Adebayo Akinfenwa helped himself to his 15th goal of the season after just three minutes at Vale Park when he fired home from 20 yards despite being surrounded by a posse of defenders.
Vale drew level just two minutes later with Doug Loft tucking away his second goal in two games after Jason Steele could only parry a shot from Sean Rigg.
The Cobblers' second goal was gift-wrapped by Vale goalkeeper Joe Anyon who dropped a cross by Paul Rodgers and Abdul Osman poked in the loose ball from six yards and Northampton pounced again when an effort by Liam Davis was deflected to Billy McKay who spun to bury an eight-yard shot beyond the unguarded Anyon
Vale boss Micky Adams responded by making all three of his substitutions at half-time, and the home side should have pulled one back within seconds when Marc Richards spooned his shot wide of an open goal.
The home side continued to pour forward and substitute Craig Davis forced a flying save from Steele before Richards saw a header cleared off the line.
Source: Team Talk
Source: Team Talk