The Northampton Town Football and Education Programme Women’s squad drew 2-2 at home to AFC Sudbury in the NFYL South Premier Women on Wednesday afternoon.
Ruby Heselden and Keeley Jackson scored the Cobblers’ goals in a battle between the two sides in the division with 100% records going into the contest.
AFC Sudbury were first to threaten, sending an effort narrowly off target from the edge of the area inside three minutes.
The Cobblers responded through Cassidy Flynn, who chased down a defender and poked a shot towards goal which was saved by a strong hand from the ‘keeper.
The visitors continued to push forward and came close again midway through the first half when Iona Smith recovered to save a driven free-kick that had deflected off the wall.
But the Cobblers were ahead against the run of play a few minutes later, Heselden lobbing the goalkeeper after a set-piece was flicked into the box.
The fast-paced, attacking contest settled down after the opening goal, the next goalmouth action coming five minutes before the break when AFC Sudbury equalised.
A counter-attack led to a three-on-one, and an attacker calmly placed into the bottom corner after the ball was squared.
They were in again early in the second period, but Smith made a diving save to push away a snapshot aiming for the bottom corner.
Northampton restored their advantage soon after when the ball fell kindly on the penalty spot to Jackson, who outpaced her marker to slide into the empty net.
However, the visitors were back on level terms for a second time before the hour, an attacker finishing a low ball across goal from close range.
And they were inches from taking the lead for the first time 10 minutes later, but Smith made another good save as she tipped a curled shot from the edge of the area onto the post before the ball was cleared off the line.
There was a huge let-off for the Cobblers in added time, as AFC Sudbury thought they had stolen all three points when an attacker smashed home the rebound after yet another Smith stop, only to be denied by the assistant referee’s offside flag.
Cobblers: Iona Smith, Daisy Brown, Mia Paradise, Maddie Carter, Beth Artemiou, Mia Richards, Ruby Heselden, Keira Doig, Cassidy Flynn, Phoebe Preston, Madie Winyard
Substitutes: Ruby Oxley, Alex Dicks, Sophia Tennent, Keeley Jackson