Sonny Cox’s first goal of the season earned Exeter City a point at St James Park, as they battled back late against Northampton Town.
The visitors took the lead just before half-time through Tariqe Fosu’s low drive, but a series of second-half substitutions swung momentum in City’s favour. Two of those changes played a key role in the equaliser, as Pat Jones’ cross was flicked on by Alex Hartridge into the path of Cox, who fired home with five minutes to play.
Returning from Spain after the squad's mid-season training camp, Gary Caldwell made four changes from the team that lost 3-0 to Charlton Athletic. Ben Purrington returned to the team alongside Ryan Woods, while Tony Yogane and Alex Hartridge made their first starts at SJP since joining and returning to the club in January. Injury to Shaun MacDonald again meant that City were without a keeper on the bench, which also included Sonny Cox, who if used would make his first appearance since early December.
First half
Joe Whitworth was the first goalkeeper called into action on a sun-kissed St James Park pitch. The Palace loanee got down quickly to hold an early shot from Dara Costello, who let fly with a half-volley from the edge of the box.
The visitors saw the majority of early possession, but back-to-back long throws from Alex Hartridge led to City's first glimpse of goal. The centre-back’s delivery was flicked on inside the box into the path of Demetri Mitchell, who, with his back to goal, attempted a spectacular overhead kick - but his effort was well off target.
Northampton had the ball in the back of the net in the 15th minute after a long throw was nodded in, but Whitworth had been bundled over well before the ball crossed the line, and the referee promptly called for a foul.
The pace of the game slowed down somewhat around the 23rd minute when Jack McMillan was forced off injured, and after a lull it was the positive running of Yogane that pushed City up the pitch.
His drive down the left won a free-kick, that was eventually worked from Woods to the Brentford winger, and his cross found substitute Ilmari Niskanen, however his goalbound header was blocked by a defender and cleared.
With five minutes remaining in the half, Tariqe Fosu had a golden chance to put Northampton ahead after a slip from Hartridge gifted the Cobblers possession. A quick break forward saw Fosu receive the ball unmarked inside City’s box, but Purrington reacted swiftly to block his attempt.
That proved to be a warning sign, as the visitors took the lead just before the break. A cross from the right skipped through the box before being collected by a player in yellow on the left. He weaved his way into the area before flicking the ball past Trevitt to Costelloe, whose first shot was blocked - only for him to bury the rebound from close range.
The Grecians should have been level before the break, if not for Lee Burge in the Northampton net. A free-kick found a City defender at the back post, and he unleashed a powerful strike at goal, but Burge reacted well to parry it away.
Second half
With both teams now attacking toward their own supporters, Northampton had the first opportunity after the interval. A cross to the back post found Fosu on the edge of the six-yard box, but before he could get a shot away, Mitchell sprinted back and got a foot in, blocking the ball for an inconsequential corner.
For the next 20 minutes, Town saw plenty of possession, creating several half-chances that the Grecians’ backline dealt with well. A triple substitution by Gary Caldwell injected fresh energy into City, and a corner from one of those changes, Reece Cole, caused havoc at the back post before being cleared off the line.
City kept pushing forward as the sun dipped over SJP, with another in-swinging corner from Cole forcing the Cobblers' keeper to backtrack and punch the ball away from underneath his bar.
From the next corner, Exeter found their equaliser. The initial cross was cleared but quickly worked back into the box by Jones, whose delivery was knocked on by Hartridge. The ball fell to the feet of Sonny Cox, who drove it hard and low into the net.
Momentum fully swung in City's favour as the game creeped into six added minutes, but a cross from Hartridge was only sent into the Big Bank by Joel Colwill.
Cox had one more chance but couldn't get a shot away, as both sides had to settle for a point in Devon.
The Grecians have a packed schedule coming up, with a match away at Reading on Tuesday before Shrewsbury visit SJP next Saturday. Get your tickets now!
Exeter City: Whitworth, McMillan (Niskanen, 26'), Hartridge, A. MacDonald, Purrington, Mitchell (Jones, 65'), Woods (Colwill, 75'), Trevitt (Watts 75'), Yogane (Cox, 65'), Aitchison (Cole, 65'), Magennis (C).
Substitutes not used: Francis.
Goal: Cox 87'
Yellow card: Niskanen 69'
Northampton Town: Burge, Magloire (Willis, 83'), McGowan (C) (Koiki, 69'), Hoskins, Perry (Hondermarck, 83'), Pinnock, Guiness-Walker, Costelloe (Wilson, 90'), Taylor, Fosu (Roberts, 69'), Dyche.
Substitutes not used: Tzanev (GK), Chouchane.
Goal: Costelloe 42'
Yellow card: Taylor 50'
Attendance: 6834 (490 away)