Cheltenham Town 1 Oldham Athletic 1: Cheltenham Town's faint survival hopes became even more remote as Oldham snatched an equaliser with the last kick of the game at Whaddon Road last night.

A debut strike in the first half for impressive on-loan Bristol City midfielder Frankie Artus at the end of a sweeping move appeared to have secured the resurgent Robins' third win in four games.

But substitute Danny Whitaker forced in leveller in the 94th minute to break Cheltenham hearts as their costly habit of throwing away leads continued.

The Robins were denied a win by a late strike at Huddersfield Town on Saturday and yet another late sickener surely destroyed any chance they had of climbing out of the bottom four in the next eight games.

Boss Martin Allen's decimated squad once again made a team pushing for the play-offs look very ordinary indeed for the first hour.

Former Oldham loanee Leon Constantine shot tamely wide on his home debut for Cheltenham in the opening minute as Allen's side started brightly.

Paul Connor made a bright start operating in a wide left role after recovering from a dead leg, while teenager Marley Watkins showed some skilful touches on the opposite wing.

Oldham defender Reuben Hazell's attempted back-pass fell short in the 13th minute, but Shane Supple raced out of his area to reach the ball ahead of Elvis Hammond.

Kevin Maher, back in the Oldham midfield in place of Whitaker, shot wide in the 14th minute before Andy Gallinagh went close from long range at the other end.

Hammond, with four goals in his previous five games, raced on to a Constantine pass, burst into the penalty area and forced Supple into a fine parry low to his left.

Supple fell on another attempt from Hammond as Cheltenham began to exert their authority and the deadlock was duly broken in the 31st minute.

A sweeping passing move involving Watkins ended with a fine one-two between Artus and Constantine, with Artus left to slot a shot underneath Supple to mark his debut with a goal.

Oldham's best chance of the first period came when Michael Townsend misjudged a high ball and then fouled Lee Hughes as he tried to recover, but Daniel Jones' free-kick from the edge of the box flew harmlessly over the bar.

Chris Taylor teed up Steve Kabba in a good position early in the second half, but Drissa Diallo made a fine block and Cheltenham's back four looked watertight.

Artus produced some magic in the 51st minute to carve out another shooting chance, but his final shot was weak and Supple gathered comfortably.

Oldham's frustrations began to show as Mark Allott scythed down Gallinagh in the 54th minute and escaped with a caution.

Gallinagh, excelling in his midfield role, made a fine headed clearance from Taylor's dangerous cross in the 61st minute.

Cheltenham should have been awarded a penalty in the 65th minute when Latics skipper Sean Gregan hacked at Hammond in the box, but amazingly nothing was given.

Chelsea loan youngster Fabio Ferreira was handed his Oldham debut in the 66th minute and he almost scored with his first touch, but he nodded Jones' cross wide from six yards.

Lewis Alessandra did the same as Cheltenham were forced to deal with heavy pressure for the first time in the last quarter of an hour.

Constantine blocked Allott's shot on the line and first year scholar Kyle Haynes was sent on for his senior debut in place of tiring skipper Alan Wright, with Townsend taking the armband.

Cheltenham stood firm and looked on course for their third win in four games, but Whitaker swept in Allott's low cross to earn Oldham a point and leave the Robins wondering what might have been.

Cheltenham Town: Brown; Lindegaard, Diallo, Townsend, Wright (Haynes 80); Watkins, Gallinagh, Artus, Connor (Bignall 87); Hammond, Constantine. Subs not used: Puddy, Ledgister, Durrant

Oldham Athletic: Supple; Lomax, Hazell, Gregan, Jones; Smalley (Ferreira 66), Allott, Maher (Whitaker 59), Taylor; Hughes (Alessandra 59), Kabba. Subs not used: Eardley, Fleming.