As well as being the battle between the division's top scorers and the best defence in the section, there were crucial promotion points at stake.
The visitors enjoyed the better chances, carved out by their neat, incisive football, producing the night's quality moment in the 18th minute when a right-wing cross by Danny Senda was met by the head of Tommy Mooney.
It looked all over a goal as it looped towards the target only for the ball to strike the inside of the post and bounce back into the grateful arms of Lee Harper.
Northampton can at least take heart from the fact they haven't lost to the Chairboys this season, having drawn both league matches and won at the Causeway Stadium in the FA Cup.
Wycombe will feel they should have wrapped up the points by the break, with Harper making one excellent save from Dean Bowditch's low drive as the young striker made his first start on a loan switch from Ipswich.
Wycombe also went close in the 36th minute when man of the match Senda floated a free-kick on to the head of Michael Williamson and although the central defender's header was badly directed, it struck Kevin Betsy and deflected just wide.
The Cobblers looked to the creative flair of Martin Smith and the finishing power of top scorer Scott McGleish to open up the visitors.
McGleish had the home side's best chances, throwing himself at a ninth minute cross by Jason Crowe only to see his header clear the crossbar. In the 58th minute, McGleish turned sharply and fired a first-time shot just beyond the far post.
Wycombe posed less of a threat as the night went on, although skipper Roger Johnson's 68th minute header from a well worked free-kick could have done better than loop straight to Harper.
At the other end Crowe had a glorious chance to win the game late on, only to scoop his shot over the bar.