Match Report | Cards edged out in five goal thriller

Woking 2-3 Altrincham
Vanarama National League
12th August 2023

Woking welcomed Altrincham to the Laithwaite Community Stadium to kickstart their home 2023/24 season. Following last week’s draw at Kidderminster, there were first starts for Tunji Akinola and Nana Boateng, as they replaced Josh Casey, recovering from an injury in training and therefore not in the squad, as well as Padraig Amond, who took his place on the bench.

Altrincham kicked off towards the Kingfield Road End, but it was Woking who created the first chance of sorts, as a typical run from Rhys Browne saw him dance past three defenders, before firing a low shot into the hands of Ethan Ross.

However, it was the visitors who took the lead, with a clinical breakaway led by Matty Kosylo, who found Regan Linney inside the box. The striker wasn’t closed down, and his low finish into the bottom corner was too good for Will Jaaskelainen.

Alty’s lead only lasted until the 16th minute, when a free kick from Boateng wasn’t cleared, and the ball fell to Scott Cuthbert. He fired home from inside the box to lift the Laithwaite and give Woking parity.

After a flurry of Woking corners were cleared and an Alty free kick flew wide, it was another new signing who provided the helping hand in Woking’s second goal. A superb cross from Akinola was met by a brilliant header from Reece Grego-Cox, as the ball nestled into the far corner past the despairing dive of Ethan Ross.

Alty were unfortunate to equalise when another quick break saw Justin Amaluzor fire wide bearing down on goal, but just a minute later, they did have a leveller. Kosylo finished high into the net after a cutback from Eddy Jones to level the game once again.

On the stroke of half time, a nice move from Woking saw Matt Robinson hit one from range, but the ball crept just wide of Ross’s near post. That was the last action of a thrilling first half, with the game completely open.

Half-time: Woking 2-2 Altrincham

Straight after the break, Woking switched off again, when the visitors simply sliced through the Cards’ backline, and Linney finished off the move with a composed strike into the bottom corner. The end-to-end nature of the game was evident again, when a dangerous cross was met by Jim Kellermann, but luckily for Ross, the ball landed straight into his hands.

With the game fairly lifeless, Darren Sarll turned to Padraig Amond to try and make an impact. However, the first chance for some time fell to the visitors, who were denied by some superb Cuthbert defending. A ricochet fell perfectly for Linney, and it looked like he was going to get his hat trick after rounding Jaaskelainen. However, a superbly timed challenge from Cuthbert prevented the striker from surely putting the game beyond doubt.

Woking came within a whisker away from snatching a point when a free kick from Amond was brilliantly saved from Ross, but it wasn’t to be. Altrincham deserved winners in a game which calmed down in the second half, and they’ll continue to hunt for that first victory of the season when Rochdale visit the Laithwaite on Tuesday night.


Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Dan Moss, Scott Cuthbert, Greg Taylor, Tunji Akinola (Habergham 50’), Rohan Ince (Willmott 33’), Jim Kellermann, Matt Robinson, Nana Boateng, Reece Grego-Cox (Amond 65’), Rhys Browne

Unused subs: Joe Day, Amond, Wakefield

Goals: Cuthbert 16’, Grego-Cox 28’

Bookings: Akinola 40’


Altrincham: Ethan Ross, Lewis Banks, Eddy Jones, Lewis Baines, James Jones ©, Elliot Osborne, Matty Kosylo (Roscoe 70’), Isaac Marriott, Regan Linney, Chris Conn-Clarke (Angus 77’), Justin Amaluzor (J Jones 70’).

Unused subs: Cooper, Wilson,

Goals: Linney 6’, 46’, Kosylo 38’

Bookings: Kosylo 45+2’, Jones 58’, Angus 78’, Ross 87’

Referee: Jason Richardson

Attendance: 2401

Man of the Match: Jim Kellermann