Aldershot Town will be looking to get their National League season on track after suffering two defeats in their opening two fixtures.
The Shots find themselves in the division’s relegation zone – if such a thing legitimately exists after just two matches – after a 1-0 defeat at Boreham Wood at the weekend.
On the opening day, goals from ex-Glovers’ striker Kabongo Tshimanga and a penalty from Danny Rowe were enough to see them go down at home to big-spending Chesterfield.
There have been a number of changes since these sides met with Aldershot running out 2-0 winners at the Rec last May.
Strikers Ricky Miller and Ross McCormack, an experiment which didn’t really work out, it seems – have departed and been replaced by what Shots fans will hope are gems from the lower leagues.
Among them are Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, the younger brother of Liverpool’s, Alex, has joined from Southern League Gosport Borough, and centre-half Giles Phillips, who has had a loan spell at the club from Championship Wycombe Wanderers last season.
FROM THE MANAGER
Shots’ boss Danny Searle is expecting a reaction from Yeovil Town after the opening day defeat at home to King’s Lynn Town and hoping for one from his own side.
Defensively solid and struggling to create chances up front sounds like very similar issues being suffered by his opposite number Darren Sarll.
Speaking after his side’s 1-0 defeat at Boreham Wood, Searle said: “Yeovil have had a defeat today and a man sent off, so they are going to want to bounce back from that.
“But, if we can start creating chances we know we are going to win football matches because we are resolute at the back and can keep teams at bay for large portions of the game.
“We have just got to start rewarding their efforts with some goals at the other end of the pitch and that has to come sooner rather than later.”
TEAM NEWS
With two games in as many matches, manager Danny Searle may look to freshen up his starting XI with summer signing striker Ibrahim Akanbi in line for a start.
The arrival from Maidstone United could take the place of either Corie Andrews, who has started both matches having joined on loan from AFC Wimbledon, and academy product Tommy Willard.
Boss Danny Searle said the game against Yeovil would come “too soon” for striker Mohamed Bettamer, who is yet to play this season.
In midfield, Alfie Whittingham and Elis Watt both came off the substitutes’ bench against Boreham Wood and will be hoping for starting places.
Full back George Fowler did not feature for the Shots at Boreham Wood having come off at half-time in the season opener against Chesterfield. Speaking after Saturday’s game, Searle said he was “still sore” from the injury
However, midfielder Toby Edser, who has picked up a muscle injury, played the full 90 minutes at the weekend.
A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS
There is a fair list of players who have seen service with both clubs, not least Nick Crittenden who was part of the Yeovil side which won promotion to the Football League.
He played the first season in League Two before departing to the Recreation Ground in summer 2004 where he spent two seasons making the Conference Premier play-offs in his first season.
The ex-Chelsea winger later returned to Huish Park as the club’s accountant.
The other more obvious link is current Yeovil centre half Max Hunt who was on the scoresheet for the Shots when Darren Sarll’s men won at The Recreation Ground in the 2019-20 season.
He made 22 appearances for Aldershot that season on loan from Carlisle United before joining Yeovil on a permanent deal in January 2021.
In no particular order, the other ex-Glovers with links to both clubs include:
- Joel Grant
- Joe Ralls – he played for Aldershot at youth level before moving to Cardiff City.
- Lewis Young
- Scott Guyett
- Terrell Forbes
- Luke Oliver
- Nathan Ralph
- Alefe Santos
- Dean Parrett
- Chris Giles
- Harry Cornick
- Kevin Dillon – well, he was manager at Aldershot between 2009-11.