Northampton Town missed out on taking a win after conceding a late equaliser to draw 1-1 at Exeter City.

Dara Costelloe’s goal just before half-time had put Kevin Nolan’s side in front, and the visitors maintained the lead at St James Park until Sonny Cox’s 87th minute equaliser brought the Grecians back on level terms.

The stalemate in Devon meant Northampton dropped a place to 18th after Peterborough beat bottom side Shrewsbury. The Cobblers sit three places and four points above the relegation zone with 12 games of the season remaining.

Northampton arrived looking to bounce back from a midweek home defeat by Barnsley, in a match that marked Lee Burge’s first start in goal since late November.

Costelloe saw a strike kept out by Exeter keeper Joe Whitworth, but the pattern of the first half saw big opportunities at a premium.

With 42 minutes on the clock, however, a breakthrough came the way of Northampton. Tarique Fosu had an initial shot blocked, but the loose ball fell the way of Costelloe, and the man on loan from Burnley duly lashed the ball into the bottom corner to grab the game’s opening goal.

The returning Burge had to be alert to keep Northampton in front at the break, with the goalkepeer denying Angus MacDonald before Ben Purrington missed the target with the rebound.

For most of the second half, Northampton kept Exeter at arms length, with the home side finding chances at a premium in their attempts to equalise and avoid adding to a run that had seen them lose 4 of their previous 5 outings.

In the final minutes of normal time, however, a chance fell Exeter’s way and was duly taken. Northampton only partially cleared a corner and from a ball back in, it fell for Cox to finish from close range.

Things could’ve been worse for Northampton, who needed defender Jordan Willis to block a Cox strike in injury time from finding the back of the net.

Northampton will look to return to winning ways on Tuesday night, with the Cobblers welcoming 4th placed Stockport County to Sixfields. It comes as part of a sequence for Northampton against teams at the top end of League One, who follow that with games against play-off chasing Leyton Orient and runaway leaders Birmingham City.