Both sides came away dissatisfied from this relegation scrap that leaves both Cheltenham Town and Northampton Town languishing in the bottom four with nine games of the season to go.
A draw was probably a fair result on the balance of play although both sides had enough chances to win it and Northampton can feel aggrieved that a crucial decision did not go their way.
Cheltenham began the game well with winger Martin Devaney causing all sorts of problems down the right without finding anyone to get on the end of his crosses.
Northampton invited the home side to try and break them down but it was a laboured response from Cheltenham, whose passing was often too deliberate or too inaccurate.
They finally got a breakthrough on the hour mark when Jamie Victory headed a Grant McCann corner back across goal and midfielder Mark Yates nodded in from close range.
That goal seemed to spark Northampton into life and they forced keeper Shane Higgs to make two good saves before a controversial incident midway through the second half.
John Frain's corner was met by defender Ian Sampson, whose shot at goal appeared to strike John Finnigan on the arm before bouncing down off the crossbar.
The Northampton players and fans claimed the ball had crossed the line or that they should have at least be given a penalty. Referee George Cain would have none of it, however.
The Cobblers did draw level in the 75th minute when Paul Harsley latched on to a clearing header from Victory before drilling a low shot past Higgs.
"Good sides win games after going 1-0 up and that's what we have to do," said Cheltenham boss Bobby Gould.
"We are working on it but we're not there yet. We have to be more resolute if we are going to get out of the bottom four." Northampton caretaker manager Martin Wilkinson said: "I think it was important we remained positive and I was pleased with the way we responded.
Cheltenham are one of the form sides at the moment so to get a draw here was not a bad result, although we could have won it."