Altrincham 0-1 Woking
Vanarama National League
9th March 2024

Michael Doyle was forced into several changes following the midweek win over Kidderminster. With Jayden Luker and Tunji Akinola injured, Luke Wilkinson benched and Max Dyche recalled by Northampton, in came Ricky Korboa, Timi Odusina, Dion Kelly-Evans and Jermaine Anderson.

Alty were also forced into a change, with Regan Linney suspended. The striker, who had bagged three times in his previous two games against the Cards, was replaced by former Barrow and Wrexham talisman Dior Angus.

New signing Kevin Berkoe on loan from Salford and the recently recalled Alfie Pavey joined Josh Smith, Paul Osew and Wilkinson on the bench.

After an opening ten minutes in which the Cards looked to be disrupting Alty’s passing game, a superb save from Will Jaaskelainen tipped Chris Conn-Clarke’s free kick from just outside the box behind for a corner. It looked to be destined for the top corner, but the Finn managed to claw the ball behind and took a hit to the head in the process from colliding with the post.

Good play from Anderson down the right hand side saw him send a low ball into the area, and Charley Kendall nearly met it at the back post for a tap-in. It took until the 38th minute for another chance, when a low cross from Anderson was spilt by Ethan Ross, and a few last-gasp tackles from Alty were needed to stop Curtis Edwards from converting into the empty net.

That was it from a pretty drab half, with Woking looking comfortable and occasionally threatening.

Half-time: Altrincham 0-0 Woking

The first notable moment in the second half came when Alex Newby’s low drive in the 48th minute was held by Jaaskelainen. As Woking began to find space, a good cutback from Dan Moss found Kendall inside the area, but he fired his shot just wide of the near post.

Pinball in the box following a clever pass from a free kick from Edwards to Kendall saw a number of Woking bodies attempt to force the ball home, but none were successful thanks to good blocks from a couple of Alty defenders.

Justin Amaluzor tested Jaaskelainen with 72 minutes gone, but his low drive was easy pickings for the Finn. A huge moment in the game came on 78 minutes, when Korboa’s deflected cross came off the upright, and Kendall’s header was cleared brilliantly off the line by Lewis Banks.

A superb tackle from Odusina to deny Dior Angus bearing down on goal was much needed with 80 minutes gone, before Korboa’s through ball to Kendall saw his shot blocked twice, and Alty scrambled away.

Not to matter though, as a Woking break saw Berkoe find Korboa with inch-perfect position. His first touch was superb, and his finish was emphatic, into the back of the net lifting the ball over Ross and cue Woking limbs behind the goal.

Three wins in a row now for the Cards, and a real belief in a makeshift squad that they could get a result at such a tough place to come. Onto Rochdale on Tuesday for the Cards’ first ever visit to Spotland.

Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Dan Moss, Josh Casey, Timi Odusina, Jermaine Anderson (Pavey 86’), Manny Oyeleke (Berkoe 19’), Scott Cuthbert, Ricky Korboa, Curtis Edwards, Charley Kendall, Dion Kelly-Evans

Unused subs: Wilkinson, Osew, Smith

Bookings: Kelly-Evans 87’

Goals: Korboa 90+1’

Altrincham: Ethan Ross, Lewis Banks, Eddy Jones, Lewis Baines, Elliot Osborne (Wilson 75’), Matty Kosylo (Amaluzor 64’), Isaac Marriott, Chris Conn-Clarke, Dior Angus (Roscoe 81’), Jake Cooper, Alex Newby

Unused subs: Gould, Mooney

Bookings: Cooper 70’, Amaluzor 87’

Attendance: 2138 (113 Woking fans)

Man of the Match: Dan Moss, untroubled in the unfamiliar position of right sided centre back, was exceptional, but in truth this could have gone to a number of players.