Altrincham 2, York City 2

For the fourth successive match, the Minstermen produced a comeback show to steal a result and keep Walker's unbeaten start as manager alive.

No one can argue it isn't entertaining, and York were electric in the last 30 minutes at Moss Lane, but it's a shame it seems they have to face the spectre of a knockout punch before they rise up off the canvas.

There had been no inkling of a revival this time when Colin Little netted his second goal for Altrincham seven minutes into the second half.

Goalkeeper Tom Evans was rooted to his line as the substitute striker swept in past Darren Craddock and struck home from three yards.

Altrincham probably thought they had done the job - so insipid a display had City produced up to that point.

But managers get paid to make the big decisions and Walker produced an inspired ace when it counted.

Onome Sodje looked far from happy when he was replaced on 59 minutes by Anthony Lloyd - pushing Martyn Woolford up front with Richard Brodie.

But Woolford struck twice in three minutes in his new forward role, giving City a point, and ensuring Walker's honeymoon continued.

A training session on Friday, which left City looking more like a hospital ward than a football club, meant three changes from the side which had drawn with Grays Athletic in the FA Trophy.

Craddock came in for the hamstrung Darren Kelly and Paul Brayson replaced Craig Farrell, but Woolford had recovered from illness and Lloyd made way.

McGurk shifted into the middle of City's three-man central defensive system but Altrincham started the better, Greg Young driving a ball across Evans' goal on eight minutes.

While York wanted to strive forward in midfield and down the wings, Altrincham were happy to bypass the middle of the park altogether - punting high passes into the space and forcing skipper Manny Panther backwards and sideways rather than forwards.

Barely 18 minutes in and Altrincham were forced to make a change when Little replaced the injured Thomas Cahill.

He was a darting menace, but City should still have taken the lead just after the half hour through Brayson.

Sodje's little pass put Woolford away down the left-hand touchline and he pulled the ball back to Brayson who, despite it getting stuck in his feet, still had time to reset himself - only to make a complete hash of the shot, which ballooned over the bar.

That miss may still have being weighing on City's minds when Altrincham forged in front five minutes before half-time.

Fed by Ryan Toulson, Little controlled the ball and turned well before sending his shot past Evans into the bottom right-hand corner. To City's credit, they came right back at their hosts. Barely a minute had passed when Brayson curled a shot wide from a promising position and, on the stroke of half-time, the Minstermen went even closer as McGurk - totally unmarked by the left-hand post - struck the right-hand upright following a Brayson free-kick.

Following that flourish in an otherwise poor first period display for York, it seemed inevitable they would push on for the equaliser as the second half got under way.

Instead, Altrincham doubled their advantage on 52 minutes.

Toulson's free-kick had plenty of swerve, but Little could not believe how much space he was in when tucking the centre into the roof of the net, with Evans stranded on his line.

City looked sunk, but then came the turning point.

With Woolford now tracking forward as a new striker, Panther suddenly found the space in which to work. And he used it to devastating effect.

He looked second best all the way when chasing Danny Parslow's pass down the right-hand side on 63 minutes.

But the Scottish skipper muscled his way through two Altrincham defenders before, on the byline, squaring a delicious cross to Woolford, who had a tap-in.

If that was impressive, Panther's encore - on 65 minutes - was even better.

Trapped on the touchline, he wrestled the ball into his possession before tracking back to the edge of the 18-yard box and whipping in the cross for the waiting Woolford, who stuck out a leg and tucked it into the corner past Coburn.

It was brilliant stuff and City were rampant.

Woolford spurned two chances to grab a hat-trick - heading just wide from a Ben Purkiss cross and firing over the bar after more good work from Panther.

And Nicky Wroe had his head in his hands with ten minutes left when contriving to fire wide from ten yards after being found by Woolford.

Altrincham, battered and confused by York's half-hour whirlwind, were grateful for the final whistle.

Walker, meanwhile, now has to persuade his City troops that they can put on a command performance without having to dig themselves into a hole first.

Match facts

Altrincham 2 (Little 41, 52), York City 2 (Woolford 63, 65)

York City: Tom Evans 6, Danny Parslow 7, David McGurk 7, Darren Craddock 6, Ben Purkiss 7, Martyn Woolford 8, Stuart Elliott 7, Manny Panther 7, Nicky Wroe 7, Onome Sodje 5, Paul Brayson 5.

Substitutions: Richard Brodie (for Brayson, 54) 6, Anthony Lloyd (for Sodje, 60) 6.

Subs not used: Josh Mimms, Simon Rusk, Jimmy Beadle.

Key: 10 - Faultless; 9 - Outstanding; 8 - Excellent; 7 - Good; 6 - Average; 5 - Below par; 4 - Poor; 3 - Dud; 2 - Hopeless; 1 - Retire

City's star man: Martyn Woolford - City's best player when they were in the depths of first-half struggles, he was unleashed with devastating effect up front in the second period.

Altrincham: Stuart Coburn, Ryan Shotton, Darren Tinson, Greg Young, James Jennings, Ryan Toulson, Robbie Lawton, Liam King (Richard Battersby, 61), Warren Peyton, Chris Senior (Joe O'Neil, 74), Thomas Cahill (Colin Little, 18).

Subs not used: Jake Sedgemore, Chris Lane.

Yellow cards: Toulson 29.

Shots on target: Altrincham 3, York 3

Shots off target: Altrincham 3, York 10

Corners: Altrincham 1, York 5

Fouls: Altrincham 6, York 5

Offsides: Altrincham 4, York 7

Referee: Peter Quinn (Middlesbrough).

Rating: Hardly noticed by either set of fans, which means he did a good job.

Attendance: 1,210.

Move of the match: Parslow's ball down the flank, Panther's persistence and cross mixed with Woolford's finish for the first goal was the perfect way for City to get back into the match.

City player watch: Captain Manny Panther

Goal attempts on target: 1

Goal attempts off target: 0

Blocked goal attempts: 0

Passes to own player: 14

Passes to opposition: 3

Pass success rate: 82 per cent

Dribbles retained: 6

Dribbles ball lost: 1

Dribble success rate: 85 per cent

Headers: 4

Tackles: 2

Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 3

Free kicks won: 0

Free kicks conceded: 0

Offside: 0

Booked: 0

Final summary: Too often passing sideways or backwards during the first half, Panther - like City - exploded into life once Altrincham scored their second goal.

At the very heart of both of the Minstermen strikes, Panther showed exceptional pace, determination - and no little skill - to get City a precious point.