LAST-GASP RICKY SEALS THE DEAL FOR CARDS
RELEGATION-threatened Woking left it late to continue their remarkable form with an impressive victory at stuttering play-off hopefuls Altrincham.
Ricky Korboa’s stoppage time strike was the only goal in a game lacking in chances, that sees the Cards make it three straight wins as they push clear of the drop zone, while a sixth defeat from seven for the Robins saw them lose more ground on the top seven.
“What a performance, absolutely brilliant,” said Woking boss Michael Doyle. “It’s such a massive win, given all the setbacks we’ve had with injuries. I really can’t fault the lads.
“We know what these are, they’re total football, but we went toe-to-toe with them, and we really prevented them from creating chances.
“In the first half, we were limited to half-chances, but we really dominated in the second, and looked a lot better. Ricky [Korboa] was constantly on the shoulder of the last defender, and it looked like something was gonna fall for him. We changed it and went three up top, and it paid off, eventually.”
Both sides lacked a cutting edge in a first half of very few chances. Chris Conn-Clarke’s top corner bound free-kick on 15 minutes was expertly tipped wide by Will Jaaskelainen in the Cards goal.
At the other end, five minutes from the break, Alty keeper Ethan Ross spilled a cross field ball in the box to Curtis Edwards, but Matty Kosylo was on hand to nick the ball just in time and clear before the Cards midfielder could slot in.
After the restart, the visitors took control and had two quickfire chances. First, Charley Kendall spun on the ball and fired just wide from ten yards, before a scramble in the box fell to sub Kevin Berkoe, but the Salford loanee fired over.
The Cards then had a glorious chance in the 78th minute when Korboa’s effort deflected up onto the bar, and out to Kendall in space, his volley beat Ross in goal but somehow Lewis Banks managed to hook the ball clear on the goal line.
But Woking were not settling for a point and they finally got the breakthrough in the 91st minute when an Altrincham corner was cleared by Berkoe to Korboa on the half-way line. And he turned his man and ran clear, before showing unbelievable composure to slot the ball into the top right corner. Cue pandemonium.
“It’s a disappointing performance, we were miles off it.” aaid Alty assistant boss Neil Sorvel. “It was a tough, scrappy game, but we couldn’t get going. And didn’t do enough going forward.
“We’re in bad form at the minute, and they’re [Woking] fighting for their lives. Although I don’t remember Ethan [Ross] having too many saves to make.
“We’ve got to keep plugging away, and hopefully we can get back to doing what we’ve been doing.”
STAR MAN: Lewis Banks (Altrincham) ATT: 2,138
ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★
REFEREE: Zak Kettle