Crewe Alexandra suffered a blow in its quest for securing the automatic spots in League Two after falling to a 4-1 defeat to Northampton.
The home side were rampant with an early brace from Crewe Alexandra setting the tone for the game in which Crewe never got out of their slumber. The game began with Crewe missing a good chance through Paul Green.
That miss would prove costly as Northampton went a goal ahead after Wharton stabbed home a freekick from Nick Adams. Northampton were buoyed by the goal with Charlie Kirk missing from a few meters out.
This led to a moment of dominance which resulted in the second goal as Nick Adams and Wharton combined again from a set piece situation. It became three after Paul Andersen was fouled in the box leaving Hoskin to bury the resulting penalty.
The game continued to showcase brilliant attacking football with Crewe looking to hit back before the break. They got their goal towards the end of the half after Nicky Hunt’s shot was spilled by stopper David Cornell with Porter on hand to finish into an empty net.
The second half began like the first half with Northampton springing from the traps and threatening to restore their three-goal lead. Just before the hour mark, the home side found their fourth goal.
Williams ran through on goal after a flick from Vadaine Olivier and found himself with the opposing stopper Will Jaaskelainen whom he lobbed to finish the game as a contest.
The defeat ended Crewe unbeaten run with the dropping from the automatic spots to sit fourth on the log, Northampton meanwhile move into the playoff spots and sit seventh on the table.
The League Two log is closely matched with four points separating 1st from the final playoff spot.