Town held the lead on 3 occasions in tonight's game at Moss lane but were pegged back each time by the home side in a pulsating 3 v 3 draw.And it was a game of 3 penalties, 2 of which were awarded to The Shaymen.
Chris Wilder kept faith with the eleven that finished Saturday's victory over Weymouth and they rewarded him with some incisive attacking play that saw then take the game to the hosts and it only took those 5 minutes to take the lead.Andy Campbell capitalised on a slip by Darren Tinson, took the ball to the by-line and picked out Jon Shaw who finished neatly for his 19th goal of the season.
The Robins were kept at bay but their lively front pairing of ex Halifax Town players Colin Little and Chris Senior combined for the latter to shoot wide.
Town almost doubled their advantage in the 19th minute when Campbell raced clear again, picked out Shaw but Stuart Coburn pulled off a marvellous finger tip save.And another flowing move minutes later ended with Danny Forrest's goal bound shot deflecting wide off a defenders heel.
Altrincham equalised against the run of play on the half hour mark.Town conceded a throw in on the right and Colin Little headed home the towering throw.But, their joy was short lived as Town were awarded a penalty 4 minutes later when Campbell was felled on the left side of the area and he stepped up to despatch the ball low into the net with Coburn diving in the opposite direction.
The final action of the half saw Heslop force Coburn into another save with a low shot from 25 yards and Town headed into the break with a 2 v 1 lead.
Whatever was said in the dressing rooms at half time seemed to fire up Altrincham and they flew out of the blocks pinning Town back.Tom Clarke and Jake Wright dealt with the first two long throws but from the third Wright was adjudged to have committed a foul and Colin Little scored his second of the night and the game was level at 2 v 2.
Coburn denied Shaw at his near post and repeated his save on the hour mark as Town searched for a 3rd goal of the evening.But Shaw only had to wait another 6 minutes to score his 2nd of the night when he linked with Lewis Killeen on the right and was tripped as he surged into the penalty area.This time he took the spot kick himself and gave Coburn no chance as he notched his 20th goal of the season.
Defensive frailties haunted Town within a minute as Gareth Davies failed to clear, Chris Senior had a shot blocked on the line but Joe O'Neill followed up to score and Altrincham were level for the 3rd time in this amazing game.
Adam Legzdins saved well to deny Colin Little a hat-trick and Andy Campbell curled a shot wide as both sides searched for what would surely be the winner.But that was it as far as the scoring went and Town return over the Pennines frustrated that they squandered the lead on 3 occasions but taking plenty of positives from the manner in which they carved he opposition open to create the lead.
Town now head to Histon on Saturday looking for a continuation of tonight's attacking play but an improved defensive shwing.
