YORK City boss Colin Walker revealed the Minstermen have always had striking ambitions for Martyn Woolford.

Walker rolled the dice with City 2-0 down to Altrincham at Moss Lane and put the former Frickley Athletic player up front with Richard Brodie.

And the 22-year-old did not disappoint his manager - striking twice in three second half minutes to secure City a point from Moss Lane, and extend Walker's unbeaten start as Minstermen manager to 11 matches. That had not looked likely following goals either side of the break from substitute Colin Little, but Walker, pictured, said he had always been aware of Woolford's forward potential.

"Martyn Woolford had been tracked by York City for a while before he came to us and some of the positions he played were up front, off the front as well as left winger," he said.

"We've tried to introduce left wing back to him, but we always knew centre-forward was in there and when you are two down you do try and do a little bit of jiggery-pokery. I thought he and Richard Brodie did really well.

"We had a little bit of an ace up our sleeves. We are chuffed about Martyn Woolford being a centre-forward, Eric Winstanley and I, and I think he showed why."

Walker said he was disappointed City had not beaten Blue Square Premier strugglers Altrincham but added that, following events during the match, he had to be happy with a point.

He also praised skipper Manny Panther's second-half display and his key role in bringing City back from the brink.

Panther played a prominent part in both of the Minstermen goals and Walker added: "The plan to play three in midfield was to allow Manny to get forward. I just didn't think he timed his runs well enough in the first half.

"But, in the second period, I thought he was excellent.

"He was unbelievable. I don't know where he gets the energy from.

"The two runs he made for the two goals were absolutely outstanding. He might not shout a lot on the pitch, but he certainly leads by example. I thought he was awesome in the second half.

"In the first half, we had a lot of the ball, but we weren't really creative enough, but I thought second half he was outstanding."