Christian Doidge’s late equaliser at the J Davidson Stadium earned Forest Green Rovers a 1-1 draw with Altrincham making it 17 league games unbeaten for Rovers.

Steve Cotterill named four changes to his side that defeated Rochdale last Saturday seeing Harry Cardwell, Emmanuel Osadebe, Tom Knowles start alongside a debut for Cian Harries.

But it was the Robins who struck first on 11 minutes when Joe Nuttall met an Alex Newby long ball to drill his volley into the ground and over Jed Ward.

Rovers almost hit back on 16 minutes when, after some nifty work from Liam Sercombe, the ball found Tom Knowles in the area, but he could only rifle his effort into the side netting.

Kyle McAllister saw a driven effort fly just over the bar on 24 minutes before Altrincham’s Elliott Osborne produced a carbon copy effort straight down the other end.

The second became more highly contested and the Robins called Ward into action who got across well to beat away a Newby free kick effort on 55 minutes.

The hosts almost doubled their lead on the hour mark when Regan Linney’s curling effort from 18-yards grazed the outside of the post.

70 minutes saw Cotterill turn to his bench making a triple substitution of Jordan Garrick, Joe Quigley and Doidge, which saw a turning point in the game.

On 78 minutes, Quigley picked out Doidge with through ball who tried to bundle the ball in but was caught offside before attempting an acrobatic effort that flew just over the bar a minute later.

Rovers threw everything at Alty in stoppage time and went close to equalising in the 92nd minute when McAllister saw a driven effort well stopped.

But in the 94th minute, McAllister saw an effort blocked into the path of Doidge who drove the ball home, via a deflection.

His ninth league goal of the season secured a important point on the road for Rovers.

Rovers are back in action next Saturday as we go on the road again to face Oxford City in the FA Trophy Fifth Round.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Starting XI - Ward (GK), Long (Garrick 70’), Inniss, Harris, Robson, May, Sercombe, McAllister, Osadebe (Tozer 90’), Knowles (Quigley 70’), Cardwell (Doidge 70’)

Unused subs - Searle (GK), Bunker, McCormick

Player of the Match - Christian Doidge

Attendance - 2,089 (206 away)