and England captain Billy Wright, passed away on Monday following a stroke.

Her daughter Vicky said: “She was the most wonderful woman and inspiration, a wonderful mother and an unbelievable icon.

“We’re going to miss her desperately but she’s with our dad, which is where she would want to be now. They loved each other so very much and she’s missed him so.”

Beverley and Billy Wright were considered a celebrity couple following their 1958 marriage.

Wright was the world’s first footballer to notch up 100 caps, and he led England as captain 90 times. He died of pancreatic cancer in 1994.

Joy was the oldest of the Beverley Sisters. The other two - Teddie and Babs - were twins, born in 1927.

Born in Bethnal Green, east London, the girls seemed destined to have a career in music. Their parents George and Victoria Beverley performed as a music hall duo.

During the Second World War, the sisters starred as “Bonnie Babies” in Ovaltine adverts.

They were evacuated to Northampton during World War Two.

Their status as celebrities blossomed and they landed their own TV show, Three Little Girls In View, which was later renamed Those Beverley Sisters.

Columbia Records signed them in 1951 and their contract made them the highest paid female act of their time.

Beverley married Wright in 1958 at Poole Register Office and they stayed married until his death.

The Beverley Sisters appeared in the 2002 Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest surviving vocal group without a change in line-up. They performed for the Queen and were made MBEs for services to music.

Beverley is survived by her sisters and her three children Vince, Vicky and Babette.

England captain Eoin Morgan says Northants all-rounder David Willey has played a huge part in altering the mentality of the national team in recent months.

Willey played a leading role in Monday’s T20 victory against Australia at Cardiff, taking two wickets to ensure the Aussies fell to a five-run defeat.

The Steelbacks star got rid of visiting captain Steven Smith, who had smashed 90 from just 53 balls, and also removed opener David Warner.

Willey was also impressive in the one-day series win against New Zealand earlier this summer, with England playing some swashbuckling cricket.

And Morgan, who captains the country in the shorter formats of the game, said: “He’s brilliant.

“A bit like Stokesy (Ben Stokes) he just loves responsibility, he likes the limelight, he doesn’t shy away from taking it on.

“His attitude towards things, amongst others in the changing room, will go a big way to changing the culture the way we’ve tried to over the last few months.”

A supermarket giant has recalled a batch of cereal which it fears could contain small pieces of plastic.

Sainsbury’s is recalling its 1kg box of own-brand Wholegrain Bran Flakes with a best before date of August 2016 due to a production fault which has left some containing small pieces of plastic.

The official recall notice reads: “It has been brought to our attention that a limited number of packets may contain small pieces of plastic.

“As a precautionary measure, we are asking all customers who have bought this product to return it to the nearest Sainsbury’s store, where they will receive a full refund.”

No other products or date codes are affected by this issue and Sainsbury’s apologies for the inconvenience caused to shoppers.

For the second time already this season, Northampton Town upset a team from the league above with a polished and excellent team performance at Sixfields.

Following the Cobblers’ 3-0 win over Blackpool in the Capital One Cup three weeks ago, Colchester United this time succumbed to the Cobblers’ cup curse as Town knocked out a higher division side for the ninth time in five years.

A bright start from the hosts was rewarded when young Sheffield United loanee Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted a Sam Hoskins cross before Colchester wrestled back control and levelled through the lively Macauley Bonne.

The teams remained all square at half-time, a fair reflection of an even first 45 minutes, but again Northampton came out the stronger of the two sides in the second half with another loanee, this time Ryan Watson, scoring a superb solo goal to put Northampton ahead.

The 22-year-old had already caught the eye with his driving runs forward but this time he took it one step further, picking the ball up in his own half before surging beyond several helpless defenders and unleashing a powerful low effort beyond Elliot Parish in the away goal.

It would have been a fitting way to secure the Cobblers’ spot in the next round but, after a spell of Colchester pressure, Bonne netted his and United’s second to level things up once more.

With penalties looming, Northampton refused to buckle and showed impressive character to come storming back as a neatly-worked move ended with Marc Richards diverting Hoskins’ shot into the net to once and for all secure Town’s place in the second round.

There were many positives for Chris Wilder and his side, not least the fact the win will restore some much-needed confidence and momentum following their brief wobble.

Three defeats in four games and no wins had sapped much of the early season optimism that’d been built up thanks to three wins from their opening three games, but this victory helps gets the Cobblers back on track and will hopefully signal the start of a more consistent run of performances, starting with this Saturday’s league game against Dagenham & Redbridge.

Hoskins was again excellent, as he was against Accrington Stanley at the weekend, and he may well have played himself into Saturday’s starting line-up, with not only his infectious energy and high work-rate catching the eye, but his quality in the final third also evident, claiming two assists.

The game also saw a new midfield pairing for Northampton in the form of Leicester loanee Ryan Watson and summer signing Paul Corry, and the two seemed to complement each other well as they laid the foundation for a potentially promising midfield partnership moving forward.

The ease at which teams have opened Northampton up at times this season remains a concern, however, as Colchester again highlighted on Tuesday, especially for the second goal when the Cobblers were sliced open, and this will surely be something Wilder will look to rectify for the upcoming fixtures.

The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy may not be the most glamorous of competitions but, for many clubs, it represents the best chance to reach Wembley, and that’s not something to be sniffed at. One round down, five to go.

How they rated...

Ryan Clarke - Nothing spectacular but made a couple of decent saves. Had little chance with either goal... 7

Adam Yates - Could have done better to cut out the cross that led to the first goal. Withdrawn at half-time with a tight thigh... 6

Ryan Cresswell - Commanding performance from the centre-back. Was virtually unbeatable in the air, though could perhaps have done better about the second goal... 7

Rod McDonald - Beaten in the air for the first goal but otherwise solid... 6.5

David Buchanan - Back on form after a couple of below-par performances. Defensively excellent and also offered a threat going forward as highlighted by the winning goal... 7.5

Ryan Watson - Made some driving runs forward from midfield in the first half and took that one step further in the second with a superb solo goal. Also put in a couple of crunching tackles. Very promising display after his shaky debut... 8

Paul Corry - Neat and tidy on the ball. Makings of a good midfield partnership with Watson... 7

Lawson D’Ath - Mixed night for the winger. Gave the ball away sloppily at times but also carried a threat and initiated the move that led to the winning goal with a smart backheel... 7

Sam Hoskins - Excellent in the first half. Set up the opening goal with good work down the left and also had the ball in the net but was deemed narrowly offside. Worked hard as ever and won the ball back for his side several times. Set up the winner too... 8.5 CHRON STAR MAN

Alfie Potter - Arguably his best game in a Cobblers shirt. More involved than he has been in recent games. Couple of bright moments but still lacking that killer final ball... 7

Dominic Calvert-Lewin - Showed glimpses of his potential. Couple of nice turns and flicks and took his goal nicely... 7.5

Substitutes

Josh Lelan - Did well having come on as a half-time substitute, but caught out for the second goal when leaving too much space for Bonne... 6

Jason Taylor - Come on in a midfield three and helped soak up the Colchester pressure... 6.5

Marc Richards - Only touched the ball about three times but got the all-important third goal, once again showing his poaching ability. That’s four for the season now... 7

A man had his wallet stolen in Kettering when he tried to help a homeless man who was being verbally abused by a gang of men.

The man was walking along Silver Street at about 4.10pm on Sunday, August 30, when he saw a homeless man sitting on the floor near KFC.

Five other men were surrounding him and being abusive.

The victim stepped in to try to tell the offenders to go away, at which point one of them grabbed his wallet, took cash and made off.

The offender was white, aged between 16 and 21, and was wearing a dark grey jumper and dark blue jeans.

Police would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have any information regarding it.

Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A 23-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted at the Music Barn, High Street, Cranford, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The woman was at a charity music event when she was assaulted by two people, one of whom is alleged to have had a knife.

The incident happened shortly after midnight on Sunday, August 30, and police would like to speak to anyone who may have been at the event.

A 27-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man have been arrested in connection with incident and bailed.

The victim received minor injuries.

A woman was assaulted in her car after a verbal altercation between herself and another woman.

The victim was punched in the face in Harborough Road, Desborough, at about 8pm on Monday August 17, before the offender left in another car.

The offender is described as white and in her thirties, about 6ft tall with a short brown hair, wearing glasses, jeans and a grey jumper.

Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident are asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.