St Albans City managed to earn a hard-fought point against second-placed Woking at Clarence Park on Saturday in the National League South with a 1-1 draw.

The Saints took the lead through Soloman Sambou, but led for just five minutes before Jack Cook’s half-volley restored parity. Dean Snedker’s late penalty save meant neither side found the elusive winner and had to settle for a share of the spoils.

St Albans started the brighter of the two teams and Sambou was unlucky not to score when he swivelled on the edge of the box before striking a fierce effort on goal. Cards goalkeeper Craig Ross did well to produce a save down low.

The Saints continued to apply the pressure and were rewarded for their efforts just after the half-an-hour mark when they took the lead.

The ball fell to Zane Banton in the penalty area and he twisted and turned before sending a strike goalwards. Sambou was on hand to stick out a boot and make sure the ball ended up in the net.

The Saints nearly made it two soon after when a well-worked corner found Tom Bender on the edge of the area. His effort flashed just over the bar, much to Woking’s relief.

That relief turned to joy moments later when the Cards found a leveller. Cook picked the ball up on the edge of the area following a Woking free-kick and his sweetly-struck half-volley flew past Snedker in the Saints goal.

St Albans got themselves back on the front foot soon after and David Moyo was a constant nuisance for the Woking defence.

He was unfortunate not to give his side the lead just before the interval when he beat the offside trap, but once again Ross stood his ground and produced a fine save.

Moyo went even closer to restoring St Albans’ lead after the break when he met Ben Wyatt’s teasing free-kick from the left, but his header crashed off the post, before the follow-up was blocked by a mass of defenders.

The hero of the afternoon for Saints would end up being Snedker, who picked up the man of the match award at full time.

He was called upon around the hour mark to make two important saves, first getting down low to his right to deny substitute Greg Luer, before tipping Ben Gerring’s header over the bar from the resulting corner.

However, his most important stop came with quarter-of-an-hour left on the clock.

Paul Hodges was bundled over in the area and a penalty was awarded. Luer drove the spot-kick straight down the middle, but Snedker stuck out a leg and diverted the ball away.

David Diedhiou came close to winning it for St Albans when his near post flick on from a Wyatt corner was cleared off the line, but the result means the Saints still sit just one point outside the play-off places in ninth. They travel to 16th-placed Hampton & Richmond Borough on Saturday.