Darryl Duffy's late brace rescued a point for promotion-chasing Cheltenham against Northampton.

Ben Tozer tapped the Cobblers ahead after Brett Williams's effort came back off the post, and Adebayo Akinfenwa made it 2-0 with a calm finish.

Duffy slotted home from the penalty spot after John Johnson handled Luke Garbutt's cross to offer some hope.

He drew his side level in added time when he poked in Kaid Mohamed's pass from close range.

After leaders Swindon lost to Oxford earlier on Saturday, Cheltenham missed the opportunity to close the gap to one point, but will be relieved after going two goals down in the first half.

Meanwhile, Northampton remain rock bottom of the Football League, three points from safety.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Cheltenham Town manager Mark Yates told BBC Gloucestershire:

"We showed a lot of character, a lot of resilience and we played well second-half.

"We were disappointed first half with our performance, particularly defensively, as they could have been out of sight.

"They came here to do a job on us, stifle us and make sure we didn't play and that worked for them.

"Sometimes they need a kick up the backside and they knew one or two things I was very unhappy with."

Northampton Town manager Aidy Boothroyd told BBC Radio Northampton:

"We could have been out of sight in the first half and we could have had a couple more. The second half was always going to be difficult, but I still felt comfortable.

"The key moment in the game is the penalty. John Johnson tells me it has hit him in the face.

"We've got to take the positives out of today. To come to a team like this, it's a credit to us to come away with a point.

"It won't be difficult to lift them back up because they're professionals and they want to do well and this lot are having a go."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (3)

Cheltenham Town

  • 12 Butland
  • 06 Elliott
  • 15 Bennett
  • 19 Garbutt
  • 22 Jombati
  • 07 Pack
  • 08 Low (Mohamed - 57' )
  • 20 McGlashan
  • 25 Summerfield (Penn - 57' )
  • 10 Goulding (Duffy - 57' )
  • 14 Spencer

Substitutes

  • 02 Lowe
  • 11 Smikle
  • 16 Penn
  • 09 Duffy
  • 23 Mohamed

Northampton

  • 33 Duke
  • 05 Tozer Booked
  • 14 Johnson
  • 25 Carlisle
  • 28 Langmead
  • 29 Adams Booked
  • 17 Jacobs
  • 22 Guttridge
  • 27 Harding
  • 09 Williams
  • 10 Akinfenwa

Substitutes

  • 13 Kitson
  • 06 Webster
  • 24 Silva
  • 02 Young
  • 08 Robinson
Ref: Sheldrake
Att: 3,503

Match Stats

Shots

11 10

On target

4 5

Corners

11 7

Fouls

9 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:25 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +2:35

The assist for the goal came from James Spencer.

90:00 +2:35 Goal scored

Goal - Darryl Duffy - Cheltenham 2 - 2 Northamp'n A goal is scored by Darryl Duffy from deep inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Cheltenham 2-2 Northampton.

88:19

Darryl Duffy takes a shot. Matt Duke makes a comfortable save.

86:10

Corner taken by Russell Penn from the left by-line.

85:49

Free kick taken by James Spencer.

85:49 Booking

Booking Ben Tozer booked.

85:38

Foul by Ben Tozer on James Spencer, free kick awarded.

84:59

Luke Guttridge gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sido Jombati. Free kick taken by Jack Butland.

82:17

Ben Tozer fouled by Kaid Mohamed, the ref awards a free kick. John Johnson restarts play with the free kick.

81:49

Brett Williams has an effort at goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

81:08

Kaid Mohamed decides to take a short corner.

78:35

Clarke Carlisle gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Darryl Duffy. Kaid Mohamed restarts play with the free kick, Shot by Luke Garbutt from outside the box goes over the target.

75:57 Goal scored

Goal - Darryl Duffy - Cheltenham 1 - 2 Northamp'n Darryl Duffy scores a power penalty. Cheltenham 1-2 Northampton.

75:06

Darryl Duffy fouled by John Johnson, the ref awards a Penalty.

74:37

Michael Jacobs concedes a free kick for a foul on Russell Penn. Sido Jombati restarts play with the free kick.

72:14

Corner taken left-footed by Michael Jacobs from the right by-line, save by Jack Butland.

68:41

Corner taken short by Luke Garbutt.

67:10

Steve Elliott challenges Clarke Carlisle unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Matt Duke.

66:37

Free kick awarded for a foul by Adebayo Akinfenwa on Alan Bennett. Jermaine McGlashan takes the free kick.

66:26

The ball is delivered by Russell Penn, Clarke Carlisle manages to make a clearance.

65:41

Shot from inside the area by Ben Harding clears the bar.

64:18

Michael Jacobs delivers the ball.

62:16

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ben Tozer by James Spencer. Indirect free kick taken by Clarke Carlisle.

60:57

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Luke Garbutt.

60:25

Luke Garbutt takes a inswinging corner.

58:40

Corner taken by Luke Garbutt played to the near post, Headed effort from inside the penalty area by Sido Jombati misses to the right of the target.

57:36

Foul by Luke Guttridge on Marlon Pack, free kick awarded. Marlon Pack takes the indirect free kick.

56:02 Substitution

Substitution Luke Summerfield goes off and Russell Penn comes on.

56:02 Substitution

Substitution Joshua Low leaves the field to be replaced by Kaid Mohamed.

56:02 Substitution

Substitution Jeff Goulding leaves the field to be replaced by Darryl Duffy.

54:35

James Spencer fouled by Clarke Carlisle, the ref awards a free kick. Marlon Pack crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel.

53:25

Shot from outside the penalty box by Ben Harding goes wide right of the goal.

51:22

Brett Williams takes a shot.

47:59

Brett Williams fouled by Joshua Low, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Matt Duke.

47:15

Luke Summerfield takes a shot. Save by Matt Duke.

45:53

The assistant referee signals for offside against Jermaine McGlashan. Matt Duke takes the free kick.

45:11

Inswinging corner taken by Ben Harding, save made by Jack Butland.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

19:59 Goal scored

Goal - Ben Tozer - Cheltenham 0 - 1 Northamp'n Ben Tozer grabs a goal from close in to the top left corner of the goal. Cheltenham 0-1 Northampton.

45:00 +2:14 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +1:58

The referee blows for offside against Adebayo Akinfenwa. Free kick taken by Jack Butland.

44:38

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Luke Garbutt.

43:26

Brett Williams has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.

42:54

Alan Bennett concedes a free kick for a foul on Adebayo Akinfenwa. Free kick taken by Ben Harding.

42:12

Adebayo Akinfenwa concedes a free kick for a foul on Sido Jombati. Indirect free kick taken by Jack Butland.

40:52

The ball is crossed by Luke Guttridge.

40:12

Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Luke Summerfield goes wide of the right-hand upright.

38:00

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alan Bennett by Luke Guttridge. Jack Butland restarts play with the free kick.

37:18

Luke Summerfield delivers the ball, save made by Matt Duke.

36:46

Kelvin Langmead gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jermaine McGlashan. Indirect free kick taken by Marlon Pack.

36:00

The ball is sent over by Brett Williams, Michael Jacobs concedes a free kick for a foul on Marlon Pack. Jack Butland restarts play with the free kick.

34:33

Assist on the goal came from John Johnson.

34:33 Goal scored

Goal - Adebayo Akinfenwa - Cheltenham 0 - 2 Northamp'n Adebayo Akinfenwa fires in a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Cheltenham 0-2 Northampton.

33:00

James Spencer gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kelvin Langmead. Clarke Carlisle takes the free kick.

32:17

The assistant referee flags for offside against James Spencer. Indirect free kick taken by Matt Duke.

30:55

Indirect free kick taken by Marlon Pack.

30:55 Booking

Booking Blair Adams is shown a yellow card.

30:38

Foul by Blair Adams on Jermaine McGlashan, free kick awarded.

29:45

Corner taken by Marlon Pack from the right by-line, save by Matt Duke.

29:00

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Luke Garbutt, Luke Summerfield takes a shot. Save made by Matt Duke.

27:36

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Michael Jacobs, Marlon Pack makes a clearance.

26:03

Short corner taken by Ben Tozer from the right by-line.

25:21

Marlon Pack challenges Luke Guttridge unfairly and gives away a free kick. John Johnson restarts play with the free kick.

22:04

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ben Harding played to the near post, clearance made by Luke Summerfield.

21:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Luke Guttridge by Alan Bennett. Ben Harding takes the free kick.

19:59

Assist by Michael Jacobs.

19:59 Goal scored

Goal - Brett Williams - Cheltenham 0 - 1 Northamp'n Goal scored by Brett Williams from inside the six-yard box to the top left corner of the goal. Cheltenham 0-1 Northampton.

19:27

Michael Jacobs decides to take a short corner.

19:07

Brett Williams takes a shot. Save by Jack Butland.

18:17

Jermaine McGlashan crosses the ball, Effort on goal by Jeff Goulding from inside the box misses to the right of the target.

17:57

Luke Garbutt sends in a cross.

15:52

Outswinging corner taken by Marlon Pack from the right by-line, James Spencer takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.

15:23

Outswinging corner taken by Luke Garbutt.

13:35

Ben Tozer produces a cross.

13:07

Brett Williams takes a shot. Alan Bennett gets a block in.

12:28

Foul by James Spencer on Clarke Carlisle, free kick awarded. Matt Duke restarts play with the free kick.

11:38

Luke Guttridge takes a shot. Save made by Jack Butland.

9:04

Adebayo Akinfenwa challenges Marlon Pack unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Marlon Pack.

4:45

James Spencer has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

3:59

Jermaine McGlashan is caught offside. Free kick taken by Matt Duke.

2:55

Marlon Pack has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.

2:22

Kelvin Langmead concedes a free kick for a foul on James Spencer. Luke Garbutt restarts play with the free kick.

1:12

Inswinging corner taken by Michael Jacobs from the left by-line.

0:00

The match gets underway.

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