Match Report | Cards get Ardley off to a flyer
William Bewsey
4:57pm, Sat 21st Dec 2024
Woking 2-1 Altrincham
Vanarama National League
21st December 2024
Woking’s last game before Christmas was also Neal Ardley’s first game in charge of the Cards, who hosted an Altrincham side buoyed by recent form having accumulated ten points from five games.
No major shocks came from the lineup, with Dion Kelly-Evans returning to the side along with Harry Beautyman. A third home debut for Inih Effiong and a home debut for Frank Vincent were highlights along with Rohan Ince on the bench for the first time in the league this season.
Altrincham went into this fixture unchanged, with top scorer Regan Linney hoping to add to his 14 goals so far this season, having netted last time he was at the Laithwaite in August 2023.
Cian Harries kicked the game off, with Woking shooting towards the LGS, but a big tackle from Tunji Akinola was required to deny Linney a shot at goal after a couple of minutes.
A fantastic ball from Effiong with his back to goal found Matt Ward down the right hand side, who played it to Vincent just outside the box. His low shot struck the base of the post, bouncing away and nearly giving Woking an ideal start.
Alty responded immediately, with low shots from Kosylo and Newby both forcing good saves at Will Jaaskelainen’s near post with conditions worsening. With 13 minutes gone, Kosylo managed to break through the Woking defence, forcing a super save from Jaaskelainen one-on-one.
Another slick Alty move saw Newby this time in on goal, but his shot was straight at Jaaskelainen, who barely had to move from his position.
A Woking break after 38 minutes provided the Cards’ best chance thus far, created entirely by Effiong. He managed to get away from two Altrincham defenders, slipping just as he was about to shoot, before recovering to get a shot off with his left foot, which was saved by the foot of Ethan Ross.
Minutes later, Vincent hit one on the half volley from the best part of 25 yards, with the ball zipping past the far corner. George Wilson had been impressive for the visitors, and he nearly opened the scoring just before half time with a clean strike being well tipped past the post by Jaaskelainen.
The Finn had to come up trumps for the Cards on a number of occasions in an entertaining first half, but there were promising signs for Woking from Vincent and Effiong in particular.
Half-time: Woking 0-0 Altrincham
With no changes for either side at the break, Altrincham kicked off towards the LGS and found themselves in behind the Woking defence after four minutes of the second half. Alex Newby did well to control before a recovery challenge from Harries meant that the ball just rolled into Jaaskelainen’s arms.
With 57 minutes on the clock, Woking had the lead. A superb breakaway led by Ward saw him feed the ball to Beautyman, who composed himself and slotted the ball through to Effiong. His first touch gave him all the momentum he needed to place the ball past Ethan Ross, who collided with Kosylo in the process whilst the Cards celebrated in front of the KRE.
However, Altrincham levelled the scores after 71 minutes when Linney’s burst into the area from the left hand side saw him tee up Newby for a tap in, game on with 20 minutes left.
Woking retook the lead with just eight minutes left in scrappy fashion. Gorman’s corner was headed by Effiong towards goal, and despite the initial effort being saved, Jermaine Anderson was barely a yard out to force the ball over the line and send the KRE into raptures for the second time.
As the game neared into injury time, another breakaway led by Effiong ended in the striker having a shot brilliantly saved by the right hand of Ross.
Alty surged forwards in the second minute of seven in injury time, with substitute Lucas Weaver forcing another brilliant save from Jaaskelainen at his near post. Somehow Altrincham didn’t score from the two corners that followed; first Linney fired a low deflected shot just past the post, before substitute Kahrel Reddin fired over with the goal gaping after Woking had only half cleared.
Weaver was then found superbly by a 30 or something yard crossfield pass, volleying just over with acres of space between him and anyone else in the game.
After surviving an avalanche of Altrincham pressure, Woking held on for a crucial three points. An inspired performance showing plenty of discipline and fight against a side who will be ruing their missed chances all the way back to Cheshire.
Woking’s next game is the annual trip to Aldershot on Boxing Day, and they will take lots from this dogged showing.
Woking: Jaaskelainen, Kelly-Evans, Harries, Akinola, Chicksen, Beautyman, Gorman, Vincent (Lewis 77’), Anderson (Andrews 88’), Ward, Effiong
Subs: Webber, Judge, Ince, Walker, Leahy
Goals: Effiong 57’, Anderson 82’
Bookings: Akinola 30’, Anderson 53’, Kelly-Evans 65’, Beautyman 86’
Altrincham: Ross, Banks, Baines, Osborne (Reddin 68’), Linney, Newby, Kosylo (Marriott 83’), Wilson (Weaver 88’), Crawford, Golden, Olson
Subs: Cooper, Jones, Haygarth, Randle
Goals: Newby 71’
Bookings: Linney 53’
Attendance: 1848
Man of the Match: Inih Effiong had a big hand in both goals, proving to be a huge presence up front and a nightmare for the Alty defence.