Words Alex Bartholomew | Picture Jonathan Moore

Woking 1 Altrincham 1

An early Tylor Golden strike, coupled with some resolute defending, was enough for the Robins to return home from Woking with a point despite a two-man disadvantage.

The home side took little time to first test the gloves of Luke Hutchinson, with Olly
Sanderson’s 4th minute effort forcing an outstretched save from the Altrincham shot-stopper, who tipped the ball against the post.

But it was the Robin’s who grew into the game from this point onwards, taking control of the game in the 13th minute, as Tylor Golden opened the scoring with a beautiful right-footed finish.

Jimmy Knowles fed through the marauding left-back into acres of space down that left-hand side, and he made no mistake with the finish, wrapping the ball round Will Jaaskelainen and in to the inside-netting of the Woking goal.

However, this goal advantage turned into a man disadvantage just three minutes later, as
Alty were reduced to ten following the highly controversial dismissal of Sam Barnes.

The centre-half’s acrobatic effort from an attacking corner was deemed dangerous play
by referee Callum Walchester - a decision which certainly angered the Alty faithful.

Pressure from the home side was inevitable in the minutes following the sending-off, but Altrincham shut out Woking well, with yellow cards to both captains, Harry Beautyman and Tom Crawford, being the only significant action for the remainder of the first half.

The Surrey outfit went into the second half with a spring in their step, evidently making use of their man advantage and providing a constant threat to Hutchinson's goal.

Alty's number 30 faced a barrage of attempts, from both corners and open play, but did well to keep the ball out of his net for the first half an hour, with Joseph Gbode’s scuffed effort 10 yards in the 63rd minute the biggest opportunity for an equaliser.

The Luton Town loanee grew into the game late on, providing a constant threat down the right-hand side, with Robins' substitute Eddy Jones facing a difficult task defending him.

But it was the opposite flank where the eventual equaliser came from, with Jamie Andrews’ 82nd minute strike bringing the score level. Aaron Drewe took on his man successfully, before laying the ball off to the substitute, who curled it into the top right corner.

The game became even more difficult for the visitors seven minutes later, as substitute
Kahrel Reddin was shown a straight red for a supposed kick-out on Matt Ward, leaving Alty facing nine minutes of additional time with just nine men on the pitch.

Gbode and Ward continued to provide a constant threat down either flank, with both wingers testing the goalkeeper on multiple occasions during injury time, but the biggest chance fell to the feet of Tommy Taylor in the final minute, who hit a snapshot goal-bound, only for a fantastic bit of goalkeeping by Hutchinson to keep him out.

A collective sigh of relief could be heard from the away end upon the referee’s final whistle, as Altrincham walked away with a very hard-fought point.

Woking Jaaskelainen; Drewe, Richards, Odusina (Okoli, 72'), Beautyman (c), Ward, O.Akinola (Taylor, 90'+3), T.Akinola (Gorman, 67'), Forster-Caskey (Andrews, 67'), Gbode, Sanderson. Subs not used: Ross, Turner, Pennant.

Altrincham Hutchinson; Cooper, Grant, Marriott, Knowles (Weaver, 80'), Koyslo, Crawford (c), Golden (Sassi, 90'+3), Barnes, Humbles (Jones, 71'), Kirk (Reddin, 71'). Subs not used: Breckin, Bailey, Fallon.

HT 0-1

Goals Andrews 82' | Golden 13'

Yellows Beautyman 24', Andrews 90'+7 | Crawford 45'+2, Hutchinson 59', Golden 87', Weaver 89'

Reds None | Barnes 16', Reddin 89'

Referee Callum Walchester

Assistants Damith Bandara & Anastasiya Voloshchuk

Fourth Official Ciaran Fidler

Attendance 2,958

Next Up

Good Friday at The J.Davidson Stadium - it's FC Halifax Town the visitors for a Bank Holiday clash in the Enterprise National League (3pm).

General admission tickets can be found here and hospitality in The John King Lounge is on sale here.