All of the action came in the first-half as the Cobblers took a two-goal lead through Hoskins and Richards before the hosts roared back with strikes from Barrow and John-Lewis.
Given the off-field issues that have dominated this week and which have affected Northampton's players with the non-payment of wages, manager Chris Wilder kept his focus on the bigger picture after the game.
He told BBC Radio Northampton: "I'm proud of the players the supporters after what has gone on this week.
"It was a cagey game that could have gone either way. The main event is the survival of the football club. We hope that the right decision is made."