Micky Mellon bemoaned a "frustrating afternoon" after his side had to come back from behind to rescue a point for the second home game in a row.

When Chris Maguire put Eastleigh in front with a dubiously awarded penalty in the 26th minute, it was the fourth consecutive game - in all competitions - that Latics had conceded the first goal.

They were unable to recover against Fylde, and last weekend at Newport in the FA Cup.

But after twice coming back from behind to draw at home to Altrincham a fortnight ago, a goal for Alex Reid in his first start under Mellon meant the points were shared again.

And while Mellon was encouraged by the character in coming back, he could not hide his disappointment at trailing again.

"We were frustrated to go a goal down to a penalty kick," he said.

"When I first saw it I thought he (Shaun Hobson) got the ball, from where I was. I'm a long, long way away, but I've seen him go for it, I've seen where the ball went and I was a bit surprised to see a penalty given because just before that there was a similar type of incident in their 18-yard box.

"But we've got to be better. We're giving away too many cheap goals and we always seem to be chasing games at the minute. The only time we scored the first goal was at Rochdale.

"So we need to try to address that because it's difficult when you play chasing football.

"But we got back in it and I think we had six chances that you've got to take. I'm not saying we were massively dominating the game, but we had opportunities to change the whole atmosphere of the ground instead of having to chase things all the time. But if you're going to give yourself a chance to win games of football you have to take the good opportunities that come your way, that's the difference."

Reid might have scored before he eventually rifled Mark Kitching's cross into the roof of the next in the 69th minute, while James Norwood had a first half header saved, substitute Kurt Willoughby missed a late chance and Mike Fondop was unlucky not to score with his first touch after replacing Norwood as Latics searched for a winner.

Mellon added: "It showed a lot of character to keep going and battle away. We changed it up a wee bit and the boys who came on gave us a bit of something more. But we're disappointed that we haven't won a game.

"But because of a bit of slack defending on the edge of the 18-yard box and people diving in, which we need to eradicate and stop, we could have lost the game.

"It's a frustrating one, and still a lot of work to do, but we know where the work is and we know what we have to do to become that team that we all want to see.

"It was certainly a frustrating afternoon."