Brian Smikle's first goal for Cheltenham lifted the Robins into the play-off places as 10-man Northampton lost their third successive game.
Smikle fired home from close-range when he collected Jeff Goulding's delicate flick and shot low into the net.
The Cobblers had been a man down since midway through the first half when Dean Beckwith stamped on Shaun Jeffers.
Despite this, the visitors could have snatched a point but Andy Holt and Leon McKenzie both missed late chances.
Cheltenham Town boss Mark Yates told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: "It was a hard-fought win but that's what you have to do. I'm really pleased with the players' effort, especially in the second half.
"When you play against 10 men people expect you to steamroll teams but that's not going to happen.
"In the first half they were coping with us, we weren't moving the ball with enough purpose but then we put Junior [Smikle] in there to stretch Northampton and I'm delighted with his first goal.
"It's not a criticism but I can't honestly believe it's taken him 11 games to score, however he's always been good for us and played well, wherever I've asked him to play.
"You almost don't want the other team to go to 10 men because it galvanises them, it brings them together and they feel like they want to do it for the other man."
Northampton Town manager Ian Sampson told BBC Radio Northampton: "I wasn't watching what happened but Dean Beckwith says he didn't stamp on the player. If he did, then he's in trouble. If he didn't, then it's worth an appeal.
"We should've come in at half-time 3-0 up. We need to be more clinical.
"It was a decent performance with 10 players, but it's the result that counts."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Npower League Two
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Cheltenham
1-0
Northampton
FT
(HT 0-0)
Smikle 60
Cheltenham
01 Brown
02 Lowe
03 Andrew
05 Gallinagh
22 Elliott
04 Bird
07 Pook (Lewis 46 yellow card)
08 Low
11 Smikle
10 Goulding
21 Jeffers
Substitutes
12 Lloyd-Weston,
16 Haynes,
23 Shroot,
24 Pack,
17 Lewis,
18 Lee
Northampton
01 Dunn
06 Beckwith red card
14 Johnson yellow card
25 Tozer
04 Thornton (Jacobs 70)
07 Gilligan
08 Osman yellow card
11 Holt
23 Davis
28 Parker
16 McKay (McKenzie 77)
Substitutes
13 Walker,
02 Rodgers,
03 Hall,
12 Wedderburn,
17 Jacobs,
09 Guinan,
18 McKenzie
Ref: PhillipsAtt: 3,016
CHELTENHAM
NORTHAMPTON
Possession
Cheltenham48%
Northampton52%
Attempts on target
Cheltenham6
Northampton4
Attempts off target
Cheltenham6
Northampton7
Corners
Cheltenham10
Northampton8
Fouls
Cheltenham21
Northampton7
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:05 The referee brings the game to a close.
90:00+2:51 Foul by David Bird on Andrew Holt, free kick awarded. Liam Davis produces a cross, Headed effort from inside the box by John Johnson misses to the right of the target.
90:00+1:12 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Josh Parker, save by Scott P Brown.
89:58 Unfair challenge on Josh Parker by Jeff Goulding results in a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Michael Jacobs from the free kick.
89:58 Booking Theo Lewis is shown a yellow card.
89:09 A cross is delivered by Michael Jacobs, Steve Elliott manages to make a clearance.
88:54 Abdul Osman decides to take a short corner.
88:04 The ball is crossed by Liam Davis, Andrew Holt has a header from inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.
87:44 Theo Lewis gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Abdul Osman. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Gilligan.
87:12 Michael Jacobs takes the outswinging corner, Steve Elliott makes a clearance.
87:00 Josh Parker takes a shot. Blocked by David Bird.
86:31 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ben Tozer by Shaun Jeffers. Direct free kick taken by Chris Dunn.
85:42 The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Scott P Brown.
84:58 Keith Lowe concedes a free kick for a foul on Josh Parker. Michael Jacobs restarts play with the free kick.
84:16 The offside flag is raised against Josh Parker. Scott P Brown takes the indirect free kick.
83:25 The ball is delivered by Michael Jacobs.
81:24 The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Scott P Brown.
80:28 Corner taken left-footed by Danny Andrew from the left by-line, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Steve Elliott goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
80:19 Shaun Jeffers takes a shot. Save by Chris Dunn.
79:49 The ball is delivered by Joshua Low, Header from close in by Theo Lewis misses to the right of the target.
79:39 Danny Andrew crosses the ball, clearance by Ben Tozer.
79:29 Joshua Low sends in a cross, Ben Tozer manages to make a clearance.
76:45 Substitution Billy Mckay goes off and Leon McKenzie comes on.
76:08 Shaun Jeffers produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.
75:02 Free kick awarded for a foul by Brian Smikle on Ryan Gilligan. Ryan Gilligan restarts play with the free kick.
73:35 Foul by Ben Tozer on Shaun Jeffers, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Brian Smikle.
73:13 Jeff Goulding concedes a free kick for a foul on Andrew Holt. Chris Dunn takes the direct free kick.
72:26 Foul by Jeff Goulding on John Johnson, free kick awarded. Ben Tozer takes the direct free kick.
71:58 John Johnson concedes a free kick for a foul on Theo Lewis. Scott P Brown takes the free kick.
71:58 Booking John Johnson goes into the book.
71:08 Michael Jacobs delivers the ball, clearance made by Andy Gallinagh.
70:54 Theo Lewis concedes a free kick for a foul on Abdul Osman. Free kick taken by Abdul Osman.
69:48 Outswinging corner taken by Danny Andrew from the left by-line.
69:04 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Danny Andrew, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Dunn by Steve Elliott. Direct free kick taken by Chris Dunn.
69:04 Substitution Michael Jacobs replaces Kevin Thornton.
68:14 The ball is swung over by Jeff Goulding.
67:34 Jeff Goulding challenges Josh Parker unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Chris Dunn.
67:03 The assistant referee signals for offside against Billy Mckay. Scott P Brown takes the indirect free kick.
65:44 Inswinging corner taken by Danny Andrew.
65:24 Outswinging corner taken by Danny Andrew.
65:24 Booking The referee cautions Abdul Osman for unsporting behaviour.
64:20 Corner from the right by-line taken by Kevin Thornton, Danny Andrew makes a clearance.
61:53 The ball is crossed by Joshua Low, clearance made by Ryan Gilligan.
59:37 The assist for the goal came from Jeff Goulding.
59:37 GOAL - Brian Smikle:Cheltenham 1 - 0 Northampton A goal is scored by Brian Smikle from deep inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Cheltenham 1-0 Northampton.
58:21 Josh Parker produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the goal.
57:43 Unfair challenge on Abdul Osman by Brian Smikle results in a free kick. Kevin Thornton takes the free kick.
57:04 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Danny Andrew from the left by-line, save made by Chris Dunn.
56:29 Danny Andrew takes the inswinging corner, Andy Gallinagh takes a shot. Blocked by Josh Parker.
56:16 Joshua Low takes a shot. Abdul Osman gets a block in.
54:53 The ball is swung over by Liam Davis, Steve Elliott manages to make a clearance.
51:21 Effort from outside the box by Theo Lewis goes wide right of the target.
50:33 Danny Andrew concedes a free kick for a foul on Josh Parker. Direct free kick taken by Kevin Thornton.
49:27 Theo Lewis has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the target.
48:30 Free kick awarded for a foul by Abdul Osman on Joshua Low. Andy Gallinagh takes the free kick.
45:01 The match restarts for the second half.
45:01 Substitution Theo Lewis on for Michael Pook.
Half Time
45:00+2:13 The whistle is blown to end the first half.
45:00+1:37 David Bird sends in a cross, save made by Chris Dunn.
44:44 The ball is delivered by John Johnson, clearance made by Steve Elliott.
44:21 Abdul Osman takes a shot. Blocked by Andy Gallinagh.
42:51 Foul by Abdul Osman on David Bird, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Danny Andrew.
41:37 Free kick awarded for a foul by Shaun Jeffers on Liam Davis. Free kick taken by Ben Tozer.
41:15 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Ryan Gilligan from the left by-line, save by Scott P Brown.
41:01 Josh Parker takes a shot. Blocked by Andy Gallinagh.
40:28 The ball is sent over by Joshua Low, clearance made by Andrew Holt.
39:48 Jeff Goulding has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.
37:51 Billy Mckay has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.
36:03 Billy Mckay fouled by Keith Lowe, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kevin Thornton.
32:17 Foul by Josh Parker on Danny Andrew, free kick awarded. Scott P Brown restarts play with the free kick.
31:28 Corner taken right-footed by Ryan Gilligan from the left by-line, Danny Andrew manages to make a clearance.
31:21 Billy Mckay produces a cross, Keith Lowe manages to make a clearance.
30:26 Kevin Thornton has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
29:48 Andrew Holt fouled by Jeff Goulding, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Chris Dunn.
28:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Liam Davis by Joshua Low. Chris Dunn takes the free kick.
27:19 Jeff Goulding is ruled offside. Chris Dunn takes the free kick.
27:06 Shot by Jeff Goulding. Blocked by Chris Dunn.
26:44 The ball is crossed by Michael Pook, Abdul Osman makes a clearance.
24:30 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Michael Pook, Chris Dunn makes a save.
24:23 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Danny Andrew.
21:07 Sent off Dean Beckwith is sent off.
21:05 Shaun Jeffers fouled by Dean Beckwith, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Keith Lowe.
16:26 Foul by Brian Smikle on Liam Davis, free kick awarded. Chris Dunn restarts play with the free kick.
15:27 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Kevin Thornton from the right by-line, save by Scott P Brown.
15:16 Billy Mckay takes a shot. Save made by Scott P Brown.
14:56 Brian Smikle challenges Dean Beckwith unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kevin Thornton.
14:17 Liam Davis crosses the ball.
13:18 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ryan Gilligan, Steve Elliott makes a clearance.
12:13 John Johnson sends in a cross, clearance by Keith Lowe.
11:21 The ball is sent over by Josh Parker.
10:29 Shaun Jeffers is ruled offside. Ben Tozer takes the free kick.
10:08 Danny Andrew crosses the ball, Keith Lowe takes a shot. Save by Chris Dunn.
9:30 Corner taken by Danny Andrew played to the near post, clearance made by John Johnson.
8:18 Andy Gallinagh gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Billy Mckay. Kevin Thornton takes the free kick.
7:12 Effort from inside the area by Kevin Thornton misses to the left of the target.
5:59 John Johnson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joshua Low. Free kick crossed left-footed by Danny Andrew.
5:31 The official flags Billy Mckay offside. Scott P Brown takes the indirect free kick.
4:35 Unfair challenge on Abdul Osman by Joshua Low results in a free kick. Abdul Osman takes the free kick.
0:00 The match begins.
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