Match Report | Cards beaten in feisty opening affair

Altrincham 1-0 Woking
Vanarama National League
10th August 2024

Woking kicked off their National League campaign with a trip up to last season’s play-off semi finalists Altrincham, as Michael Doyle named a fairly similar side to the one which drew against Gillingham last weekend.

Deon Moore started up front, this time as a Woking player and not a trialist, whilst Dale Gorman and Dion Kelly-Evans replaced Harry Beautyman and Tunji Akinola, both on the bench.

In overcast conditions, Woking kicked off towards the Golf Road End, pressing high and almost forcing a chance inside the first 30 seconds after Charley Kendall teed up Dennon Lewis, but a good tackle from Lewis Banks prevented the danger.

With Woking starting well, they had a real chance six minutes in when a whipped cross from the right hand side found Kendall inside the box, but he couldn’t quite divert his effort goalbound. A minute later, Deon Moore got onto the end of a ball inside the six yard box, forcing a good save from Ethan Ross with his feet.

The game then turned on its head with 10 minutes gone, Eddy Jones receiving an early bath for a crunching challenge on Cian Harries down the right hand side of the pitch, leaving the home fans incensed.

However, with their first effort of the game after 27 minutes, substitute Tylor Golden curled into the top corner from the edge of the box, unleashing a pearler past the outstretched dive of Will Jaaskelainen.

Despite a quiet period in the game up until half time, Woking created an opening through the hold-up play of Kendall. He slalomed inside the box, feeding Kelly-Evans, and his shot took a slight deflection before being kicked away by Ross in the Alty goal.

Woking went into the break having created few chances despite the man advantage, looking particularly puzzled after falling behind thanks to a stunning goal from Golden.

Half-time: Altrincham 1-0 Woking

Michael Doyle made his first substitution at the interval, with Harry Beautyman replacing Dion Kelly-Evans, as the Cards looked for more attacking output.

With Dale Gorman already booked for his reaction to the challenge by Eddy Jones, a late challenge by the dugouts on Tom Crawford gave the referee no choice but to even it up at ten men each, giving the midfielder his marching orders.

Altrincham nearly reacted to this immediately, with a passage of play including a number of huge blocks and clearances from Woking defenders, which ended in an offside decision favouring the Cards.

As the game appeared to open up, Dan Moss delivered a ball towards the area, and Beautyman’s flick was just wide of the far post, ending a chaotic five minute period or so.

A golden opportunity with 67 minutes gone came the hosts’ way when the ball broke kindly for Justin Amaluzor, but a strong save from Jaaskelainen with his feet kept the score at 1-0.

After the game continued in a scrappy manner until stoppage time, Woking had the ball in the net courtesy of Beautyman, but the offside flag had gone up long before. 1-0 was how it finished, with a scrappy affair going the way of the hosts thanks to a goal fit to win any game.

Woking return to home league action next week, facing a Gateshead side fresh off the back of a 5-1 thumping of Ebbsfleet United.




Woking: Jaaskelainen, Moss, Odusina, Harries, Dyche, Lewis, Gorman, Kelly-Evans (Beautyman 45’), Andrews (Jones 86’), Kendall, Moore (Anderson 61’)

Subs: Akinola

Bookings: Gorman 53’, Dyche 62’

Sent Off: Gorman 53’

Altrincham: Ross, Banks, E Jones, Baines (J Jones 91’), Cooper, Osborne, Newby (Linney 81’), Amaluzor (Wilson 77’), Haygarth (Golden 14’), Crawford, Nuttall (Reddin 84’)

Subs: Weaver, Fallon

Goals: Golden 27’

Bookings: Baines 63’, Golden 91’

Sent Off: E Jones 11’

Attendance: 1548 (176 Woking)