YORK City were unfortunate not to claim all three points in a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Oldham Athletic.

Despite York being nine places beneath Oldham in the Vanarama National League table, there was very little to separate the two sides as the spoils were shared at the LNER Community Stadium.

It was the Latics who took the lead on the hour mark after a goalless first-half, with Mike Fondop capitalising on a mistake from George Sykes-Kenworthy to put Oldham ahead.

Just nine minutes later York were level, as Will Smith arrowed a header into the path of Will Davies, who was on hand to nod the ball into the bottom left corner.

An important point in City’s challenge for safety in the National League sees Neal Ardley’s men rise to 16th in the table and on 39 points, just one clear of the relegation zone.

Victories elsewhere for Ebbsfleet United and Southend United saw York’s position become more precarious ahead of a difficult challenge with Barnet at the weekend.

Ardley opted to make four changes from City’s 1-1 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday, which included a debut for Leeds loanee Charlie Allen.

Allen, Will Davies, Billy Chadwick and Dan Batty all came into the starting eleven in place of Lenell John-Lewis, Dipo Akinyemi, Adam Crookes and Finlay Barnes, with Ardley switching to a 4-5-1 formation.

There was no sign of Tyler Cordner within the squad again, with Scott Burgess (leg), Kai Kennedy (knee) and Akinyemi (back) all absent after picking up injuries.

Oldham made one change of their own with defender Mark Kitching replacing attacker Devarn Green, with the Latics lining up in a 5-3-2 formation that included Mike Fondop up front.

Fondop had netted a brace in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Maidenhead United, whilst Oldham were without the likes of James Norwood, Alex Reid, Ethan Walker and Andrew Dallas due to injury.

Ardley had told the Press prior to kick-off that City would have to be at their best if they were going to prove capable of beating Oldham on the night.

But it was nearly a dream start for York and debutant Allen, with the winger denied a controversial penalty claim by referee James Westgate.

Batty was back in the eleven after starting Saturday’s draw on the bench, and almost netted his first goal in City colours after striking an effort narrowly over Matthew Hudson’s crossbar.

Another name back on the starting team sheet is that of Chadwick, who nearly carved open a clear chance for Allen with an-almost fantastic through ball which Hudson cut out from the onrushing Allen.

York’s new loanee Allen was making an immediate impression after showing off some impressive footowork on the wing to beat Mark Kitching, but his low cross was agonisingly too far from Chadwick.

Fron the clearance City again kept their foot on the pedal, with Paddy McLaughlin laying the ball back into Batty who struck a piercing strike narrowly over the crossbar again.

George Sykes-Kenworthy was called into action to deal with an Oldham corner, before Joe Garner came within inches from a free header inside the area, nodding an effort over the crossbar.

Oldham grew into the match and were left frustrated after Danny Amos’ handled the ball on the edge of the area, despite claims of a penalty, with Tom Conlon floating a strike into the North Stand.

A stop-start contest saw the first-half come to a close with Allen receiving possession from Alex Woodyard on the edge of the area, but his powerful drive fell just short of the target.

Heading into the second forty-five, Oldham provided York with an early warning as Joe Garner spread the ball into the path of Fondop, who hammered a venomous effort against the crossbar.

City responded immediately as a fantastic floating cross from Amos found Allen at the back post, and the Leeds loanee forced Hudson into a low save on the stretch.

But with an hour played and very little separating the two sides, it was Oldham who drew first blood with the opener.

A hopeful cross from Oldham’s Kitching was contested between City shot-stopper Sykes-Kenworthy and Fondop, with the latter rising highest to glance a header into York’s empty net.

The Minstermen will have felt unlucky to have fallen behind, but their heads didn’t drop as Ardley’s side immediately clawed their way back into the contest.

A deep corner from Batty was powered back across goal from the towering Smith, and into the path of a lurking Davies to nod the ball home at the back post.

York City: Sykes-Kenworthy 5, Fallowfield 6, Howe 7, Smith 7, Amos 7, Woodyard 7, Batty 8, McLaughlin 6 (John-Lewis 6, 63), Chadwick 6 (Barnes, 77), Davies 8, Allen 7

Subs not used: Watson, Duckworth, Crookes

Goals: Davies (70)

Oldham Athletic: Hudson, Sheron, Hogan, Hobson, Raglan, Kitching, Sutton, Hammond (Green, 52), Conlon, Garner, Fondop

Subs not used: Norman, McGahey, Gardner, Lundstram

Goals: Fondop (61)

Yellow cards: Conlon (44)

York’s star man: Will Davies. The York striker led the line admirably and added a goal to his tally, earning City an important point.

Referee: James Westgate

Attendance: 5282 (1496)

Shots (on target): 3 (2) | 3 (1)

Corners:  2 | 6

Offsides: 2 | 3

Fouls committed: 12 | 13