LIVE: Alty 3 Halifax Town 3

FULL TIME - That's it. A point for the Robins - one that looked completely unlikely during the first half.

They showed plenty of character to fight back tonight and match Halifax stride for stride in the second half but the question remains, when are they going to pick up another win?

Apart from the Stafford Rangers game here at Moss Lane on March 24, this was their most obvious opportunity to do just that.

Although time is running out, they still have every chance to survive though.

Their first half performance suggested otherwise tonight but the way both the management and the players adapted in the second half showed this team has the potential to pick up results.

It would help of they had more time between games but they're coming thick and fast at the moment and we're back here on Saturday for the visit of Forest Green, who beat Weymouth 6-0 tonight - ominous!

It's looking increasingly like it's going to go right down to the wire this season. That game against Weymouth on the last day of the season could be very important indeed.

90 mins - It's all over now bar three minutes of time added on.

Alty have threatened to break through on a number of occasions but each time they've been thwarted by the linesman's flag, much to the annoyance of the massed ranks in the main stand.

Carlos Roca came on to replace King but the pacey wideman has had no chance to get on the ball yet.

It looks like it's going to end a draw and that, in the circumstances, would be a very pleasing result.

85 mins - Senior looked to be away there as he raced onto a decent ball from Lane.

But the linesman's flag went up to deny the little striker and that was his last input of the game, Tom Cahill coming on to replace him after 85 minutes.

With players tiring, this game has been blown wide open. There's acres of space in midfield and every time either team picks up the ball, it seems they are able to slice right through.

Is there enough time for either team to snatch all three points though?

80 mins - Not as many chances in the last five minutes but still plenty of action.

Neither of these sides deserve to go down on the evidence of this second half. But then again, thinking about it, it's probably the number of defensive errors that have made this game so exciting.

Going forward both teams have impressed though. After a quiet first half, Alty have clicked up front and Little and Senior have both looked sharp, making good runs to stretch the defence.

75 mins - An absolute stonewall penalty was ignored by the ref on 71 minutes - Halifax had a serious escape there.

Senior raced clear in the box, he seemed to have taken the ball past Legzdins, who had rushed from his goal, but the keeper simply held Senior on the ground.

It was the most obvious penalty of the night and the ref didn't give it - I really do despair at times with the quality of officiating in this division.

GOAL - 68 mins - Alty 3 (O'Neill) Halifax 3 - I simply can't keep up here. I'm typing so fast there's flames coming from my fingers - I really do fear for the health of my keyboard.

It truly is a case of being at your most vulnerable after scoring tonight because a defensive error allowed Peyton to get in down the left. He put in a good ball to Senior, whose sot was blocked at point blank range. Little's follow up effort seemed to be stopped by the hands of Wright but O'Neill followed up for a third time to blast in.

This is quite thrilling stuff.

GOAL - 67 mins - Alty 2 Halifax 3 (Shaw) - Just as I say the Grahams have calmed down, their players again do their best to give them a heart attack.

Tinson gives away yet another penalty, bringing down Shaw inside the area and the striker takes it himself, blasting into the net.

This referee really is a particularly whistle-happy specimen.

65 mins - Alty's two Graham's have calmed down somewhat on the touchline. Maybe it's because they're happy with how their team have acquitted themselves since the half time break or maybe they're just thinking of their blood pressure.

The tactical switch has had an instant impact, giving the Robins a much better shape and making them a lot more compact and solid at the back. Maybe they should just stick with good old 4-4-2.

60 mins - The visitors are the latest to threaten.

Hearts were in mouths when Shaw picked the ball up inside the area - few people would put money on him missing at the moment - but Young got in the way of his shot and managed to put the ball behind.

On another occasion Coburn also made a smart save down to his left to deny the former Burton striker who, on another night, could've had a bagful.

55 mins - It's a real humdinger now, if you excuse the cliched expression!

The game is swinging from end to end and it really anyone's guess what the end result will be now.

To their credit, Alty have forced their way right back into this game and are finally giving as good as they get.

In fact, they had a gilt-edged chance to take their first lead of the game and it took a decent save from Adam Legzdins to divert King's effort wide of the post after he had got on the end of Senior's cross.

Much more positive now, I'm actually enjoying this, something I didn't think possible throughout the first 45 minutes.

50 mins - Halifax almost did exactly the same thing they had in the first half, coming very close to scoring just after conceding.

Shaw laid the ball off to Heslop on the edge of the area but his shot was well saved by Coburn.

I suppose it's the old adage that you're at your most vulnerable straight after scoring.

GOAL - 49 minutes - Alty 2 (Little) Halifax 2 - They're right back in this.

It's another soft penalty - I certainly didn't think it looked like a foul - as Jake Wright knocked over Young inside the box.

Little was never going to miss from the spot and grabbed his second of the night.

Game on!

Second half - One change made at half time, with Chris Lane coming on for Richard Battersby.

It's certainly not a surprise to see Lane because Alty simply weren't comfortable playing three at the back and looked particularly weak in the defensive wide areas.

It seems that Lane will play right back with Shotton shifting to the left in a back four.

HALF TIME - The only real action in the last five minutes of the half saw Simon Heslop test Coburn with a low shot that skipped along the turf.

A poor first half from the Robins. They've barely kept hold of the ball, barely tested the keeper and barely given the crowd anything to be cheerful about.

The game suits the weather really - grim.

Uneasiness with the formation has contributed to Alty's woes. None of the players seemed to know what their role was in the new system.

It's changed several times and the left back slot has been a particular problem. Young started on the left of the back three but now Shotton has moved across, with Young moving into the centre and Battersby dropping back more.

The ambition is laudable but maybe it's a tough task to get a side used to new formations with only two evening training sessions a week.

40 mins - A couple of chances for Alty and the best of them fell to Little.

Senior laid the ball to him on the edge of the area from another Shotton long throw and Little shot wide with the outside of his boot. It was always curling away from the right upright, although it was not the easiest of chances.

A lot has to change after the break if Alty are to take all three points.

These are the kind of games they desperately need to win. They're running out of chances to pick up wins and tonight just feels like another opportunity squandered.

35 mins - It's been a pretty hectic five minutes but the Alty come out at the end of it in the same position as they went in.

They did the hard work in getting themselves back on level terms - which was a lucky break considering they'd barely threatened prior to that - before handing Halifax their lead back on a plate.

The basic errors are getting too much for Heathcote who's just turned and swung a kick at the railings in the dugout.

I know hoe he feels!

GOAL - 34 mins - Alty 1 Halifax 2 (Campbell) - We didn't have parity for long.

Just four minutes after Alty claimed an undeserved equaliser, Halifax are back in front and it was an absolutely needless foul that handed them the chance on a plate.

O'Neill barged Campbell over just inside the box, the referee pointed to the spot and the striker brushed himself off to send Coburn the wrong way from the spot.

GOAL - 30 mins - Alty 1 (Little) Halifax 1 - Remarkable!

Halifax obviously haven't done their homework because it looked as if they had completely no idea about Shotton's long throw.

The man I'm now going to refer to as 'exocet' launched a throw in from the left and an unmarked Colin Little headed home.

They don't deserve it but Alty are level. That's probably their first shot on target all game - Halifax must be kicking themselves.

25 mins - Another hairy moment as Halifax sliced open the Alty defence once again.

Campbell got in behind Tinson after a hopeful ball forward from the Halifax midfield and although Coburn rushed out to deny him intially, the chance was still there.

Campbell pulled the ball back to Danny Forrest but Tinson recovered to deflect his shot wide.

20 mins - That was a very, very lucky escape.

Well, actually it wasn't lucky, rather than paying gratitude to Lady Luck, the Robins can thank their keeper that they're not dead and buried already.

Twice in quick succession Coburn made quite stunning stops to deny the Shaymen.

The first came after Campbell had got in down the right. Once more he squared for Shaw and it looked a certain goal as the striker drove a rasping shot at goal.

But somehow Coburn dived full stretch to his left and got his fingertips on it to turn it roung the post.

Then he made an equally impressive save to turn away Anthony Griffith's point blank header from the resultant corner. The signs really aren't good here.

15 mins - The home side are starting to look a bit more comfortable now. Let's hope they've got rid of those early jitters for good.

They've had a lot more possession and when they have had the ball, they've generally moved it around quite well.

But aside from a Warren Peyton drive that was blocked on the edge of the area, they've had few meaningful chances so far. Maybe it's a case of building little by little.

10 mins - Alty have survived the second five minutes without any major wobbles, although they do look a bit shaky in the left back position at the moment.

This formation seems to be an ever-evolving being, it now looks more like 3-4-3, with Young, Tinson and Shotton making up a back three, Battersby, King, Lawton and Peyton across the midfield with the two wide men actiing as virtual wing backs and Senior, Little and O'Neill up front.

It's a bold system, let's hope it yields results.

GOAL - 5 mins - Alty 0 Halifax 1 (Shaw) - Disaster strikes!

Halifax are 1-0 up within five minutes after a defensive meltdown from the Robins.

Darren Tinson slipped on the edge of the area, Andy Campbell rounded him, got to the by-line and squared to Jon Shaw, who had an easy tap-in from a few yards out.

They certainly don't do things the easy way here at Moss Lane.

Rather than 4-4-2, Alty have actually lined up in a more adventurous 4-3-3 formation tonight, with Little, Senior and O'Neill up front.

It's not worked so far and they don't look that comfortable out there.

7.45pm - We're ready for kick off but there's not an overly positive atmosphere inside Moss Lane. I suppose that's what a tally of two points in four games does for morale.

Alty haven't been playing particularly badly though and they'll be happy enough with the one point picked up from two nightmare away trips to Torquay and Exeter.

But it is absolutely vital they begin to pick up a few wins now starting with tonight.

This game kicks off a run of three straight at home and there won't be many better opportunities for Graham Heathcote's side to pull away from the relegation zone.

7.30pm - No real surprises in the Alty line-up.

Ryan Toulson is unable to play against his parent club under the terms of his loan to the Moss Lane club, so it looks like either Joe O'Neill or Chris Senior will start on the right.

Whichever one of the pair doesn't line up in midfield will partner Colin Little up front. The veteran striker is recalled to the team after missing out on Saturday.

Alty (4-4-2): Coburn; Battersby, Tinson, Shotton, Young; O'Neill, Lawton, King, Peyton; Little, Senior.

Subs: Scott, Cahill, Lane, McFadden, Roca.

Halifax (4-4-2): Legzdins; Davies, Clarke, Wright, Doughty, Forrest, Griffith, Heslop, Killeen; Shaw, Campbell.

Subs: Mawson, Quinn, Kearney, Nelthorpe, Harban.