a titanic struggle for promotion in season 2005/06 saw the ath eventually finish second to rugby lions despite only losing three matches and then lose the promotion play-off in extra time to west park st. helens 24–17. in 2006/07 despite doing the double over league champions luton, ath found themselves dragged into a relegation battle. eventually ath won two of their last three games and drew the final fixture at home to scunthorpe to ensure survival, albeit on points difference. this was a freakish league season as ten wins and one draw out of twenty-two matches would normally deliver a comfortable mid-table position.