A smartly taken goal from young midfielder David Edwards gave Shrewsbury an early boost, but they were pegged back 10 minutes from time when Andy Kirk brought the visitors level from the penalty spot and ultimately claim a share of the spoils.
While in truth neither side will be happy with a point, neither deserved to win an untidy, often ragged encounter that rarely set the pulses racing.
Shrewsbury however did start brightly and an encouraging opening brought reward after just five minutes. When the Northampton defence failed to clear a corner, Edwards was on hand to neatly volley home his first goal of the season from 12 yards. But their positive early spell fizzled out and it was the Cobblers who came closest to scoring in the remainder of the half, impressive full-back Jason Crowe going forward to fire into the side-netting.
After the break as Northampton continued to press for leveller, Josh Low brought a smart save from Shrewsbury's highly-rated teenage goalkeeper Joe Hart, who this week was called-up into the England U-19 squad for the fixture against Belgium, while at the other end Northampton 'keeper Lee Harper twice saved well from Shrewsbury's Welsh U-21 midfield man Jamie Tolley.
Hart again impressed when he blocked a close range effort from Scott McGleish, but was left stranded when the Cobblers finally levelled in the 80th minute. Under pressure from Crowe, Shrewsbury central defender Stuart Whitehead, who otherwise hardly put a foot wrong, handled inside the box, with Kirk making no mistake from the resulting penalty kick.