Alex Nicholls made a dream debut for his new side Northampton Town, scoring the winner to dump last season’s League Cup finalists Cardiff City out at the First Round hurdle.

Nicholls started the game alongside another product of The Saddlers youth system and fellow summer signing Clive Platt.

Cardiff fielded a weakened team for the fixture at Sixfields, not out of choice, eight players were away on international duty.

Cardiff took the lead with a Helguson 4th minute penalty, which was cancelled out by Artell on 37 minutes.  Three minutes into the second half, Nicholls scored the winner, popping up to steer home a header for the League Two side.