A delayed start to the action at Sixfields meant it was 8:15pm when the teams kicked off and past 10 when Torquay looked to have boosted their promotion hopes with Billy Kee's injury-time goal. Incredibly though there was still time for Guillem Bauza to earn a vital point for the home side.
Gary Johnson still awaits his first win as Northampton boss after the late drama in front of 4,553 at Sixfields who had seen John Johnson level Eunan O'Kane's opener for the visitors.
The result means there is a gap of eight points between Town and the bottom two ahead of Saturday's fixtures.
Johnson told the official club website after the game: "The fans have been entertained and if we keep playing with the passion and the quality that we showed tonight that win will come."