Cobblers boss Gary Johnson tried to be positive after his side went out to Blue Square bet premier side Luton Town at Kenilworth road in an end to end cup tie.
"They're not just any non-League team, they're doing well, but at the same time both teams thought they could get at the other and that made for a decent contest," said Johnson.
"They took their opportunity but we had several opportunities as well. We weren't able to have that bit of quality, that bit of guile to stick the ball in the back of the net when we had our chances.
Some positive news on this disappointing day when everyone hoped for a decent cup run to get the season moving was the return of Jason Crowe.
Jason, who made nearly 200 appearances for the club in his first spell, originally arrived at Sixfields from Grimsby Town under the Bosman ruling in the summer of 2005, having joined the Mariners in August 2003.
The Cobblers now have to put todays result behind them and focus on the visit of Shrewsbury Town next Saturday.