Another late goal, and another story of what could have been for Cheltenham Town after they once again surrendered an advantage late in the proceedings, on this occasion with the last kick of this game.

Cheltenham looked set to record their third win in four matches, but no sooner had the Whaddon Road faithful dared to believe the great escape could really be on, up popped Danny Whitaker in the fourth minute of injury time to snatch a point for promotion-chasing Oldham Athletic.

It was a cruel blow for Martin Allen's side, who continued their impressive form of late to turn in a dogged display and more than match a team from the top half of this division but in the end they were denied the vital points at the death.

Frankie Artus, the 44th player to pull on the Cheltenham shirt this season after his loan move from Bristol City yesterday, became the club's 25th goalscorer of the campaign when he handed the Robins a well-earned lead, but ultimately it wasn't enough for Cheltenham's spirited, makeshift team.

On a positive note, the Robins have now only suffered one defeat, to run-away league leaders Leicester, in their last six outings.

TEAM NEWS: The Cheltenham Town starting 11 displayed four changes to the side that came so close to securing three points at Huddersfield Town on Saturday. Out went Lee Ridley and David Bird with calf injuries sustained during the 2-2 draw at the Galpharm Stadium and in came Alan Wright and Artus. Meanwhile Nicholas Bignall was omitted and replaced by Marley Watkins, and Paul Connor replaced the suspended Josh Low, who began a three-match suspension. Allen used a 4-4-2 formation, with Connor starting out on the left of midfield, while Watkins patrolled the opposite flank sandwiching Andy Gallinagh and Artus in the centre.

13th minute: Cheltenham were almost gifted the perfect start after Reuben Hazell was guilty of a sloppy back pass, but goalkeeper Shane Supple raced out to reach the loose ball before Elvis Hammond could punish the centre half.

15: Andy Gallinagh went close with a fine strike from 25 yards after a quarter of an hour, but he missed the target by a matter of inches.

22: A neat move down the Cheltenham left almost produced the opening goal with 22 minutes played. Michael Townsend started it off, playing in Connor who found Hammond via Constantine. The striker burst into the penalty and cut inside before releasing a shot across Shane Supple, but the Oldham stopper turned it around for a corner at full stretch. Hammond tried his luck from distance a moment later, but again Supple was equal to it.

31 GOAL: Cheltenham Town 1-0 Oldham Athletic
The home side broke the deadlock with 31 minutes on the clock following a slick move, this time directly through the middle of the Latics' defence. Watkins picked up play in the centre and knocked it to Artus, who swapped passes with Constantine on the edge of the area before applying a composed finish into the bottom left-hand corner to claim his debut goal.

40: Oldham striker Steve Kabba, on loan from Watford, sent two shots well over from distance as the half drew to a close.

42: Townsend had put in a faultless display to keep Lee Hughes quiet in the first half, but the big centre half brought down the front man on the edge of the penalty area to hand Oldham an opportunity with a free-kick three minutes before the interval. Daniel Jones though blasted it high and wide.

HALF TIME: 1-0

46: Kabba was given a great chance to get his side back on terms after some good work by Chris Taylor down the right, but the striker could take advantage of the space he found himself in. Townsend blocked his first effort, while Brown comfortably gathered his second.

51: Some fine trickery by Artus on the edge of the box created a chance for the young midfielder but his shot was well taken by Supple.

53 BOOKING: Mark Allott became the first player to be cautioned after a nasty tackle on Gallinagh in the centre of midfield.

57 BOOKING: Alan Wright followed Allott into the book four minutes later for time wasting over a throw-in down the left touchline.

59 DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION: Latics boss Joe Royle made a double switch on the hour, replacing Hughes and Kevin Maher with Lewis Alessandra and Danny Whitaker.

65: Cheltenham looked to have a good claim for a 65th minute penalty when Hammond went down under Gregan's firm challenge, but the referee was unimpressed.

66 SUBSTITUTION: Deane Smalley was replaced by 19-year-old striker Fabio Ferreira, on loan from Chelsea, and the Portuguese should have headed his side level a minute later when he was picked out at the far post by Jones' cross from the left, however his downward header bounced wide.

70: Oldham carved another good chance, similar to the chance four minutes earlier. This time substitute Alessandra connected with Jones' cross but headed a foot wide of the right post.

72 BOOKING: Diallo was carded for a clumsy challenge on Kabba.

79: Constantine came to the rescue as Cheltenham defended a corner, taken from the Oldham right. When it arrived to Allott, the striker made a vital block on the line to deny Oldham a certain goal.

80 SUBSTITUTION: Kyle Haynes became the youngest player to appear for Cheltenham Town in the Football League when he replaced Alan Wright for the remaining ten minutes of the match. The youngster was more than a match for the young winger on loan from Chelsea, whom he had been briefed to mark in the veteran's absence.

90+4 GOAL: Cheltenham Town 1-1 Oldham Athletic
The Robins were denied the win when Whitaker popped up to smash the ball home after some determined play by Allott down the inside right channel. The midfielder cut it back from the byline, bypassing Brown to tee up his team mate from close range who made no mistake with his firm strike.

FULL TIME: 1-1

CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-4-2): Brown; Lindegaard, Diallo, Townsend, Wright (c) (Haynes 80); Watkins, Gallinagh, Artus, Connor (Bignall 87); Constantine, Hammond. Subs not used: Puddy (Gk), Ledgister, Durrant.

OLDHAM ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Supple; Lomax, Hazell, Gregan (c), Jones; Smalley (Ferreira 66), Allott, Maher (Whitaker 59), Taylor; Kabba, Hughes (Alessandra 59). Subs not used: Eardley, Fleming (Gk).

REFEREE: C Penton (Sussex)

ATTENDANCE: 2,992 (197 from Oldham)