A last ditch strike from Nathan McDonald earned City a deserved 1-1 draw against Pontin's league leaders Oldham Athletic at the Britannia Stadium.

The young schoolboy striker came off the bench to lash home a wonderful long-range effort in the second minute of injury time to level the scores after the Potters had trailed to Marc Tierney's first-half header.

McDonald's thunderbolt was out of place in a scrappy affair in which chances for either side were few and far between.

The visitors, who led Huddersfield at the top of the table on goal difference, were captained by former City's starlet Gareth Owen, but it was the Potters who made the brighter start.

Skipper Karl Henry forced Latics 'keeper Terry Smith into a comfortable save before Finnish winger Peter Kopteff curled just over the crossbar from 20-yards.

City's best chance of the half came in the 18th minute, as Adam Rooney was played in behind the Oldham defence, but Smith raced out of his goal to block the striker's effort.

However, it was the visitors who took the lead just after the half-hour, as Tierney headed home Matt Barlow's cross at the back-post following a quick breakaway down the City left.

The Potters were indebted to 'keeper Rob Duggan shortly after the break as the young Irishman thwarted Chris Porter, while Barlow missed the target with a header.

The home side needed a spark - and it came after 67 minutes when 16-year-old trialist McDonald replaced Kopteff.

The schoolboy striker made an immediate impression as he forced Smith into a smart save from the edge of the area after a pacy run.

But the outstretched 'keeper stood absolutely no chance in the final moments as McDonald picked up a loose ball to rattle home from 25-yards and secure a deserved share of the spoils.

City: Duggan, Curley, Shotton, Dickinson, Quigley, Wilson, Henry, Garrett, Hazley (Page 77), Kopteff (McDonald 67), Rooney (Howell 84). Subs (Not Used): Sanna, Mullan

Oldham: T Smith, Daineche, Trotman, Owen, Tierney (Smalley 77), Lomax, Lever, D Hall, Barlow, C Hall (Bagley 65), Porter (Pearson 65). Subs (Not Used): Wolfenden, R Smith.