NEW signing Richie Bennett scored his first goal for the club to earn the Shrimps a deserved point at Sixfields.
The on loan Carlisle man reacted sharply in the box to steer home Kevin Ellison’s left wing cross past David Cornell to level after Northampton debutant Time Elsnik scored a first half opener for the home side.
Morecambe boss Jim Bentley made three changes to the starting line up with Steven Old and Luke Conlan both forced to sit on the bench through illness and Liam Mandeville dropping to the bench as Alex Kenyon, Bennett and Vadaine Oliver returned.
Northampton started the brighter. A cross from Jack Bridge set up a chance for Junior Morias on nine minutes but his effort was straight at Mark Halstead. There was then another half chance for Morias when a long looping throw from Taylor caused Morecambe problems but he couldn’t quite find the target.
The Cobblers opened the scoring midway through the first half when Elsnik scored from close range after a bit of pinball in the Morecambe area.
The Shrimps began to find their feet after the half hour mark David Cornell pulled off a fine save to deny Andrew Tutte an equaliser after an excellent counter attack before Morias saw a shot blocked at close range as the action quickly switched to the other end of the field.
A double chance for Sam Hoskins then followed, Halstead making a good save from his first attempt with his follow-up effort wide.
Morecambe posed a threat on the break and Rhys Oates blocked a Bennett shot as it looked to be heading for the top corner before Northampton ended the half on top with Hoskins heading inches wide after a good cross from Shay Facey.
Morecambe were much better after the break and were worthy of their equaliser when Bennet, who worked well in tandem with Oliver got onto the end of a ball in from Kevin Ellison to tap home at the far post.
Northampton hit back with Hoskins drilling a shot from 20-yards into the side netting before Cornell had to be alert at the other end to save from Vadaine Oliver.
Rhys Oates went close to putting the away side in front from a corner and Oliver then had the ball in the back of the net following another quick break from the visitors but the flag was raised for offside.
Shrimps' substitute Liam Mandeville had a late chance to win it but dragged a shot wide and Halstead saved from Hoskins as time ticked toward the 90-minute mark with the score still 1-1 and that was how it finished.
Cobblers: Cornell, Facey (rep A Williams 56), J Williams, Taylor, Pierre, Bridge, Turnbull, Powell (rep Roberts 76), Elsnik, Morias (rep Powell 70), Hoskins.
Subs not used: Coddington, Buchanan, Pollock, McWilliams
Morecambe: Halstead, Mills, Kenyon, Tutte, Bennett (sub McKay 90), Oliver, Ellison, Sutton, Lavelle, Oates (sub Mandeville 72), Cranston.
Subs not used: Conlon, Old, Szczepaniak, Mendes-Gomes, Hedley.
Referee: Lee Collins
Attendance: 4,512 (96 away fans)