Northampton Town showcased their attacking firepower in a pre-season friendly at Solihull Moors on 1 August 2026, returning from the ARMCO Arena with a 4-2 victory. The match, an International Club Friendly, saw the League One side overwhelm their National League hosts with a quick-moving, goal-heavy display, though Solihull Moors showed real character by twice pulling themselves back into contention before eventually running out of steam.

Visitors strike early in a lively opening

Northampton started with real intent and opened the scoring inside the opening quarter of an hour, rounding the goalkeeper after a defensive miscommunication at the back. The warning signs were there for Solihull, but the hosts responded impressively, levelling with a well-placed header from a corner shortly after.

That equaliser only seemed to spur Northampton forward. The Cobblers regained the lead before the break with a sweeping move that sliced through Solihull's midfield, and the half ended with the visitors deservedly ahead. Solihull, however, had showed enough in patches to suggest the game was not yet settled.

A goal-laden second half

Both teams continued to push for goals after the restart. Northampton extended the lead with a penalty after a clumsy challenge in the box, looking to put the game to bed. Solihull again responded with spirit, scoring their second to make it 3-2 and give the home supporters something to cheer deep into the contest.

But any hopes of a dramatic late comeback were extinguished when Northampton added a fourth in the closing stages, tapping in after another rapid counter-attack. The final whistle saw the visitors take a deserved 4-2 win, though Solihull's performance offered clear evidence that they are capable of competing against higher-division opposition.

What the result means for both sides

• Northampton in form: The Cobblers have now shown an encouraging ability to score across multiple periods of the game, a promising sign ahead of their League One opener.
• Solihull's fight: Twice fighting back against a higher-league side should give the Moors confidence, even in defeat.
• Pre-season intensity: Both managers will value having played a genuinely competitive friendly at this stage of their summer schedules.

The 4-2 final scoreline at the ARMCO Arena highlighted an entertaining evening of football — fluid in attack, unrelentingly busy in midfield, and far from shy in front of goal. For Northampton Town, it was a statement performance; for Solihull Moors, it was a valuable workout and a reminder of the level they are aiming to reach.