Walsall went onto the match on the back of a one-all draw with Stockport County, a result which saw the Saddlers' winless run stretched to nine league games, though did see their latest losing streak stopped at three.
Following a one minute silence, in memory of those who lost their lives in Indonesia over the weekend, the match got underway.
The teams took some time to settle into the game, but six minutes in a cross into the area from Isaac Hutchinson was met by Taylor Allen, whose effort on goal sailed inches over the crossbar.
Walsall continued to look the brighter of the two teams, with Douglas James-Taylor playing on Liam Bennett in the eighth minute, but the midfielders effort was blocked.
Northampton Town began to grow into the contest as it continued, creating their first chance of note in the fifteenth minute, as Mitchell Pinnock crossed the ball into the area for Kieron Bowie, whose effort on goal from a tight angle, slipped narrowly wide of the upright.
The Cobblers won a succession of corner in the nineteenth minute, but Walsall's defences stood firm to ensure nothing would come of either.
With twenty-one minutes on the clock, Danny Hylton became the first player to be shown the yellow card, as he was cautioned following an incident involving Hayden White.
The visitors went close a minute later, as Sam Sherring picked out Kieron Bowie, whose shot from outside the box, sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
Walsall had soon worked the ball back into the Northampton half, where James-Taylor combined with Hutchinson to create a chance, though the latter's shot from outside the box was easily saved by Cobblers 'keeper, Lee Burge.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating much to trouble their opposition defences.
The Cobblers felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the thirty-first minute, as Bowie was felled inside the area by Manny Monthe, but the referee was unmoved by their appeals and waved play on.
With thirty-seven minutes on the clock, Walsall opened the scoring, as Danny Johnson headed home from close range.
The Saddlers almost secured a second goal just three minutes later, as Hutchinson saw an effort saved before a Bennett header goal-wards from close range was blocked by Ryan Haynes, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
With forty-four minutes on the clock, Isaac Hutchinson became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned for a foul on Marc Leonard.
Northampton captain, Jon Guthrie, joined those listed in the referee's notebook just one minute later, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Liam Kinsella.
Two minutes were added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Walsall leading by one-goal-to-nil.
HALF-TIME SCORE
| WALSALL | 1-0 | NORTHAMPTON TOWN |
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Northampton got the match back underway. Walsall began the half brightly, with Bennett delivering a dangerous ball into the area seconds after the restart, but Harvey Lintott was on hand to clear the danger for the visitors.
Two minutes in, Hutchinson found himself with space to run into the box, before firing a powerful shot in on goal, but Burge was alert to the danger and parried the ball clear.
The Saddlers continued to press, as Northampton struggled to get a foothold in the game, with White playing in Kinsella in the fifty-third minute, though the effort on goal was blocked.
Northampton were finally able to create their first chance of the half in the fifty-seventh minute, as Leonard fired goal-wards from range, but Brandon Comley was well positioned to deflect the ball behind, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
With sixty-three minutes on the clock, Hayden White joined those already named in the referee's notebook, as he was cautioned for a foul on Leonard.
Northampton then opted to make a double change to their line-up, with Kieron Bowie and Ryan Haynes making way for Louis Appéré and Max Dyche.
Sixty-five minutes into the contest, Douglas James-Taylor was shown the yellow card following a foul on Sherring.
Three minutes later, the Saddlers chose to make their first change of the evening, as Danny Johnson made way for Andy Williams.
Around fifteen minutes from time, Walsall opted to make a second change to their line-up, with Douglas James-Taylor being replaced by Tom Knowles.
With seventy-seven minutes on the clock, the Cobblers chose to make a further change to their team, with Danny Hylton making way for Josh Eppiah.
Knowles was quick to get involved in the action, as he fired an effort goal-wards in the seventy-eighth minute, forcing a find save from Burge to deny him.
Walsall continued to press, with Hutchinson going close from a tight angle, ten minutes from time, but his shot at goal sailed inches over the crossbar.
In the eighty-first minute, Town chose to use the fourth of their available substitutions, replacing Ben Fox with Liam Cross.
Northampton saw much of the ball during the closing minutes of the game, though they struggled to make use of the possession to test the Walsall defences.
With eighty-nine minutes on the clock, Walsall chose to make a late substitution, with Isaac Hutchinson making way for Peter Clarke.
As we reached the ninetieth minute, Owen Evans joined those playing on a yellow card, as he was cautioned for time wasting.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, but there was little further action of note and the game was brought to it's conclusion, with Walsall winning by one-goal-to-nil. A much-needed victory for the Saddlers, who finally break their winless streak.
FULL-TIME SCORE
| HOME | 1-0 | NORTHAMPTON TOWN |
| JOHNSON (37') | |
| AT | POUNDLAND BESCOT STADIUM |
| ATTENDANCE | 4.845 (740) |
| REFEREE | SAMUEL BARROTT |