Captain Kal Naismith breathed new life into the Town’s play-off charge with an incredible late free-kick to earn a crucial third League One win on the spin.

With five minutes left and with Kenilworth Road a sea of frustration it seemed the Hatters would have to settle for a point against a Northampton side who needed victory themselves to stave off relegation.

But up stepped the skipper to curl home a glorious effort from 25 yards into the top corner to bring the house down and seal a dramatic victory to lift the Town to within three points of the League One top six.

It was no more than the Hatters deserved on a nervy night just days after the celebrations at Wembley on Sunday.

Northampton, who knew nothing less than a win would see them relegated to the fourth tier, started brightly and Josh Keeley needed to be alert in the 13th minute to pluck a goalbound volley from Tom Eaves out of the air.

The Town were slowly finding their feet and Kasey Palmer came close to breaking the deadlock 10 minutes later when his free-kick tickled the outside of the post.

But as the half wore on without a goal the tension mounted. And the anxiety inside Kenilworth Road reached greater heights on 32 minutes when the visitors took the lead. A long ball downfield was flicked on by Eaves into the path of Sam Hoskins who lobbed Keeley with a looping effort from the edge of the penalty area.

Behind, the Town’s response was good, and the equaliser arrived three minutes before the break when Liam Walsh, who impressed all evening, sent a swerving left-foot drive from the edge of the box flying past Lee Burge.

Level at the break the Town made a change at the start of the second half with Shayden Morris replacing Jake Richards.

And the winger was influential as the Hatters laid siege on the Cobblers defence in the second period.

Jordan Clark saw a shot blocked and Naismith saw a header cleared off the line as the Town pressed.

Still the threat of the visitors remained. Tyrese Fornah scuffed a shot into the side-netting and former Hatter Cameron McGeehan went close as the Cobblers searched for a winner.

Ali Al-Hamadi replaced Sunday’s goal hero Nahki Wells and 11 minutes after his introduction the Iraq international saw an excellent angled drive crash off the post. Clark then blazed over having beautifully created space in the box.

At that point it seemed it was going to be one of those nights.

But then came the moment which ensured the Town’s promotion aspirations will roll on for another week.

Al-Hamadi won a free-kick 25 yards out. Naismith was given the go-ahead from several of his teammates to go it. After a deep breath, the skipper strode up to the ball and curled a sumptuous effort into the very, very top corner of the net to spark wild scenes of celebrations around the old ground.

It was a goal worthy winning of any game and after lifting the Vertu Trophy on Sunday this match-winner lifted the Town right back into promotion contention.

The Hatters, riding the adrenaline of that strike, saw off six added minutes and could celebrate a massive three points. Never in doubt, eh?

Attention quickly turns to Saturday and a trip to Mansfield where the Town will aim to continue excellent record form.

We’ll see you then.

UTT.

Town: Keeley, Naismith, Andersen, Lonwijk, Johnson, Lawrence (sub Kodua 82), Walsh (sub Saville 90), Clark (sub van den Berg 82), Richards (sub Morris 46), Palmer, Wells (sub Al-Hamadi 66).

Subs not used: Shea, Sandal.

Attendance: 9,636, including 370 from Northampton.