Facing the daunting prospect of a visit to Glanford Park, the Cobblers gave notice that all is not lost in their relegation battle with a hard won point. They played the last 36 minutes with ten men after Richard Ravenhill was sent off after his second yellow card.
Scunthorpe took the lead on 52 minutes when Niall Canavan headed home from close range but the Cobblers kept pressing and were rewarded when Zander Diamondheaded home on 65 minutes.
Northampton remain in the relegation zone, six points adrift from Aldershot, Bury and Exeter after a surprise win for Accrington at home to leaders Chesterfield.
The attendance was 3968.