Chasing successive home victories, Town got off to the worst possible start when Donnelly put the Silkmen ahead on 17 minutes, netting past debutant goalkeeper Matt Duke.
Aidy Boothroyd however seems to have instilled a steelier backbone into his side and goals from Jacobs, Guttridge and Akinfenwa delighted the 4,529 crowd.
Tomlinson's strike ensured a nervy last 5 minutes but the Cobblers held on to draw level on points with Hereford United who stand one place above the relegation trapdoor.
"If I'm being honest I don't think we played very well," Boothroyd told the official club website afterwards while praising striker Akinfenwa for playing despite a tooth infection.
"He was first class."