Match Report | Cardinals Battle to Earn Point

Woking 1 Altrincham 1
Vanarama National League
19th November 2022

Fatigued from their midweek Emirates FA Cup clash with Oxford United, Woking managed to earn a valuable point against Altrincham thanks to an injury time stunner from Padraig Amond.

Woking got settled on the ball early on with some fine moves down both sides. A shot was blocked by Lewis Baines which saw penalty shouts around the ground, but the referee waved play on.

The first big chance went the way of the home side when Kyran Lofthouse fired the ball across to the back stick; Reece Grego-Cox was within inches of poking it home but couldn’t get any contact.

Around the 20-minute mark, the Robins started going more direct. Elliott Newby had a left-footed shot blocked from close range resulting in a half-volley from distance by Toby Mullarkey going just over the bar.

Jim Kellermann was forced off early due to injury. Rhys Browne entered the field in a change of formation from Darren Sarll.

Alty had a great effort when Ryan Colclough cut inside, but his shot hit the face of the crossbar via a deflection.

Half-time: Woking 1-1 Altrincham

Altrincham came out fast in the second half when Colclough cut inside and forced a stunning save from Craig Ross.

The Robins took the lead when a good, clipped ball by Colclough found the head of Newby who timed his header to loop it over and into the net. 0-1.

The visitors had momentum but the Cards stood firm to prevent further damage. Chris Conn-Clarke used his tricky feet to get a shot off and test Ross, but he made another good save.

Substitute Amond was introduced shortly after and flipped the game back into Woking’s favour.

Jermaine Anderson shot from range and forced a save from Oliver Byrne shortly after the substitution. Byrne was at it again after another strike from range, this time it was Grego-Cox trying the level the score.

The fourth official indicated six additional minutes and after Anderson was brought down, The Cards won a free kick, around 20 yards out. Up stepped Amond, who beautifully curled the ball outside the wall and it went directly into the top right-hand corner. An absolute pearler from the Irishman who saved his side in injury time. 1-1.

Full-time: Woking 1-1 Altrincham

Woking are now seven league games unbeaten and find themselves in fourth. The Cards keep an eight-point gap to eighth and have four-point gap to fifth.

Woking Starting XI: Ross, Moss, Cuthbert, McNerney, Casey, Ince (75), Anderson, Kellermann (25), Lofthouse (55), Daly, Grego-Cox

Subs: Vokins, Roles (75), Johnson, Browne (25), Amond (55)

Altrincham Starting XI: Byrne, E. Jones, Marriott, Mullarkey, Baines, Lundstram, Colclough, Conn-Clarke (69), J. Jones, Newby, Jennings

Subs: Hulme, Osborne (69), Jackson, Cooper, Dinanga

Attendance: 2,020

Man of the Match: As selected by our match sponsors, Lexus Guildford, Scott Cuthbert