A Sam Hoskins double and a goal from Jon Guthrie sealed the points for the Cobblers in a 3-0 win at Sixfields.
Guthrie broke the deadlock with a stunning volley shortly before half-time, while Hoskins extended the hosts’ lead from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute. He completed his brace, netting the home side’s third, eight minutes later.
There were two changes to the side that lined up against Leyton Orient midweek, as Ben Nelson and Ethan Brierley came in for Jim McNulty and Ian Henderson.
Soon after the match started, there was a lengthy stoppage in play for Richard O’Donnell to receive treatment, after he took a knock to the head, having got down low to gather the ball.
Once the game got going, Mitch Pinnock tried his luck from range, sending a low snap shot wide of the upright.
But it was Rochdale who enjoyed plenty of the ball during the opening exchanges, as they dominated. The Cobblers, however, rebuffed Dale’s advances.
Abraham Odoh, who had already worked his way into the area on a couple of occasions, had a shot blocked, before Ethan Brierley saw his dangerous cross headed behind.
Northampton thought they had taken the lead against the run of play in the 22nd minute, after hitting Dale on the break, but the ‘goal’ was ruled out for offside against Hoskins, who diverted home Pinnock’s powerful drive.
After the disallowed goal, the Cobblers grew into the game and they came within inches of breaking the deadlock five minutes later, with Kieron Bowie firing narrowly wide of the post from the edge of the 18-yard box.
It was a fairly even affair as the half continued, but the hosts went on to open the scoring shortly before the break with a stunning goal. From 25-yards, Guthrie superbly looped a volley over O’Donnell and into the top corner.
Northampton had a chance to double their advantage three minutes into the second half, when Ali Koiki capitalised on a loose ball inside the area, but he could only blast over the bar from close range.
Shortly before the hour, Brierley was replaced by Liam Kelly, in Rochdale’s first change of the game.
Soon after his introduction, the midfielder had Dale’s best chance of the game, but he could only watch on as he struck inches wide of the upright from Aidy White’s low ball into the box.
The Cobblers extended their lead in the 73rd minute from the penalty spot, after substitute Ben Fox was tripped inside the area. O’Donnell initially saved Hoskins’ spot-kick, but the forward nodded home on the rebound.
After the goal, James Ball headed over from a Kelly corner, before a second substitution followed, with Toumani Diagouraga making way for Tyrese Sinclair.
Northampton netted a third in the 81st minute, to put the game beyond Dale. Hoskins swept home from close range at the back post, after getting on the end of a cross in from the right.
Kelly was involved in the action again, soon after, firing a low effort wide from 25-yards.
In stoppage time, a Hoskins free-kick stung the palms of O’Donnell. Rochdale, too, forced the ‘keeper into a save, with Lee Burge beating away a Scott Quigley effort.
