Crewe Alexandra let a 2-0 half-time lead slip away at the Sixfields Stadium to end a run of 22 games without a draw. Crewe bossed much of the first half in appalling weather conditions and were good value for their half-time advantage thanks to a first goal of the season from Clayton Donaldson and an own goal from Northampton's defender John Johnson.

In truth, Crewe should have been home and dry after wasting a hatful of chances. They didn't convert as many as they should have done and then found the experienced Adebayo Akinfenwa too much to handle in the second half.

The Northampton striker scored two splendid goals to salvage a point for the home side and Crewe were again left to rue a host of good chances to record another win on the road.

With John Brayford failing a late fitness test on his injured shoulder, former Academy youngster Matt Tootle was given his first-team debut at right-back. Brayford was named as one of the substitutes.

There were also three expected changes with Luke Murphy and Steven Schumacher coming into the midfield at the expense of Danny Shelley and the injured James Bailey, who has been struggling with a lower abdominal injury for much of the week. Clayton Donaldson also replaced Byron Moore upfront for his first start since starting the 2-0 defeat at Notts County last month.

Former Crewe defender Chris McCready started for the Cobblers.

The match at the Sixfields Stadium kicked off in slight drizzle and it was Crewe conjuring up the first real chance after five minutes when Donaldson used his power to brush off the intentions of the Northampton defender Paul Rodgers.

After regaining his footing inside the penalty area, Donaldson could only drag his low cross into the grateful arms of Chris Dunn at his near post. If Donaldson had made a better selection, he could have created a real chance for the onrushing Calvin Zola or Joel Grant.

Two minutes later, Zola spun centre-back Patrick Kanuka superbly and made his way towards the Northampton goal. Zola's low drive was saved by the outstretched legs of goalkeeper Dunn before Grant volleyed wastefully over after the rebound fell invitingly into his path. It was another glorious opening for the visitors.

Despite a slow start to the game, Northampton didn't have to wait too much longer to create their first opening. The robust Adebayo Akinfenwa combined with captain Andy Holt and his low delivery into the penalty area was just missed by the onrushing Steve Guinan.

On 12 minutes, Crewe really should have taken the lead. Grant was the instigator of the attack, when slotting Zola in between the Northampton back four, but the club's leading scorer wastefully shot over the bar from a great position. It was encouraging stuff from Crewe but early, good chances were being wastefully missed.

Thankfully, just two minutes later, Crewe did get the goal they deserved for their vibrant start. There was no real panache to the build up, with Mat Mitchel-King's long ball forward was latched onto by the pacy Donaldson. The alert Alex striker beat the onrushing Dunn to the ball and nipped it past him to score his first goal of the season.

Crewe were certainly on top and could have grabbed a second when Danny O'Donnell just failed to reach a knockdown from Zola via a Westwood corner. The Crewe left-back also forced Dunn into a splendid tip over after he unleashed a powerful shot from 20 yards. It was a fine save by the busy Northampton goalkeeper.

Target man Akinfenwa was a handful and his hold up play did create a shooting opportunity for Luke Cuttridge, but his shot was blocked by Schumacher right on the edge of the Crewe penalty area.

Crewe needed Steve Phillips to be alert on 33 minutes though after Holt flicked a corner goalwards. The on-loan goalkeeper from Bristol Rovers made a tremendous one-handed save to keep it out and was up again to collect Akinfenwa's hooked cross back across the six-yard box. The chance lifted the Northampton crowd; after they had began to vent their frustration at the way their team had started the game.

Minutes later, Josh Walker whistled one just wide of Phillips' left-hand post, as Northampton stepped up a gear hoping to find an equaliser before the half-time break.

Four minutes before half-time, Donaldson had a decent opening to make it 2-0, but made a mess of his final shot after Murphy had intelligently slipped him in. In fairness to Crewe's match winner, the slippery conditions hadn't helped him in his final execution.

To his credit, Donaldson quickly saved his own blushes. Northampton had found it increasingly difficult to cope with his electric pace all afternoon and after he latched onto a clever pass from debutant Tootle, the unfortunate John Johnson turned his low cross into his own net.

Crewe went into the interval deservedly 2-0 ahead because with the chances they had created, the game should have been well and truly over as a contest. As is commonplace in football now, Northampton were booed off.

The second half was barely three minutes old, when Crewe lost Schumacher through injury. The midfielder seemed to aggravate his groin muscle when clearing a long ball up field and after received treatment, he was unable to continue and Shelley replaced him. Murphy moved to the central role.

It didn't take Northampton too much longer to get themselves back into the game, Crewe found it difficult to clear their lines and when the ball was returned with interest, it stuck with Akinfenwa. The striker used his body to turn Mat Mitchel-King and fire low past Phillips. It was the last thing Crewe wanted after bossing the first half for long periods.

The goal lifted the home crowd and they began to apply some real pressure. Cuttridge headed a long throw from Holt onto the top of the Crewe netting.

More intelligent play from Murphy set up Donaldson for another shot at goal. This time Dunn was equal to it, making a save under pressure from Grant. A minute later, Donaldson once again broke through but a stretching Zola couldn't apply enough contact onto his low cross. It was another golden chance gone begging for the Alex.

Crewe were still getting joy as an attacking force and Dunn was called into action again to smother a chance for substitute Shelley. The next goal was going to be crucial.

A resurgent Northampton got it just after the hour mark when the lethal Akinfenwa spun on the edge of the Crewe penalty area and curled his shot beyond the dive of Phillips. Crewe had surrendered their 2-0 advantage within the first 15 minutes of the second half and were beginning to really rue those missed chances, as the home smelt a famous comeback.

Murphy tried to get Crewe going again with a low drive that Dunn did well to grasp in slippery conditions under foot. The wind and rain was really sweeping across the Sixfields Stadium now.

Phillips did likewise to deny Akinfenwa a hat-trick after the ball bounced around in front of him. It hit the Northampton forward as much as anything, but would have wrong-footed Phillips if he had not been alert to the impending danger.

Zola was guilty of missing another chance on 77 minutes after more good work from the wing, this time by Grant. Zola shot wide after Grant had cut back the ball invitingly for League Two's leading scorer.

Grant repeated the act just 60 seconds later but on this occasion, Donaldson did force Dunn into a wonderful one-handed save. After connecting with the shot, Donaldson must have thought he had scored only to be denied by the agile Northampton goalkeeper.

From a corner, Mat Mitchel-King had two bites at it after Northampton had failed to clear Westwood's delivery with any real purpose. Grant thumped a shot into the advertising hoardings.

With the minutes ticking away, Northampton replaced two-goal Akinfenwa for the fresher legs of Seb Harris. The Alex centre-backs would have been pleased to have seen the back of the Northampton number 10.

Walker had a fantastic opportunity to claim all three points for the home side but Phillips made another super save with is legs. Walker must have thought he had scored after Cuttridge had cut the ball back to the edge of the six-yard box.

In stoppage time, young Westwood forced Dunn into another save after Walton had picked him out on the wing. Dunn could only punch Westwood's powerful shot away.