A youthful Wanderers side were held to a 3 - 3 draw by Altrincham in an entertaining encounter at Moss Lane.

Wanderers fell behind towards the end of the first half due to an own goal by the unfortunate Tope Obadeyi, but equalised on the stroke of half time thanks to Danny Ward.

Obadeyi, the England junior international, put Wanderers into a second half lead, only to see the lead wiped out within 60 seconds by Danny Heffernan.

After retaking the lead courtesy of substitute Marcos Michael, Wanderers surrendered the lead in the last five minutes after Altrincham defender Greg Young poked home.

The Bolton side, comprising of reserve and youth team players, were given a thorough workout by the Conference National side.

It was the young Wanderers who started brightest; creating two decent chances in the first ten minutes. After only two minutes, a quick throw found Zoltan Harsanyi at the corner flag on the left side of the pitch. After turning the defender, the ball was squared to the arriving Javlon Campbell, whose shot was saved by the legs of Altrincham goalkeeper, Russell Saunders.

Just four minutes later, further good work by Harsanyi saw a cross from the left arrive at the feet of Michael O'Halloran, who saw his shot well saved. The rebound fell to Danny Ward, but Saunders managed to save the shot before it crossed the line.

A minute later, a move started by the impressive Sam Sheridan almost produced the opener. A raking long range pass by Sheridan found Danny Ward on the left. Ward's cross into the box found O'Halloran, but he shot straight at Saunders, who gathered the ball at the second attempt.

A quarter of an hour passed before Altrincham tested Wanderers goalkeeper, Rob Lainton. He was equal to the task, acrobatically tipping a looping header, following an Altrincham free kick, to safety.

The youthful Wanderers again almost took the lead five minutes later following more good work from Harsanyi; his cross was half cleared to Sheridan, who saw his fierce 25-yard drive well saved by the well-worked Altrincham goalkeeper.

However, it was Altrincham who took the lead, two minutes before half time. A wicked cross by Tom Kearney could only be turned into his own net by Obadeyi; with Chris Denham lurking menacingly behind.

The lead was short-lived however, as Wanderers equalised with the last kick of the half. Wanderers left back Adam Blakeman strode forward and played a delightful through ball to Danny Ward, who took one touch before coolly lobbing the ball over the onrushing Saunders from 12 yards.

The second half began quietly but burst into life in three frenetic minutes when Wanderers could have scored, did score, and surrendered the advantage. On 54 minutes, a slick counter-attacking move saw Harsanyi go past a host of Altrincham players before playing the ball to Sam Sheridan on the right of the box. His shot, however, was well saved.

Just a minute later, Wanderers did take the lead, with Obadeyi this time scoring at the right end. Determined play by O'Halloran resulted in the ball arriving at the feet of Obadeyi in midfield, who used his explosive pace to burst clear of the Altrincham defence before prodding the ball past the advancing Saunders.

Like Altrincham's lead in the first half, Bolton's was similarly short lived. Quick approach play by the hosts saw the ball fall to the feet of Danny Heffernan in the box; his powerful drive giving the Bolton goalkeeper no chance.

Ten minutes later, both sides had good chances to score. First, Sheridan sprayed a 60-yard ball to the feet of Obadeyi, but he could only shoot wide. Just a minute later, Matty Crowell's shot beat Rob Lainton, but not the woodwork; the ball cannoning back off the crossbar.

With 15 minutes to go, Wanderers retook the lead after more slick counter-attacking football. Michael O'Halloran played a precise long pass to Obadeyi in acres of space. His run caused panic in the Altrincham defence, and when the loose ball fell to substitute Marcos Michael at the edge of the box, he calmly slotted home a well placed shot into the bottom right-hand corner.

Scarcely troubled, it looked as though the young Wanderers side would hold on for victory, but with five minutes remaining, Altrincham grabbed their second equaliser of the afternoon. Altrincham substitute Robbie Williams headed a Tom Kearney free kick onto the crossbar, but the rebound was stabbed home by Greg Young; ending the scoring in this compelling contest.

Altrincham: Russell Saunders, Shaun Densmore, Matt Doughty, Mark McGregor (Robbie Williams), Greg Young, Tom Kearney, Robbie Lawton (Danny Heffernan 19), Matty Crowell (Aaron Chalmers 68), Christ Senior, Dale Johnson (Colin Little 76), Chris Denham (Anthony Danylyk 57). Subs not used: Ben Muirhead, James Smith, Nick Clee.

Bolton Wanderers: Rob Lainton, Nathan Battersby (Andy Burns 79), Adam Blakeman, Sam Sheridan (Ryan Stayte 79), Stuart McDonald, Alex McQuade, Tope Obadeyi (Jack Sampson 79), Javlon Campbell (Josh Vela 75), Danny Ward, Michael O'Halloran, Zoltan Harsanyi (Marcos Michael 55). Subs not used: Tom Eckersley.

Goals: Altrincham: Obadeyi OG (43), Heffernan (56), Young (84); Bolton Wanderers: Ward (45), Obadeyi (55), Michael (73).

Attendance: 397.

By John Train