Words John Edwards | Picture Jonathan Moore

Woking 2 Altrincham 1

Altrincham suffered one of their most frustrating afternoons of the season after creating enough chances to have won by a landslide but converting only one of them at the Laithwaite Community Stadium this afternoon.

A 71st-minute equaliser by Alex Newby, after Woking had gone ahead in the 57th minute, looked to have exacted some small measure of justice for the Robins, only for the home side to go in front again with a scrambled effort eight minutes from time.

Even then, Woking's goal led a charmed existence, as Alty redoubled their attempts to have something to show for their endeavours and carved out no fewer than four presentable opportunities during the seven minutes of added time.

It wasn't to be, and while Alty will doubtless have felt hard done to on the long journey home, they will also have been mindful of the harsh lesson that teams need finishing off when they are there for the taking.

Woking would have been looking for a positive response to the appointment of Neal Ardley as manager, but it was Alty who threatened first in only the second minute when a clever reverse pass found Regan Linney in his favourite area to the left of the six-yard box.

It's a spot that has proved productive for the Alty marksman in recent times, but he was denied on this occasion by a last-ditch tackle that put the ball behind for a corner.

The flag-kick came to nothing, but the Robins were on the front foot again in the fifth minute when Matty Kosylo gave Lewis Banks the chance to deliver a dangerous low cross from the right that was scrambled clear with some difficulty by the home defence.

It was a bright start by Alty, but they had a narrow escape in the eighth minute when Inih Effiong sent Matt Ward scampering down the right before setting up Frank Vincent for a shot that struck the base of the post.

Back came Alty as, brimming with confidence and energy, they threatened twice in quick succession in the ninth minute.

First, Kosylo cut in from the right and hit a shot that was pushed round the post by Will Jaaskelainen and then Newby unleashed a drive from the right of the area that demanded a fine reflex save from the keeper to parry it round the same upright.

Alty continued to attack with real verve, and Kosylo might have had a hat-trick with less than quarter-of-an-hour gone, such were the inroads he was making into the Woking defence.

Kossy cut a frustrated figure in the 12th minute, sensing he might have made better use of a Banks cut-back that he dragged wide from an inviting position.

Barely a minute later, he threatened again, as he latched on to a pass and surged clear of a close-marking defender before drilling a shot that Jaaskelainen did well to turn aside.

It was exhilarating stuff from an Alty side who were stamping their mark on proceedings in a way that hasn't always been second nature on their travels so far this season.

All it needed was a goal, and one so nearly materialised in the 28th minute when Tom Crawford picked out Newby with an immaculately-measured pass.

Newby was clean through, but, for the second time in the match, Alty couldn't capitalise on a one-on-one with the keeper as Jaaskelainen stood his ground and won the battle of wits with another superb block.

A George Wilson drive was deflected wide from a short free-kick by Elliot Osborne in the 37th minute as Alty continued to strive for a breakthrough, but there was a scare for the Robins a minute later.

Effiong seized possession near the centre circle and powered his way towards the Alty area before losing his footing just as he appeared to have worked an opening for a pop at goal.

A Vincent snap-shot flew narrowly wide in the 41st minute as a timely reminder that Alty could do with reflecting their superiority on the scoreboard, and the tale of what might have been, or certainly should have been, continued right up to the 45th minute, when Wilson found room for a well-struck left-foot shot that Jaaskelainen tipped round the post at full stretch.

Another Alty chance went begging in the 50th minute after Newby was played through on goal by an expertly-delivered through ball by Osborne.

There was a slight angle to contend with, but Newby still looked odds-on to make it count, only to delay his shot a split-second too long as a last-ditch challenge came in as he was lifting his right boot.

Alty were stepping up the pressure again but were caught out by a lightning counter-attack in the 57th minute, as Harry Beautyman played the ball inside from the left flank to Effiong, who used his strength to hold off a challenge and force a low shot past the advancing Ethan Ross.

To make matters worse, Effoing's huge frame clattered in to Ross and Kosylo as he applied the all-important finish, leaving both Alty players needing treatment before being able to continue.

The clinical touch that had eluded Alty thus far finally materialised in the 71st minute as Newby deservedly hauled his side back on terms.

Linney motored down the left towards the bye-line with pace and purpose and whipped in a knee-high cross that found an unmarked Newby near the far post for a simple finish from close range.

A point would have been the least Alty merited for their attacking enterprise and it might even have been all three, as Linney brought the best out of Jaaskelainen with a header in the 76th minute and low shot two minutes later.

In the event, it was neither. Somehow, Alty were left with nothing to show for all the times they had Woking at their mercy, as an 82nd-minute corner dropped into a congested Robins six-yard area and was poked over the line by Jermaine Anderson after an almighty scramble.

Even then, there were countless opportunities for parity to be restored, as Alty did their utmost to take full advantage of the seven minutes that were added on.

Linney almost undid Woking's defence with a dangerous cross and then had a shot deflected wide, while Kahrel Reddin blazed over from a great position and fellow-substitute Lucas Weaver had one effort saved and saw another veer off-target.

Galling, then, to finish pointless, but to be in the ascendancy and look so threatening for prolonged periods suggests any misgivings about Alty's away form may soon be a thing of the past.

Woking Jääskeläinen; Harries, Beautyman, Gorman (c), Effiong, Chicksen, Akinola, Ward, Anderson (Andrews, 89'), Kelly-Evans, Vincent (Lewis, 77'). Subs not used: Webber, Judge, Ince, Walker, Leahy.

Altrincham Ross; Banks, Baines (c), Osborne (Reddin, 68'), Linney, Newby, Kosylo (Marriott, 84'), Wilson (Weaver, 88'), Crawford, Golden, Olson. Subs not used: Cooper, J.Jones, Haygarth, Randle.

HT 0-0

Goals Effiong 57', Anderson 82' | Newby 71'

Yellows Akinola 30', Anderson 53', Kelly-Evans 65', Beautyman 86' | Linney 53'

Reds None | None

Referee Scott Tallis

Assistants Karl Sear & Graham Swanton

Fourth official Lisa Benn

Attendance 1,848 (120 away)

Next Up

Boxing Day at The J.Davidson Stadium and the annual visit of FC Halifax Town in the Vanarama National League - turnstiles open at 1pm and kick-off is at 3pm.

General admission tickets are available right here. Buy online and beat the queues as we expect to be VERY busy on Thursday.