A Leon McKenzie header gave Northampton all three points to bring an end to Oxford's recent good form.
Harry Worley went close for the U's before Andy Holt headed the hosts in front from Michael Jacobs' corner.
The visitors levelled after the interval when striker Tom Craddock diverted Asa Hall's shot past Cobblers goalkeeper Chris Dunn.
James Constable missed a good chance for the visitors before McKenzie headed home from a superb Holt cross.
Northampton Town manager Ian Sampson told BBC Radio Northampton: "It was really good entertaining stuff, especially the second half. I'm pleased that we got the right result.
"We look to keep our home form going and pick up some points on our travels, but I'm delighted with the players today.
"You know what you get with Andy Holt. He always gives 100% and that's what the fans want to see - the effort and the commitment."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 22 January 2011
Npower League Two
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Northampton
2-1
Oxford Utd
FT
(HT 1-0)
Holt 42
McKenzie 67
Craddock 47
Northampton
01 Dunn
03 Hall
06 Beckwith
14 Johnson
25 Tozer
08 Osman yellow card
11 Holt
12 Wedderburn
17 Jacobs
18 McKenzie (Gilligan 79)
28 Laurent (McKay 46)
Substitutes
26 Gherasim,
02 Rodgers,
05 Hinton,
07 Gilligan,
29 Built,
15 Herbert,
16 McKay
Oxford Utd
01 Clarke
02 Batt
03 Tonkin
06 Wright (Midson 88)
22 Worley
04 McLaren (Deering 75)
11 Clist
14 Hall (Heslop 72)
09 Constable
29 Craddock
32 MacLean yellow card
Substitutes
21 Eastwood,
05 Sangare,
08 Heslop,
20 Deering,
28 Payne,
10 Midson,
24 Green
Ref: MarrinerAtt: 6,097
NORTHAMPTON
OXFORD UTD
Possession
Northampton53%
Oxford Utd47%
Attempts on target
Northampton5
Oxford Utd5
Attempts off target
Northampton2
Oxford Utd8
Corners
Northampton4
Oxford Utd3
Fouls
Northampton7
Oxford Utd8
Final Result
94:26 The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.
Full Time
90:00+0:21 Corner taken by Simon Heslop, save by Chris Dunn.
90:00+0:02 The ball is sent over by Steven MacLean.
Correction - 87:27 Substitution Jack Midson comes on in place of Jake Wright.
87:27 Substitution Jack Midson comes on in place of Jake Wright.
86:22 Unfair challenge on Simon Clist by Abdul Osman results in a free kick. Jake Wright restarts play with the free kick.
86:22 Booking Abdul Osman goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
84:38 Simon Heslop takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Michael Jacobs.
84:30 Tom Craddock produces a cross, blocked by John Johnson.
83:59 Billy Mckay is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.
83:28 The ball is swung over by Michael Jacobs, save by Ryan Clarke.
82:22 The ball is swung over by Anthony Tonkin.
80:36 Ryan Gilligan takes a shot. Save by Ryan Clarke.
79:40 Simon Clist concedes a free kick for a foul on Abdul Osman. Marcus Hall takes the direct free kick.
78:30 Simon Heslop gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andrew Holt. Direct free kick taken by Marcus Hall.
78:02 Substitution (Northampton) makes a substitution, with Ryan Gilligan coming on for Leon McKenzie.
77:51 The ball is swung over by Sam Deering.
76:34 The ball is swung over by Sam Deering, John Johnson manages to make a clearance.
76:25 Sam Deering crosses the ball, Dean Beckwith gets a block in.
76:15 A cross is delivered by Andrew Holt, save made by Ryan Clarke.
74:33 Substitution Sam Deering is brought on as a substitute for Paul McLaren.
71:26 Substitution Asa Hall goes off and Simon Heslop comes on.
69:58 Nathaniel Wedderburn has an effort at goal from long distance that goes wide left.
69:23 Foul by Harry Worley on Billy Mckay, free kick awarded. Marcus Hall takes the free kick.
66:41 Assist by Andrew Holt.
66:41 GOAL - Leon McKenzie:Northampton 2 - 1 Oxford Utd Leon McKenzie finds the net with a headed goal from close range. Northampton 2-1 Oxford Utd.
66:36 Andrew Holt crosses the ball,
65:36 Tom Craddock takes a shot. Marcus Hall gets a block in.
64:44 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Chris Dunn.
64:06 Leon McKenzie is ruled offside. Ryan Clarke takes the free kick.
62:53 James Constable produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes wide left of the goal.
62:05 Michael Jacobs takes a inswinging corner to the near post, brilliant save by Ryan Clarke.
61:58 The ball is swung over by Marcus Hall, Paul McLaren makes a clearance.
61:42 The ball is crossed by John Johnson, Paul McLaren manages to make a clearance.
60:59 The official flags James Constable offside. Free kick taken by Chris Dunn.
59:17 The ball is swung over by Michael Jacobs, save made by Ryan Clarke.
58:50 Corner taken by Michael Jacobs from the left by-line played to the near post, Paul McLaren makes a clearance.
54:19 Nathaniel Wedderburn takes a shot. Ryan Clarke makes a comfortable save.
51:56 Free kick awarded for a foul by Steven MacLean on Andrew Holt. Michael Jacobs crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel.
51:56 Booking The referee cautions Steven MacLean for unsporting behaviour.
50:57 Steven MacLean crosses the ball, save made by Chris Dunn.
50:04 Effort from inside the area by James Constable misses to the left of the target.
Correction - 46:41 A cross is delivered by Steven MacLean, Asa Hall takes a shot.
46:41 The ball is delivered by Steven MacLean, Asa Hall takes a shot.
46:41 GOAL - Tom Craddock:Northampton 1 - 1 Oxford Utd Tom Craddock finds the back of the net with a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Northampton 1-1 Oxford Utd.
45:01 The referee gets the second half underway.
45:01 Substitution Billy Mckay is brought on as a substitute for Francis Laurent.
Half Time
45:00+1:15 It is the end of the first-half.
44:50 Anthony Tonkin produces a cross, Effort from inside the six-yard box by James Constable goes wide right of the target.
43:56 Effort on goal by Steven MacLean from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.
43:39 The ball is delivered by Asa Hall, clearance by Ben Tozer.
42:00 Nathaniel Wedderburn takes a shot. Save made by Ryan Clarke. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Michael Jacobs, Michael Jacobs provided the assist for the goal.
42:00 GOAL - Andrew Holt:Northampton 1 - 0 Oxford Utd Andrew Holt grabs a headed goal from deep inside the penalty area. Northampton 1-0 Oxford Utd.
40:47 Damian Batt takes a shot. Ben Tozer gets a block in.
38:51 Damian Batt crosses the ball.
38:32 Steven MacLean fouled by Dean Beckwith, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Tom Craddock.
37:21 Damian Batt sends in a cross, clearance made by Dean Beckwith.
36:35 Tom Craddock takes a shot. Comfortable save by Chris Dunn.
34:54 The ball is sent over by James Constable, clearance by Abdul Osman.
32:49 Unfair challenge on Anthony Tonkin by Francis Laurent results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.
32:35 Damian Batt delivers the ball, clearance made by Ben Tozer.
32:25 A cross is delivered by Steven MacLean, Ben Tozer manages to make a clearance.
29:53 Leon McKenzie concedes a free kick for a foul on Jake Wright. Ryan Clarke takes the free kick.
29:17 Tom Craddock is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Chris Dunn takes the free kick.
27:39 The ball is swung over by Damian Batt, Chris Dunn makes a comfortable save.
27:02 Centre by Andrew Holt, save made by Ryan Clarke.
25:12 James Constable takes a shot. John Johnson gets a block in. Short corner taken by Steven MacLean.
Correction - 23:51 The ball is crossed by Paul McLaren, Harry Worley produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.
23:51 The ball is swung over by Paul McLaren, Shot from just outside the box by Harry Worley goes over the crossbar.
23:40 Centre by Anthony Tonkin, Marcus Hall makes a clearance.
23:07 Marcus Hall concedes a free kick for a foul on Steven MacLean. Free kick taken by Paul McLaren.
21:42 Tom Craddock concedes a free kick for a foul on Ben Tozer. Free kick taken by Chris Dunn.
21:12 Centre by Damian Batt.
19:05 The offside flag is raised against Tom Craddock. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Dunn.
18:34 Centre by James Constable, John Johnson makes a clearance.
17:39 Paul McLaren fouled by John Johnson, the ref awards a free kick. Ryan Clarke restarts play with the free kick.
17:09 Leon McKenzie takes a shot. Blocked by Ryan Clarke.
16:13 Damian Batt gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on John Johnson. Free kick taken by Marcus Hall.
14:57 Corner taken left-footed by Nathaniel Wedderburn from the right by-line, save by Ryan Clarke.
12:49 The referee blows for offside against Tom Craddock. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Dunn.
12:37 Anthony Tonkin crosses the ball, clearance made by Ben Tozer.
12:03 Asa Hall produces a cross, clearance by Abdul Osman.
11:17 Francis Laurent delivers the ball, Simon Clist manages to make a clearance.
11:05 Andrew Holt produces a cross.
10:31 James Constable has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the target.
9:19 The ball is swung over by Francis Laurent, clearance made by Anthony Tonkin.
8:44 Foul by Damian Batt on Andrew Holt, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Marcus Hall.
6:14 Steven MacLean produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.
4:31 Free kick awarded for a foul by Leon McKenzie on Jake Wright. Jake Wright takes the free kick.
4:01 The offside flag is raised against Leon McKenzie. Indirect free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.
1:31 Foul by Simon Clist on Francis Laurent, free kick awarded. Ben Tozer restarts play with the free kick.
0:00 The match has kicked off.
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