IT wasn't pretty, but a deserved point at the Sixfields Stadium following the midweek mauling at Swansea will go down as a mission accomplished.

Macc boss David Moss was a little more upbeat after this game - one which produced few chances throughout the 90 minutes - as tactical changes meant that the Silkmen were more than a match for their big-spending hosts this time.

Steve Hitchen (at the expense of George Abbey) came in for his second start of the season on the right side of a solid five-man defence, while the most surprising selection saw Silkmen skipper Dave Flitcroft dropped to the bench with former Premiership star Tommy Widdrington coming in for his second start for Macc. Adventurous manager Moss also featured three strikers in Colin Little, John Miles and skipper for the day Martin Carruthers.

In a somewhat pedestrian first half, the Cobblers did create the lion's share of the chances, with Paul Trollope and Martin Smith going close in the opening 10 minutes. However, their best chance of all came on 17 minutes as Chris Hargreaves played the ball over the top of the Macc defence into the path of Smith, but as he charged down on goal unopposed, loan star Boaz Myhill came to the visitors' rescue with a save off his legs.

Macc responded well though, and Little was teed up by Widdrington but his shot was too straight and home goalkeeper Lee Harper was able to save. Carruthers did have the ball in the Northampton net on 26 minutes, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

There was cause for optimism going into the half-time break, but on the hour mark Myhill was forced into a diving one-handed save as he just about kept out Oli Burgess's crisp low drive. Macc left-back Danny Adams then found himself in the Cobblers' penalty box as he headed across goal for Miles, but the former Crewe man saw his shot blocked at the last by Luke Chambers.

Macc's best opportunities came with 10 minutes left following a succession of corner-kicks. The first one was swung in by Danny Whitaker and Steve Macauley thumped in a header which bounced up off the turf before being tipped over the crossbar superbly by Harper. Seconds later Macauley was there again as his second header was cleared off the line by Chambers, and the follow-up was blasted over the bar from close range by Miles.

Both sides appeared happy to settle for a point apiece after that, but Trollope almost broke Macc's resistance in the dying seconds but he couldn't direct his header from Chambers' cross with the defence flat-footed.