Words John Edwards | Pictures Jonathan Moore

Altrincham 1 Woking 0

TYLOR Golden scored a wonder goal as Altrincham faced up to the adversity of an early red card to launch their Vanarama National League campaign with a hard-fought but well-deserved three points on a sultry afternoon at The J.Davidson Stadium.

Eddy Jones was given his marching orders in only the 12th minute for a late challenge that sparked a furious reaction among Woking players, not least skipper Dale Gorman, who was shown a yellow card for pushing the Alty left-back in the chest.

When Gorman clattered Tom Crawford and was rightly yellow-carded again in the 52nd minute, Woking's numerical advantage was at an end, but, by then, the game's decisive moment had already been enacted.

Golden, making his first competitive appearance since leaving FC Halifax Town and signing for the Robins, had only gone on as substitute 13 minutes earlier, in a tactical reshuffle that followed Jones' dismissal, when he curled an unstoppable shot into the top far corner to mark his debut in the grand manner.

There was no way back for the Cards, and while they had spells where pressure was exerted, Alty stood tall to make sure of a winning start, defending resolutely when they had to and creating opportunities that could easily have led to a more emphatic winning margin.

In a lively start by the visitors, they carved out three half-chances in the opening 10 minutes, Lewis Banks brilliantly preventing the first from becoming any more clear-cut, Charley Kendall failing to make the most of the second and Ethan Ross saving superbly from the third.

Their confidence levels must have risen even more sharply when Alty were reduced to 10 men in the 12th minute, Jones misjudging his challenge without any malice but deemed to have endangered his opponent and certainly done no favours whatsoever by the frenzied response from those Woking players nearest to him.

Off he went, though with Alty sending on Golden to fill the gap at left-back at the expense of attacking midfielder Max Haygarth, the Robins were able to cope with their misfortune with an encouraging air of authority.

Indeed, when the deadlock was broken, it was in Alty's favour, and what a goal it was.

Tom Crawford, another highly-impressive debutant, won back possession in midfield after it had been surrendered, and the ball was played forward to Alex Newby, who twisted and turned near the left corner flag before rolling a pass towards Golden.

Motoring inside, across the face of the area, he made light of a defender who looked to be matching him stride for stride and unleashed a shot with pace and curl from 25 yards that arrowed into the very top corner of Woking's net.

As the ground erupted, Alty's elated if unlikely matchwinner slid on his knees towards home fans on the Pop Side terraces as the 10 men celebrated what proved a telling blow.

Gorman's ill-advised late challenge on Crawford made it 10 against 10 in the 52nd minute, and Amaluzor had two chances to make the closing stages slightly more comfortable for the Robins soon after.

In the 56th minute, he couldn't quite convert a chance superbly laid on by Newby, and, three minutes later, he was denied by an excellent save by Will Jaaskelainen after again being set up by an exquisite touch from Newby.

Woking refused to throw in the towel and went in search of an equaliser late on, but Alty's determination to protect what they had was never better illustrated than by two goal-saving blocks by skipper Lewis Baines and man-of-the-match Golden.                                                                                                                                                              Harvey Nichols MOTM Tylor Golden

Altrincham Ross; Banks, E.Jones, Baines (c), Cooper, Osborne, Newby (Linney, 81'), Amaluzor (Wilson, 78'), Haygarth (Golden, 14'), Crawford, Nuttall (Reddin, 85'). Subs not used: J.Jones, Weaver, Fallon.

Woking Jaaskelainen; Moss, Harries, Odusina, Andrews (Jones, 86'), Gorman (c), Kendall, Lewis, Moore (Anderson, 61'), Kelly-Evans (Beautyman, 46'), Dyche. Subs not used: Akinola.

HT 1-0

Goals Golden 27' (Newby)

Yellows Osborne 63', Golden 90'+2 | Gorman 11', Dyche 62'

Reds E.Jones 11' | Gorman 54'

Referee James Oldham

Assistants William Vaughan & Ceri Williams

Fourth official Darren Rogers

Attendance 1,548 (176 away fans)

Next Up

Our first away day of 2024/25 - Sutton United on Saturday, August 17 (3pm).

Tickets are available from our hosts here.