Scunthorpe ended a run of 11 league games without a win by grabbing maximum points against high-flying Northampton.
Scunthorpe made a positive start and inside the opening minute Ian Kilford forced Cobblers keeper Lee Harper to palm the ball away for a corner.
The corner kick was directed into the middle by Peter Beagrie and skipper Cliff Byrne was unmarked as he headed over from six yards.
From there on it was Northampton who dictated matters and leading scorer Marc Richards broke through on the left to fire high and wide.
Young Brazilian Magno Vieira was proving quite a handful and he turned brilliantly to drive a left-foot shot off target; and then Robert Ullathorne drove a cracking drive into Tommy Evans' ribs.
When Scunthorpe eventually made a break it was Steve MacLean, back after a month's injury, who fired straight at Harper and shortly afterwards he tried a long range shot that tested the keeper. And then at the other end, Richards saw a shot deflected wide.
Scunthorpe looked a much better side as they started the second half and forced three corners, one of which Ullathorne scrambled the ball off the line from Matt Sparrow and then Kilford ballooned the ball over.
Richards forced his way into the Scunthorpe box but teenager centre-back Andy Butler proved a match when he got in a superb tackle.
The Iron took a 72nd minute lead, MacLean flicked the ball on for Lee Ridley who fired home a brilliant volley, his first senior goal, which lodged into the top of the net.
In the closing stages, substitute Derek Asamoah fired across the face of goal and Tom Youngs hit a fierce drive straight at Evans, but the final fling saw Steve Torpey put the ball in the net but he was ruled offside