Words John Edwards | Picture Jonathan Moore

York City 2 Altrincham 1

There have been a few late blows for Altrincham this season, but few as late or as hard to take as the one that snatched a point away in the sixth of eight added minutes at the LNER Community Stadium.

Alty had led through a 36th-minute goal by Jimmy Knowles, and though York were back on terms two minutes later, the Robins had one or two encouraging spells of possession in the second half and were looking good for a notable draw when the figure eight was held aloft by the fourth official.

But the curse of the stoppage time goal struck again as Malachi Fagan-Walcott planted a close-range header past Luke Hutchinson with two of the eight remaining to spark frenzied celebrations among the bulk of an attendance that was a record for York's new home.

York's first attempt on goal came from a familiar source, as former Robin Alex Newby motored inside from the left flank after three minutes and engineered space for a shot that was deflected wide of the the right-hand post.

After Charlie Kirk had an effort saved in the seventh minute, York carved out the clearest chance so far seconds later, only to waste it as Ollie Pearce failed to connect cleanly with the ball from near the penalty spot, allowing Luke Hutchinson to smother the mishit shot.

Again, York threatened a breakthrough in the 12th minute, but again Hutchinson was equal to the challenge as he reacted swiftly to block a close-range effort by Fagan-Walcott.

Unsurprisingly, at the home of the league leaders, Alty found themselves being pressed back in the early stages, but a misplaced pass midway inside the York half provided a glimmer of an opening after 19 minutes.

Knowles was on to it in a flash, the Alty striker making his way into the York area before finally being crowded out by two rapidly retreating defenders.

Alty were working their way into the game, and beginning to test the York defence, though Hutchinson had to go full length to tip a drive from distance by Alex Hunt round the post in the 33rd minute.

When the breakthrough came, it went the way of Alty, courtesy of a typical piece of goal-poaching opportunism by Knowles in the 36th minute.

The Alty marksman seized on a woefully-misdirected pass by York defender Zak Johnson and had the composure to sidestep advancing keeper Harrison Male before looking up at two defenders on the line and slotting the ball beyond their reach,

Within two minutes, York were level, though the Robins had every right to feel aggrieved that it was not ruled out for a foul in the build-up.

Tylor Golden appeared to be tripped by Ollie Banks, who made the most of the referee's whistle remaining silent to stride on a couple of paces and drill an angled shot into the far corner of Alty's net.

It had been an eventful first-half, with Alty giving their highly-rated hosts a run for their money, and there was almost a second goal for York in added time when Hiram Boateng unleashed a 25-yard drive that smacked against the post with Hutchinson beaten.

York had a couple of half-chances early in the second half, but, as the hour-mark came and went, Alty were looking increasingly composed, retaining possession well and keeping the home side penned back.

The accent was always likely to revert to safeguarding a point, or trying to, and so it proved as York carved out two clear chances in a matter of seconds in the 71st minute.

Firstly, Fagan-Walcott turned on to his left foot a few yards out and hit a shot that Hutchinson did well to parry, and then Newby curled a shot towards the far corner after cutting in from the right. So often during his Alty days, that sort of effort found its target; thankfully, on this occasion, it sailed fractionally over the angle of bar and post.

Pearce had a glancing header saved  in the 83rd minute and Joe Grey volleyed narrowly wide soon after as the Robins rearguard action moved into stoppage time.

Even then, Alty stood firm, as a long-range drive by Mark Kitching was diverted on to the bar by the diving Hutchinson and scrambled clear with the sixth of eight added minutes almost up.

By the time it was up, York had got their noses in front, as Fagan-Walcott stole in to meet a knock-back across a congested six-yard box with a close-range header that gave Hutchinson no chance.

Another sickening late blow, and one the Robins didn't deserve after putting so much into trying to stall York's pursuit of an overdue return to the Football League.

York City Male; Kitching, Fagan-Walcott, Hunt (Olley, 68'), Pearce (c), Brookes (Batty, 81'), King (Grey, 68'), Boateng, Banks (Felix, 90'+1, Johnson, Newby. Subs not used: Fallowfield, Howe, Sykes-Kenworthy.

Altrincham Hutchinson; Cooper, Marriott, Knowles (Bailey, 86'), Kosylo (Khan, 46'), Crawford (c), Golden, Humbles (Reed, 86'), Jones, Sassi, Kirk (Crankshaw, 76'). Subs not used: Breckin, Weaver, Fallon.

HT 1-1

Goals Banks 38', Fagan-Walcott 90'+6 | Knowles 36'

Yellows Brookes 59' | Kosylo 25'

Reds None | None

Referee William Davis

Assistants Richard Morris & Paul Newhouse

Fourth Official Adam Burgess

Attendance 8,162 (279 away)

Next Up

Eastleigh visit The J.Davidson Stadium on Saturday afternoon (3pm) for our penultimate home game of the 2025/26 season.

General admission tickets are on sale here, but hospitality is all SOLD OUT.