DALIAN Atkinson’s goal nine minutes from time earned title contenders Aston Villa a point from a stirring encounter at Boundary Park. A long hopeful cross from Dean Saunders far out on the right for once caught the previously solid Oldham defence flat-footed and it allowed Atkinson to run in unmarked to head home and stretch Villa's unbeaten run to nine games. Oldham had scored after 19 minutes when Steve Redmond's corner was powered goalwards by Richard Jobson and lan Olney, virtually on the line, used his head to score against his old side. That prompted Villa to step up a gear, but John Hallworth was equal to the task with saves from Paul McGrath, Dean Saunders, Dalian Atkinson and Dwight Yorke.