ANALYSIS: Altrincham 1, Oldham Athletic 1

That may be so. There have been games already in the new campaign where Latics have taken one point where previously it might have been none. This one included.

Nevertheless, in having to settle for a point at Altrincham this different animal demonstrated it has not yet managed to shake off some of the beastly mistakes that proved costly last term.

There were several occasions last season when Latics took the lead only to sit back on it and subsequently be punished.

It was not so much a case of that here, after Harry Charsley robbed Elliot Osborne of possession and Dan Gardner supplied the pass for James Norwood to finish well for his first of the season. It was more Altrincham switching things up and stepping up a gear, allied to a defensive switch-off that led to the home side's equaliser - a free header for Regan Linney from a 68th minute free kick into the box.

But the most glaring errors were at the other end when Latics pushed for the win.

In their previous away game Oldham paid a heavy price for two missed chances which led to Aldershot swiftly going up the other end and scoring in a 4-1 defeat for Mellon's men.

Latics defended better overall at the J Davidson Stadium, including a double goalline clearance from Charlie Raglan before the break, to remove the risk of another heavy defeat.

Charlie Raglan made a double goalline clearance (Image: Thomas Lee Stacey)

But three golden opportunities to grab the three points slipped through their fingers in the second half, all of them falling to substitute Mike Fondop.

The first was follow-up from fellow substitute Callum Dolan saved shot, but the striker lifted the rebound over the bar, and Linney equalised soon after.

The second was a volley from Josh Lundstram's cut back, but the angle was slightly awkward and again it cleared the bar.

The third was the best chance, on the break after Mat Hudson had saved an Alex Newby free kick.

Fondop sprinted through in a one-on-one with Ethan Ross but was thwarted by the goalkeeper.

Given how clinically Norwood had finished midway through the first half, you would have backed the striker to put away at least one of the second half chances that fell to his replacement.

But in fairness to Fondop, he had got himself into those areas in the first place. Not much had fallen to Norwood in the first half.

"Take those chances today and we would have won the game," said Mellon.

"Without a doubt we're getting ourselves into positions where we're creating those chances. Absolutely. But we need to do the next thing now and seal the deal, because they're not just half chances, they're blatant match-winning opportunities. That's the positive.

"We're miles ahead, make no mistake.

"We're a completely different animal, and we're standing here really frustrated that we haven't taken three points from Altrincham, who were in the play-offs last year. So that's good that we're disappointed because that says we know we could have done more.

"We're going to have to keep going."