Northampton win

Akinfenwa set up the first goal for Luke Guttridge in the 23rd minute before notching his 10th of the season with a firm header late on.

Northampton extended their unbeaten run to six games and have now kept four consecutive clean sheets.

The Cobblers might have scored in the third minute when Andy Holt tested Jon Brain with a 20-yard volley.

Lee Bell then went close for Macclesfield with a curling 20-yard free-kick, but it was Northampton who took the lead when Akinfenwa laid the ball off for Guttridge, whose fierce drive deflected off Carl Tremarco to leave Jon Brain stranded.

Brain made a superb save 14 minutes later when he deflected a rising 30-yard drive from Ryan Gilligan on to the crossbar.

The home side struck the woodwork themselves 10 minutes after the interval as Sean Hessey's free-kick skimmed the bar.

However, the game was sealed in the 76th minute when Akinfenwa planted a downward header into the corner following an inch-perfect cross from Gilligan.