Words John Edwards | Pictures Jonathan Moore

Altrincham 1 Oldham Athletic 1

An expertly guided second-half header from Regan Linney earned Altrincham a hard-earned but thoroughly deserved point in a keenly-contested derby duel with local rivals Oldham Athletic at a sun-baked J.Davidson Stadium this afternoon.

The Latics led at half-time through James Norwood after dominating the opening 20 minutes, but there was no denying the Robins as they fought back and equalised in the 68th minute, as Linney timed his run to perfection to apply a decisive finishing touch to an Alex Newby free-kick.

George Wilson was a driving force in central midfield as Alty grew into the game, but the Robins still needed a vital save from Ethan Ross to deny Oldham a last-gasp winner, as the giant keeper won a battle of wits in a one-on-one with striker Mike Fondop.

Oldham monopolised possession in the opening stages without looking overly threatening, but that nearly changed in the seventh minute, as Alty almost paid the price for giving the ball away in their own half.

It was quickly transferred inside to Tom Conlon, and when the Oldham skipper let fly from 20 yards, it took a typically-agile save from the diving Ross to keep the score level.

Given the early pattern of play, it came as no great surprise when Oldham went in front in the 23rd minute.

Elliot Osborne felt he had been barged off the ball unfairly by Harry Charsley near the bye-line on the right of Alty's area, but referee Ollie Yates crucially took a different view and waved play on.

It left the Robins alarmingly exposed, as Charsley switched the ball inside to Dan Gardner, who spotted Norwood in space at the far post and rolled it unselfishly towards him for the most routine of close-range finishes.

Much as the Robins would rather not have found themselves trailing, the setback at least had the effect of sparking a reaction and a much-needed increase in intensity.

Within seconds, debutant Jake Bickerstaff made inroads into the Oldham area on the right and unleashed an angled shot that was deflected behind for a corner.

Soon after that, Wilson latched on to a pass from Tom Crawford and powered forward before playing a one-two with Tylor Golden and hitting a shot that looked goalbound until skimming off a defender's head and flying over the bar.

It was much more like it from the Robins, and they threatened again in the 32nd minute when Justin Amaluzor brilliantly turned a close marker and advanced towards the area before setting up Linney for a curled shot that went wide of the far post.

Alty increasingly sensed the possibility of an equaliser, and it almost materialised in the 45th minute when, first, Wilson and Linney failed to capitalise on dispossessing a defender inside the Oldham area and then Bickerstaff had a shot cleared off the line.

Momentum was building, and it produced the goal it increasingly merited in the 68th minute.

Substitute Newby won and delivered a free-kick out on the right, and Linney darted clear of his marker to meet it with a glancing header that could not have been placed better as it snaked inside the left-hand post.

Both sides had chances to win it in an eventful four minutes of added time.

Newby forced a diving save from keeper Mathew Hudson with a free-kick from 20 yards and then Fondop found himself clear on goal after intercepting a wayward pass and bearing down on an unprotected Ross.

The Oldham striker only had the keeper to beat, except there's no 'only' about it when the last line of defence happens to be Alty's exceptional number one.

Sure enough, it was Ethan who came out on top in the one-on-one battle, instinctively sticking out his left hand to palm Fondop's low drive to safety.

At the other end, Amaluzor had a chance to emerge as matchwinner, bursting through on the left but slicing his shot wide of the near post.

Honours even, then, and while Alty may ideally have hoped that home advantage might prove decisive, it was important they had something to show for their efforts after narrowly missing out against table-topping Eastleigh last time out at home.

Harvey Nichols MOTM Eddy Jones

Altrincham Ross; E.Jones, Baines (c) (Cooper, 45'), Osborne (Newby, 64'), Linney (Banks, 89'), Amaluzor, J.Jones, Wilson, Crawford, Golden, Bickerstaff (Reddin, 61'). Subs not used: Kosylo, Haygarth, Randle.

Oldham Hudson; Ogle, Hobson, Monthe, Charsley, Lundstram, Conlon (c), Raglan, Uchegbulam (Kitching, 59'), Gardner (Dolan, 59', Norwood (Fondop, 59'). Subs not used: Hogan, Caprice, Hammond, Moloney. 

HT 1-1

Goals Linney 68' | Norwood 23'

Yellows Osborne 26', Crawford 53', Linney 56', Wilson 77' | Uchegbulam 39', Gardner 56', Monthe 71', Conlon 80'

Reds None | None

Referee Ollie Yates

Assistants Kenwyn Hughes & Jacob Lehane

Fourth official Joe Moss

Attendance 3,561 (1,471 away)

Next Up

Ebbsfleet United are the visitors to The J.Davidson Stadium next Saturday at 3pm, with tickets on sale here and hospitality available here.