After last week's set back against lowly Cambridge, Aldershot started the game with all guns blazing, and without some great work from the Robins stand-in goalkeeper Richard Acton, Altrincham could have fallen two goals behind in the opening three minutes.
Inside the first 50 seconds Joel Grant was allowed time to turn on the edge of the area and slid in Louis Soares, but the former Barnet man's effort from eight yards was saved well by Acton.
On three minutes Ryan Williams danced down the wing and delivered the ball to Soares and he rose majestically to head into to the left corner but was denied by a superb reaction save from Acton.
Altrincham responded on the counter-attack after 10 minutes. Lewis Chalmers found his way past Dean Smith down the right and delivered to Rod Thornley at the near post. The striker did well to elude the attention of Dave Winfield but directed his shot from three yards past the upright.
On 14 minutes Williams passed the ball into Marcus Gayle, who was starting his first game of the month. The former Wimbledon striker turned Karl Munroe superbly and released Williams who crossed dangerously into the penalty box, but unfortunately Grant 's could not connect as he dived in for the ball.
On 27 minutes Williams again crossed from the left to Grant, this time the Watford loan man connected with a volley that flew across the face of the goal and two yards past the left-hand post.
The Robins created their first serious chance in the 68th minute. Stephen Aspinall delivered into the box from deep, and Lewis Chalmers beat Nikki Bull to the ball but his goal bound header was cleared by Smith.
The appearance of David Lee after a year-long absence produced the biggest cheer and Aldershot almost opened the scoring immediately after his introduction.
Grant held of the challenge of Peter Band and found Barnard in the box. His low chip beat Acton but bounced agonisingly past the left post.
In the 83rd minute Bull nearly gifted the Robins with all three points. Clearly dazed having clashed with Kieran Lugsden he threw the ball straight to the striker on the edge of the area, but he lobbed the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
In injury time Band cleared off the line from Ryan Scott and had a good penalty shout turned down when Aspinall handled the ball, allowing Altrincham to hang on for a deserved second away point of the season.