Manager Gary Johnson felt his side showed signs of improvement at the weekend and was upbeat before the trip to the League Two newcomers.
That faith was justified in superb style despite the loss of Nick McKoy on the stroke of half-time with the Cobblers a goal to the good thanks to Bayo Akinfenwa's penalty.
The home side tried their best to make the man advantage tell but Michael Jacobs settled the game with two goals in four minutes to propel Northampton onto nine points for the season and into their weekend trip to Macclesfield in great spirits.
Johnson told the official club website afterwards: "The lads were magnificent and I'm proud of every single one of them."