Northampton's run without a league win stretched to seven matches after they failed to overcome 10-man Port Vale.
They went close on two occasions and then after Tommy Fraser brought down Paul Rodgers, Adebayo Akinfenwa's penalty was saved by Chris Martin.
But at the other end Chris Dunn felled Louis Dodds and former Cobbler Marc Richards scored from the spot.
The saga continued after the break as John McCombe saw red for pulling back Akinfenwa, who fired in the spot-kick.
Northampton Town manager Ian Sampson tells BBC Radio Northampton:
"Unfortunately we didn't get the break in front of goal. I don't think they ventured into our half too many times.
"We kept the ball, we got it wide, we were patient.
"But it's two games unbeaten, so we're trying to take the positives out of those games."
Port Vale manager Micky Adams told BBC Radio Stoke:
"With a point away from home you would normally say great, but, with the greatest respect to Northampton, I think they were there for the taking today".
"Other than the penalty I think they had one chance from a corner so we had to tighten up on that in the second half which we did.
"The referee tried to be everybody's mate today and I told him after instead of just doing that, just do the job properly."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 12 December 2009
League Two
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Northampton
1-1
Port Vale
FT
(HT 0-1)
Akinfenwa (pen) 51
Richards (pen) 45+2
Northampton
01 Dunn yellow card
02 Rodgers
03 Johnson yellow card
06 Beckwith
19 Curtis
23 Gilbert (Mulligan 56)
25 Swailes yellow card
12 Gilligan
18 Benjamin
10 Akinfenwa
22 Herbert (Mckay 77)
Substitutes
26 Brown,
40 Kanyuka,
15 Dyer,
21 Jacobs,
16 Mulligan,
17 Mckay,
24 Harris
Port Vale
12 Martin
05 McCombe red card
11 Yates
15 Collins
16 Owen
03 Taylor
04 Griffith (Loft 24)
10 Fraser yellow card
26 Taylor yellow card
09 Richards
14 Dodds
Substitutes
01 Anyon,
06 Prosser,
07 Loft,
08 Howland,
19 Richman,
33 Jarrett,
21 Lawrie
Ref: RussellAtt: 4,132
NORTHAMPTON
PORT VALE
Possession
Northampton58%
Port Vale42%
Attempts on target
Northampton4
Port Vale2
Attempts off target
Northampton4
Port Vale1
Corners
Northampton5
Port Vale2
Fouls
Northampton4
Port Vale8
90:00+1:22 Joe Benjamin crosses the ball, clearance by Tommy Fraser.
88:48 The referee blows for offside against Adebayo Akinfenwa. Chris Martin takes the free kick.
87:57 The assistant referee flags for offside against Adebayo Akinfenwa. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Martin.
87:06 Marc Richards is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Dean Beckwith takes the free kick.
85:31 Shot from just outside the box by Joe Benjamin goes over the bar.
80:48 Kris Taylor takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.
76:54 Substitution Billy Mckay comes on in place of Courtney Herbert.
73:56 Drilled right-footed shot by Gary Mulligan. Chris Martin makes a save.
Correction - 72:04 Unfair challenge on Paul Rodgers by Marc Richards results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Ryan Gilligan.
72:04 Unfair challenge on Paul Rodgers by Marc Richards results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ryan Gilligan.
71:30 Ryan Gilligan takes a shot. Save by Chris Martin.
70:48 Free kick awarded for a foul by Doug Loft on Paul Rodgers. Chris Dunn takes the direct free kick.
69:05 Inswinging corner taken by Ryan Gilligan from the left by-line.
64:47 Lee Collins gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Rodgers. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ryan Gilligan, Chris Martin makes a comfortable save.
59:39 Foul by Robert Taylor on Gary Mulligan, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Danny Swailes.
58:12 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Ryan Gilligan, Danny Swailes produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
55:40 Substitution Peter Gilbert goes off and Gary Mulligan comes on.
51:18 Louis Dodds produces a curled right-footed shot from 20 yards. Save made by Chris Dunn.
50:09 GOAL - Adebayo Akinfenwa:Northampton 1 - 1 Port Vale Penalty taken right-footed by Adebayo Akinfenwa and scored. Northampton 1-1 Port Vale.
49:31 Sent off John McCombe is sent off by the referee.
48:54 Penalty awarded for an unfair challenge on Adebayo Akinfenwa by John McCombe.
45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
Half Time
45:00+2:25 The first half comes to an end.
45:00+1:24 GOAL - Marc Richards:Northampton 0 - 1 Port Vale Marc Richards scores a placed penalty. Northampton 0-1 Port Vale.
45:00+0:36 Booking Chris Dunn receives a yellow card.
45:00+0:21 Penalty awarded for an unfair challenge on Louis Dodds by Chris Dunn.
44:49 The offside flag is raised against Robert Taylor. Free kick taken by Chris Dunn.
42:43 A brilliant save by Chris Martin from penalty by Adebayo Akinfenwa. Northampton 0-0 Port Vale.
42:43 Booking Tommy Fraser goes into the book.
42:25 Penalty awarded for a foul by Tommy Fraser on Paul Rodgers.
Correction - 41:40 Booking John Johnson shown a yellow card.
41:22 Booking John Johnson is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.
37:57 Corner taken right-footed by Tommy Fraser from the right by-line to the near post, Adebayo Akinfenwa makes a clearance.
34:16 The assistant referee signals for offside against Robert Taylor. Chris Dunn takes the indirect free kick.
30:43 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Peter Gilbert, clearance by Lee Collins.
28:45 Kris Taylor fouled by John Johnson, the ref awards a free kick. Tommy Fraser crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, save by Chris Dunn.
27:32 Outswinging corner taken by Tommy Fraser from the right by-line, clearance by Ryan Gilligan.
25:15 Foul by Adebayo Akinfenwa on Gareth Owen, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Chris Martin.
24:50 Marc Richards challenges Peter Gilbert unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Dunn takes the free kick.
23:55 Substitution (Port Vale) makes a substitution, with Doug Loft coming on for Anthony Griffith.
17:19 Shot from 30 yards from Ryan Gilligan. Save made by Chris Martin.
16:23 Corner from the left by-line taken by Peter Gilbert, Robert Taylor makes a clearance.
16:00 Shot by Courtney Herbert. Save by Chris Martin.
14:47 Peter Gilbert takes the inswinging corner, Headed effort from close range by Adebayo Akinfenwa goes wide left of the target.
10:57 Shot from just outside the box by Ryan Gilligan goes over the crossbar.
8:36 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Chris Martin.
Correction - 4:58 Shot comes in from Marc Richards from the free kick, save made by Chris Dunn.
4:58 Shot comes in from Marc Richards from the free kick, save by Chris Dunn.
4:58 Booking The referee cautions Danny Swailes for unsporting behaviour.
Correction - 4:33 Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Swailes on Robert Taylor.
4:33 Foul by Danny Swailes on Robert Taylor, free kick awarded.
0:00 The game begins.
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