Words John Edwards | Pictures Jonathan Moore

Altrincham 1 Hartlepool United 1

Altrincham had to settle for another hard-earned home point after a tough, tightly-fought encounter with Hartlepool United that underlined the competitive nature of the Vanarama National League.

Four days after finishing all-square with Gateshead, the Robins were held once more at The J.Davidson Stadium as they again battled their way back on to level terms but couldn't quite get over the line.

Trailing to an early Nathan Sheron strike, parity was restored courtesy of Lewis Banks' first goal of the season after nearly half-an-hour as Alty began to dominate.

But a winner proved elusive for both sides as chances came and went at either end in a match played at a relentless pace throughout.

Hartlepool had already failed to make the most of a couple of half-chances in the opening minutes when another materialised and was converted in emphatic style.

Nathan Asiimwe gave the overlapping Dan Dodds the opportunity to whip in a cross from the right, and when it was only partially cleared, Sheron chested the ball down before blasting a half-volley inside the right-hand post from 12 yards.

That unwanted early shock to the system came in only the fifth minute, but the response from the Robins was positive enough, as an offside flag stopped Regan Linney in his tracks as he shaped to shoot barely a minute later.

With one-time Alty loanee Billy Sass-Davies at the heart of Hartlepool's defence, the visitors were looking solid at the back, but the Robins almost found a way through in the 19th minute.

Latching on to a pass from Banks, Alex Newby threaded the ball through to Justin Amaluzor, who dragged his shot no more than a foot wide of the far post from the edge of the area.

Kahrel Reddin was again causing problems down the right with his pace and trickery, and when his low cross reached Amaluzor in the 25th minute, the winger's shot-on-the-turn was deflected into the arms of keeper Brad Young.

Indeed, it was Reddin's quick, direct style of running at defenders that led to Alty equalising in the 29th minute, as the winger burst into the box and the ball fell for Banks to squeeze a shot inside the right post.

Another bright right wing move almost yielded a second goal for the Robins in the 35th minute, Newby swivelling on the edge of the area and connecting with a shot that flew narrowly over.

Alty threatened again a minute later, Newby being the provider this time with a pass that Linney hit first time into the midriff of Young.

For all the Robins' enterprise, they had to rely on a combination of good fortune and typical brilliance from Ethan Ross to stay on level terms in the 39th minute.

Fastening on to a pass down the right by Asiimwe, Dodds delivered a cross that took a deflection and looped over the stranded Ross before smacking against the inside of the far post.

It looked certain to then bounce over the line, but the ever-alert Ross had other ideas as he flung himself full length to claw the ball away one-handed in the nick of time.

Ross excelled himself again in first-half stoppage time, flying to his left to touch an Adam Campbell drive round the post.

Another let-off for Alty followed in the 53rd minute when Sass-Davies rose highest to meet a David Ferguson cross from the left, only to steer his header over from an inviting position.

It was proving a lively encounter, played at a high tempo, and there was more of the same in the 59th minute, as George Wilson sent Reddin scurrying down the inside right channel before firing a low shot that needed a diving save from Young.

Alty thought they had edged ahead in the 74th minute - or at least the home fans behind Young's goal did.

James Jones ploughed through two challenges inside his own half and passed to Newby, who quickly transferred the ball on to Amaluzor, in space on the left.

The net rippled briefly from the impact of Amaluzor's left-foot shot and a roar went up from the Golf Road terraces, until the realisation dawned that the ball had actually hit the side netting.

As the game became increasingly stretched, Alty went close again as a move involving Banks, Reddin and Amaluzor ended with George Wilson firing over from 20 yards.

Alty had looked the better side in the first half and were finishing the stronger, but, strive as they might, a winner remained out of reach, as Hartlepool not only held out but went close to a second goal twice themselves in the last couple of minutes.

Harvey Nichols MOTM Kahrel Reddin

Altrincham Ross; Banks, E.Jones, Baines (c), Linney, Newby, Amaluzor, J.Jones, Wilson, Reddin, Crawford. Subs not used: Cooper, Kosylo, Humbles, Golden, Nuttall, Bickerstaff, Randle.

Hartlepool Young; Dodds, Ferguson, Parkes (c), Campbell (Mancini, 80'), Grey, Sheron, Featherstone, Sass-Davies, Asiimwe (Charman, 80'), Dieseruvwe. Subs not used: Sloggett, Mathurin, Onariase, Robinson, Smith.

HT 1-1

Goals Banks 29' | Sheron 5'

Yellows E.Jones 89' | Campbell 23', Dodds 64'

Reds None | None

Referee Greg Rollason

Assistants Jamie Waters & Matthew Parry

Fourth official Kavan Hurn

Attendance 1,463 (144 away)

Next Up

We head to AFC Fylde on Saturday for a live DAZN game in the Vanarama National League - kick-off at 5:30pm.

Tickets for the Mill Farm clash are available from our hosts here.