Altrincham 3-1 Woking
Vanarama National League
18th February 2023

Darren Sarll made four changes to the side that earned a point at Wrexham on Tuesday night, with Luke Wilkinson, Kyran Lofthouse, Jim Kellermann and James Daly all dropping to the bench, making way for Scott Cuthbert, Solomon Nwabuokei, Jake Hessenthaler and Marcus Dackers.

The Cards began the game looking to press an Alty side who like to pass the ball around the back, and with ten minutes gone, a stray pass found Dackers on the edge of the box, but his shot was well blocked. Minutes later, a Padraig Amond free kick was well pushed away by Ollie Byrne, but Woking had their goal with 14 minutes gone.

A superb turn from Hessenthaler allowed him the space to put a cross into the box. His left footed ball was superbly met by the head of Dackers, who cushioned his header into the bottom corner and celebrated his first goal for the Cards.

Alty aimed to respond, and Jordan Hulme’s deflected shot across goal was a warning for the Cards.

Woking got themselves into trouble with 25 minutes gone, and the Robins nearly capitalised. A cross was swung in, Craig Ross could only parry away, and Regan Linney hit the post from a tight angle.

Altrincham had a penalty a minute later when Josh Lundstram was fouled by Joe McNerney as he drove inside the box. Linney dispatched the ball down the middle to give Alty a well-deserved leveller.

Woking were being pinned inside their own half by the opposition, albeit without really being threatened minus a couple of long range efforts.

Half time followed with the score remaining the same, as Woking could count themselves lucky not to be behind. After a good first 20 minutes where they set the tempo, the hosts found their feet and looked the better side.

Half-time: Altrincham 1-1 Woking

Darren Sarll responded by bringing on Luke Wilkinson for McNerney at half time. Alty continued to push for a second goal, with Linney in the action again, this time his effort was blocked well by Josh Casey on the line.

However, Wilkinson almost gave the Cards the lead when he volleyed over from just outside the six yard box following a corner, as Woking looked to test the Alty defence.

Altrincham went in front with 66 minutes on the clock, Linney once again involved, driving into the box and putting the ball on a plate for substitute Maxi Oyedele. Woking immediately made a change after this, with Dackers replaced by James Daly. Kyran Lofthouse replaced Hessenthaler four minutes later as the Cards looked to make amends.

However, with three minutes left, another Linney cross was only half cleared, and Josh Lundstram put the seal on the three points.

In truth, the Cards got exactly what they deserved out of this one; nothing. A rare, disjointed game against a determined and well drilled side served up a wake-up call for Sarll’s men ahead of a tough home encounter with Bromley on Tuesday.

Woking: 13 Craig Ross, 3 Josh Casey, 4 Scott Cuthbert, 5 Joe McNerney (6 Wilkinson 45’), 10 Padraig Amond, 12 Dan Moss, 14 Rhys Browne, 16 Solomon Nwabuokei, 19 Jake Hessenthaler (2 Lofthouse 70’), 20 Marcus Dackers (8 Daly 66’), 24 Rohan Ince.

Unused subs: Charlie O’Connell, Jim Kellermann

Goals: Marcus Dackers 14’

Altrincham: Ollie Byrne, Eddy Jones, Isaac Marriott, Lewis Baines, Josh Lundstram, Jordan Hulme, Elliot Osborne, Danny Cashman (Oyedele 48’), James Jones, Regan Linney (Gyasi 87’), Miles Welch-Hayes

Unused subs: Ben Pringle, Matt Gould, Aaron Bennett

Goals: Linney 27’, Oyedele 66’, Lundstram 87’

Bookings: Welch-Hayes 63’

Referee: Aaron Jackson

Attendance: 1828 (181 Woking fans)

Man of the Match: Tough one to choose, but Marcus Dackers got his first goal and looked a presence in the first half.