Aldershot Town

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Venue: EBB Stadium
Friday, 7th April, 3:00pm kick-off

Attendance:

Pitch: 
Conditions:

Scorers: Cordner, 50 (1-0), Harriott, 68 (1-1)

Bookings:

Yeovil Town: Cooper 12, Young 48, Staunton 54
Aldershot: Corndner 31, Campbell 77, Klass 96

Referee: James Durkin

Yeovil Town (4-3-3)


Substitutes: Hunt, Reckord, Harriott (for Law, 58) Pollock (for Young, 58) Oluwabori (for Worthington 88)

Aldershot: Ashby-Hammond, Barham, Campbell, Cordner, Glover, Harfield, Jordan, McQuoid, Mnoga, Ochieng, Partington

Substitutes: Amaluzar (For Partington 66), Klass (for McQuoid 69), Hutchinson (For Barham 75) Rowe, Thomas.

Match Report

Yeovil Town earned a point at Aldershot this afternoon in a game of expected quality between 20th and 21st in the National League. Results around the Glovers mean that Mark Cooper’s side fall to 22nd this evening.

A nervy first half never saw many chances, but Grant Smith was forced into action in the 26th minute. 

In the second half, former Weymouth man Tyler Cordner headed in from a corner to give Aldershot the lead.

In the 65th minute the Glovers equalised. Malachi Linton released Matt Worthington on the right wing and his cross found Callum Harriott in the box to give the Glovers hope.

Linton found space on left of the box but could only put his effort into the side netting.

Drama ensued before the final whistle when Aldershot were awarded a controversial penalty. Yeovil lost out on the edge of the Aldershot box and as Campbell broke, in seemingly an offside position, he was brought down by Chiori Johnson.

Fortunately for the Glovers, Jake Hutchinson skied his penalty but a point doesn’t feel enough right now.

Full time: Aldershot 1 Yeovil Town 1

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Yeovil Town have launched an internal investigation after Aldershot Town players accused “a member of the coaching staff” of discrimination.

Shots’ skipper Lewis Kinsella posted on his Twitter account on Sunday morning saying that the staff member has been “discriminative towards two of our players and one of their own” before his side’s 2-0 win at Huish Park on Good Friday.

He tagged in the Kick It Out anti-racism campaign’s account to his post.

In a statement, Aldershot confirmed the incident had been included in the report of match referee Steven Copeland.

That post was soon followed by one from Shots’ striker Mo Bettamer, an unused substitute in the match, who added: “After a few days to reflect and initial shock to my system, before the game on Friday a member of the Yeovil Town coaching staff thought it was okay to directly discriminate me and my fellow colleagues.

”To think it is 2022 and this is something we still have to deal with is disappointing but not surprising.”

In response, Yeovil Town posted a statement saying: “Yeovil Town are aware of allegations made by Aldershot Town players following Friday’s National League fixture.

“We take accusations of any form of discrimination extremely seriously and the club can confirm it has begun its own internal investigation.

“We will discuss our findings with Aldershot Town over the coming days in order to deal with this situation correctly.”

Later on Sunday, Aldershot confirmed it was aware of the allegations, adding: “Accusations of any form of discrimination will always be received by Aldershot Town with the upmost importance and seriousness.

“We can also confirm the incident has been included in the referee’s report.

“We will not be making any further comment until the FA have concluded their findings.

“Separately to the above, we would also like to place on record that we as a football club are also fully supportive of the personnels involved in the incident too.”

A large number of players, including Yeovil striker Adi Yussuf, have responded to the posts by both Bettamer and Kinsella with likes and messages of support.

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Charlie Lee’s debut in front of the Huish Park crowd ended in defeat as Yeovil Town failed to take their opportunities and gifted an Aldershot Town side battling against the drop two goals on a sunny Good Friday afternoon.

Coatesie travelled down from his northern home for the match between his hometown team and his adopted hometown team (no, he wasn’t the away fan who needed medical treatment), and here are his conclusions….

Even the glorious sunshine could not hide the cracks at Huish Park. I’m not just talking about on the pitch – although there were some of those, which I’ll come too – but this was my first home game in well over two years and it’s sad to see the state of the place. Even if you can look past the unloved, run down infrastructure, I heard at least half-a-dozen people complain at the lack of a printed programme (not a problem for me, but it clearly it is for some supporters), the tea bars were shut for away fans meaning big queues in the Screwfix Family Stand. Yet again, it’s the same relentlessly cheery volunteers and underappreciated staff who are fronting up, whilst the only sign of our absent owner, Scott Priestnall, were the chants calling for him to go. If I were him, I wouldn’t want to face up to what my lack of interest and investment was doing to more than 125 years of history either……but I’m not the one who bought a football club less than three years ago.

On the pitch, it wasn’t a great day either. We seemed to forget how to score goals again. The freedom we

Josh Neufville. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

been playing with in recent weeks deserted us and we were unable to find our way through an Aldershot team who had absolutely no reason to do anything more than keep it tight and hit us on the break. Josh Neufville was paired alongside Reuben Reid in a front two and ran tirelessly but too often in the first half there were aimless balls played up to him. At the start of the second half we got it down better and laid siege to the visitors’ goal but just could not find a way through, and when we gifted Giles Phillips the freedom of the area to head home the opener, it felt like game over. I think we could have stayed out there all Easter and not scored.

Our full-backs didn’t not look comfortable. When I saw Mark Little and Jordan Barnett on either side of defence, I was pleased that we had a recognised right and left back on the pitch. However, from the start, Mark Little did not seem to be running comfortably and had problems containing Aldershot down his side. Barnett looked rusty in his first start in almost a month and, although he can still put in a fantastic sliding tackle when he needs too, does seem more effective further up the pitch. I’d put Morgan Williams back in for W*ymouth on Easter Monday.

Dale Gorman. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Please can we get Dale Gorman off free-kicks with a shot on goal? I know he scored that one at Dover, but surely we have other players who have the potential to get a more meaningful effort on goal. There was one in the first half of this match about 25 yards out which I thought was crying out for a Luke Wilkinson pile driver to test the keeper, but no. Or, to quote my Thatcher’s Stand companion, Chris Fox: “Oh, f*** off, Gorman!” It was funny to start with (tequila and all that) but I’m now starting to see what the Glentoran supporters were telling us when we signed him – he shoots from literally everywhere.

Tom Knowles was a bright spot – again. I feel like I have done nothing but complain in my previous four conclusions….so let me end of at least one positive. There were some bright spots and, as is often the case, Tom Knowles was one of them with his relentless desire to attack. When we got the ball to him, Aldershot didn’t know what to do and when we repeated that with other players (especially early in the second half) the same occurred. You know what you need to do on Monday, boys.

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Charlie Lee speaks to the BBC ? YTFC

Yeovil Town interim manager Charlie Lee bemoaned a wasteful Glovers’ performance after their 2-0 home defeat to struggling Aldershot Town at Huish Park on Good Friday.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, he said that he disappointed with the goals his side conceded.

“The first half was here and there, I think we probably had the better of the chances, then, second half I thought we started really well and we looked like the team that was going score.

Then, when you concede a goal from a set piece, there was plenty of time in the game and they went straight after it, we went gung-ho and we lost our shape and when you concede another goal like that, you’re chasing the game.

“It was two poor goals that we’re really disappointed with, in a game where we were comfortable. We are not going to hide away from it, that’s too many poor goals in the last couple of games.”

Lee admitted frustration seemed to set in after a string of crosses, corners and half chances early in the second half, but said that even when going 1-0 down he was confident of a response.

“There was loads of time, we’ve been coming back from a goal down all the time, we’re confident, we’ve been looking a real threat going forward, then, once they get the second they literally just shut up shop.

“We went for it, we had more attackers on the pitch than we can imagine and probably created less chances… the boys that came on couldn’t help us, the boys the started, we looked for the first time in a few games, we didn’t look like we had that killer instinct in the final third and that’s the real disappointment.”

The caretaker boss said it was good to have centre half Max Hunt back on the bench for his first appearance since mid-January as well as to have Grant Smith back in goal, having been out for a month with a groin injury.

Charlie suggested that there could be more changes to the side with a quick turnaround and the derby at W*ymouth on Easter Monday.

“There’ll be more changes for Monday, there will have to be, they’re tired bodies… everyone who is used needs to give me everything they’ve got.”

The Glovers travel to the Bob Lucas Stadium for a 1pm kick-off against that lot down by the seaside. If you are heading down, don’t miss our Ciderspace Away Travel Guide – click here.

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Venue: Huish Park
Saturday, 15th April, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Glorious sunshine

Pitch: In remarkable condition in mid-April.

Attendance:  2,528 (293 away supporters)

Scorers: Giles Phillips 65 (0-1), Ryan Glover (0-2)

Bookings:

Yeovil: Ben Barclay 45

Aldershot: Ryan Glover 61, Giles Phillips 90+1, Ethan Ross 90+8, Ryan Glover 90+12

Sending off:

Aldershot: Ryan Glover (two bookable offences) 90+12

Referee: Steven Copeland

Yeovil Town : (4-4-2)

Grant Smith

Mark Little (for Adi Yussuf, 81), Luke Wilkinson, Ben Barclay, Jordan Barnett

Tom Knowles, Dale Gorman, Alex Bradley (for Lawson D’Ath, 70), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton

Reuben Reid, Josh Neufville (for Charlie Wakefield, 65)

Substitutes: Morgan Williams, Max Hunt (not used).

Aldershot Town: Ross, Kinsella (for Daniel, 81), Lyons-Foster, Berkeley-Agyepong, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sylla, Ndjoli (for Whittingham, 90), Phillips, Harris, Saunders, Willard (for Glover, 58). Substitutes: Hall, Bettamer (not used).

 

Match Report

Charlie Lee’s first league match at Huish Park ended in defeat his Yeovil Town side paid the price for wasteful finishing and sloppy defending.

After a first half lacking in quality from either side, the Glovers’ were laying siege to the opposition goalmouth and then on 65 minutes they gifted Aldershot defender Giles Phillips the freedom of the area to head home.

Then when substitute Ryan Glover smashed home a second four minutes later after Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain took advantage of more sloppy defending, the game was over.

Here’s how Coatesie saw it on a rare appearance (for him, at least) at Huish Park…

 

First half

The first chance fell to Tom Knowles after five minutes, played in by Reuben Reid, Knowles broke in to the right-side of the box and his shot cannoned off the outside of the post.

Five minutes later, Reid and Knowles combined again with the latter splitting the Aldershot defence to Reid who dragged his shot wide.

At that point it could have been 2-0 to the Glovers, but the possession had largely been dominated by the visitors who passed it nicely in midfield without creating an effort to threaten Grant Smith, who returned between the posts for the hosts.

Defensively the visitors looked shaky and the game was crying out for the likes of Knowles and Josh Neufville to test them.

Tom Knowles, who was a rare bright spot today.

Knowles was at the heart of the action again with ten minutes of the half remaining, getting away down the right and smashing a ball across the face which was begging for a touch home. No-one was there to do it.

From the following play, the ball broke to centre half Ben Barclay who smashed it wide.

Despite having the better of the chances, the half finished with as many goals as the quality on display. Goalless at the break.

Half- time: Yeovil Town 0 Aldershot Town 0

Second half

After opening exchanges which were as cagey as the first half, Yeovil turned up the heat with a string of corners before Knowles forced a smart stop out of Ethan Ross in the visitors’ goal.

A number of penalty shouts were voiced by the home side with Knowles, Bradley and then Neufville all going down under pressure in the area. From my position in the centre of the Thatcher’s Stand, none of them looked enough to ask much of a question of the referee.

But, as the missed opportunities mounted up, the fear was that only one mistake was needed at to give the visitors’ the advantage, and on 65 minutes exactly that happened.
A free-kick by skipper Lewis Kinsella found Giles PHILLIPS at the back post and he had a free header to nod home. One chance, one goal.
Five minutes later, sloppy defending gifted Aldershot a second. A ball forward found Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain in acres of space down the right hand sight and he had all the time he needed to fire it across to  Ryan GLOVER (yes, Glover!) who smashed home the second at the far post.
Having been totally in control but failing to convert their chances, Yeovil found themselves 2-0 behind against a side which has been only too happy to sit back and hit on the break before they even scored.
There was a break in play after three travelling supporters who had taken a tumble on the Screwfix Family Stand steps celebrating the second goal.
Mark Little. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

With Charlie Wakefield coming on for Neufville moments before the opening goal, Lee introduced Lawson D’Ath for Bradley and then Adi Yussuf for Little.

But even with countless attacking players on the pitch, the home side abandoned what had been working before going behind and returned to aimless long balls forward.
Aldershot were quite happy to sit back and continue their tactic of hitting us on the break.
As the fourth official held up the board for 12 minutes of stoppage team, a break away saw the ball come to substitute Alfie Whittingham, the son of former Glovers’ striker, Guy, but his shot went over.
To be honest, it would have taken more minutes and attacking players to see the home side muster a meaningful effort.

However, there was time for Glover’s day to turn sour as he picked up his second yellow card and a subsequent red in the final minute of time added on.

A mixed day for everyone connected with the Glovers’ name.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Aldershot Town 2

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Charlie Lee has made three changes to his Yeovil Town starting XI for the Good Friday visit of Aldershot Town (3pm kick-off).

Alex Bradley. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

As expected, Grant Smith returns in goal in place of Ted Cann, who returned to West Brom this week after a spell on loan, whilst Jordan Barnett comes in at left back in place of Morgan Williams and Alex Bradley replaces the suspended Matt Worthington in midfield.

There is a return for central defender Max Hunt who is named on the substitutes’ bench against one of his former clubs.

For the visitors, on loan Stockport County keeper Ethan Ross returns in place of Ryan Hall, who put in a man of the match performance in the win over Boreham Wood last weekend.

There is no place in the squad for on loan QPR striker Sinclair Armstrong, who is out with injury.

Yeovil Town: Grant Smith, Mark Little, Luke Wilkinson, Ben Barclay, Jordan Barnett, Alex Bradley, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Dale Gorman, Tom Knowles, Josh Neufville, Reuben Reid.

Substitutes: Morgan Williams, Max Hunt, Lawson D’Ath, Adi Yussuf, Charlie Wakefield.

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Yeovil Town  goalkeeper Grant Smith will be back between the posts for the visit of Aldershot Town to Huish Park on Good Friday.

The first-choice stopper has been missing with a groin injury in recent weeks and his place has been filled by West Bromwich Albion loanee Ted Cann, who has returned to his parent club today (Thursday).

However, caretaker manager Charlie Lee confirmed that midfielder Matt Worthington will miss the next four matches through suspension with the club not planning to appeal his red card against King’s Lynn Town last weekend.

Grant Smith. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Speaking ahead of the start of the Easter period, Lee said: “Ted came in at a perfect time for us because Grant was struggling with his groin.

“He’s strong now and he’s been training, he was probably ready for the last game but it would have been unfair to take Ted out.

“But Grant is a top goalkeeper and he’ll be ready for the game on Friday.”

The boss admitted that he still felt the dismissal of Worthington, a straight red card for a full-blooded tackle on Linnets’ midfielder, Theo Widdrington, was questionable –  but did not think the video evidence was strong enough for an appeal.

He said: “There just isn’t enough angles. I still feel that watching back that it is a very harsh red, but to get an appeal going and overturn the red card is not that easy.

“Unfortunately, he will be missing for four games which is a massive loss for us. He’s in good form, he’s a good player and he will be missed, but we have some players ready to step in.

“We are in a position where we have a bigger squad than we have for the last few months.”

Both Lawson D’Ath and Alex Bradley could step in to the void left by the absence of Worthington. Both stayed on the bench for the 2-2 draw in Norfolk last weekend.

The interim boss confirmed defenders Max Hunt and loanee Jack Robinson were back in full training having been missing through injury.

The visit of Aldershot seems certain to be too soon for either player to be in contention for a start, but they could be in contention in the coming weeks.

Of injured midfielder Josh Staunton, Lee added: “We are waiting to find out a bit more, he has another specialist to see and there will probably be more news on him next week.”

Asked about any discussions around the future of the club’s players, Lee said that he was not involved in any discussions around their futures.

Going off the public statements made by the club at the time of player’s arrivals, we believe that only defender Morgan Williams has a deal beyond the end of this season.

Charlie Lee talks to the BBC ? YTFC YouTube

Lee said: “That’s something I’m not involved with. The club is progressing well, the owner knows what he wants next season, but for me it is about preparing the games on Friday and Monday.”

However, he did say that the players had shown no sign of slowing down despite being set in mid-table in the National League with little prospect of either troubling the relegation or promotion picture.

He said: “When I took over, I said to them ‘if we win games, that is not going to effect anyone negatively’, it will only help the club, the fans, the players.

They have bought in to that brilliantly and they have proven since I have taken over that they have bought in to that.

“We played a little 11v11 game in training yesterday and there was no player who was not interested in winning on Friday.”

 

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Aldershot Town arrive in Somerset on Good Friday desperate to build on their first win since the end of January.

The Shots ended a run of nine games without a win with a 2-1 victory at home to out-of-form Boreham Wood last weekend.

They have the sixth worst away record in the National League having won one, drawn one and lost four of their last trips with that win coming courtesy of a last minute own goal scored by W*ymouth the last time they picked up three points.

They will be hoping that QPR loan striker Sinclair Armstrong can be fit to feature having joined until the end of the season earlier this week.

The imposing QPR forward, who impressed when he came off the bench for Torquay United in their 2-1 win at Huish Park on New Year’s Day, has joined on loan until the end of the season.

The 18-year-old managed two goals in an eight game stay in Devon – including one against W*ymouth – but impressed many Gulls’ fans during his time.

In the announcement of his arrival, Aldershot said that the Republic of Ireland youth international “will look to recover from his recent injury and be an attacking option for manager Mark Molesley as soon as possible.”

If he is fit to face the Glovers, his new club will be looking for him to fill the goal-scoring void left by the departure of Corie Andrews, who is still the club’s top scorer with nine goals despite leaving in January.

The AFC Wimbledon striker, who scored  in a 2-1 win for Yeovil when the two sides met on Bank Holiday Monday in August, has joined League Two strugglers Colchester United.

 

FROM THE (ASSISTANT) MANAGER

Speaking after last weekend’s 2-1 home win over Boreham Wood, Aldershot assistant manager (and former W*ymouth number two) Tom Prodomo spoke about how the players had handled their recent poor run.

“We have shown we can do that and we are confident we can, but you have to be honest enough to put the work in and show that on the pitch as often as you can.

“You have to take ownership when you are on a losing run, we make decisions and send the players out there to put the game plan in to action, and when you don’t get results you can’t hide from that.

“No-one has hidden or shied away and I think that mentality has produced this result but it is one result and we have to do that again at Yeovil next Friday.”

Asked about the Easter period where the Shots travel to Somerset before an Easter Monday home fixture with Dagenham & Redbridge, the assistant added: “We are really excited for these types of periods, that is what we are all in professional football for and we have reminded them what they have had to put in to be professional players.

“Now is not the time to go short and have regrets, it is time to finish strong and set us up for a summer where we can push the club forward ahead of next season.”

 

TEAM NEWS

Goalkeeper Ryan Hall seems certain to get a start having put in a man of the match performance against Boreham Wood last weekend.

The 21-year-old was recalled from a loan spell at Southern League side Beaconsfield for the match after first choice Mitch Walker and his understudy Ethan Ross both went off injured in the previous match against Eastleigh.

As mentioned above, striker Sinclair Armstrong, who has joined on loan from QPR until the end of the season, will be hoping to shake off an injury to feature on Good Friday.

A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS

Yeovil Town defender Max Hunt seems unlikely to feature on Good Friday, but he will be the only player in either squad with experience in the other dressing room.

The centre half played 21 times on loan from Carlisle United in the 2019-20 season and scored his only goal against the Glovers in a 3-1 win for Darren Sarll’s men at The Recreation Ground.

However, he is not the only player with a foot in both camps with some of the others including:

Dillon Barnes – Yeovil Town (2022), Aldershot Town (2022)
Gabriel Osho – Aldershot Town (2018), Yeovil Town (2019-20, 2020-21)
Alefe Santos – Yeovil Town (2017-19), Aldershot Town (2019-20)
Rhys Browne – Aldershot Town (2015-16), Yeovil Town (2017-19)
Iffy Allen – Yeovil Town (2015-16), Aldershot Town (2016)
Harry Cornick – Aldershot Town (2014), Yeovil Town (2015-16)
Joe Ralls – Aldershot Town – Youth (2008), Yeovil Town (2013-14)
Andre McCollin – Yeovil Town (2008-10), Aldershot Town (2014-15)
Jamie Vincent – Yeovil Town (2006), Aldershot Town (2010-11)
Joel Grant – Aldershot Town (2006-08), Yeovil Town (2013-15)
Terrell Forbes – Yeovil Town (2006-10), Aldershot Town (2013)
Scott Rendell – Aldershot Town (2005, 2016-19), Yeovil Town (2008)
Steve Collis – Yeovil Town (2001-06), Aldershot Town (2002)
Chris Giles – Yeovil Town (2000-04), Aldershot Town (2004-05)
Nick Crittenden – Yeovil Town (2000-04), Aldershot Town (2004-06)
Andy Lindegaard – Yeovil Town (1999-07, 2009-10), Aldershot Town (2009)
Anthony Tonkin – Yeovil Town (1998-02, 2006-07), Aldershot Town (2012-15)
Colin Fielder – Yeovil Town (1996-98), Aldershot Town (1999-2002)
Owen Coll – Yeovil Town (1995), Aldershot Town (1998-2002)

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Venue: Recreation Ground
Monday August 30 2021, 3pm kick-off.

Conditions: Dry and bright
Ground: Fine

Scorers: Quigley 14 (1-0), Andrews 75 (1-1), Quigley pen 83 (2-1)

Attendance: 2,073 (334 away)

Referee: Scott Tallis

Bookings:
Yeovil: Knowles 42, Staunton 42, Wilkinson 64, Wakefield 80, Smith 90
Aldershot Town: Phillips 30, Oxlade-Chamberlain 42, Akanbi 42, Edser 42, Lyons-Foster 82

Yeovil Town : (4-4-1-1)
Grant Smith
Dan Moss, Max Hunt, Luke Wilkinson, Jordan Barnett
Charlie Wakefield, Dale Gorman, Josh Staunton, Tom Knowles
Sonny Blu Lo-Everton
Joe Quigley

Subs: Adi Yussuf (for Lo-Everton, 56), Morgan Williams (for Wakefield, 89), Max Evans (not used), Toby Stephens (not used).

Aldershot Town: Walker, Kinsella, Lokko, Lyons-Foster, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Phillips, Edser, Harris (for Whittingham, 67), Berkley-Agyeong, Andrews, Akanbi.
Substitutes (not used): Hall, Saunders, Watts, Willard.

SUMMARY

A full nine games earlier than last season, Yeovil Town picked up their first three points of the National League campaign thanks to a brace from striker Joe Quigley at Aldershot Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

The striker, who had scored the only goal in a 2-1 defeat at home to King’s Lynn Town two days earlier, opened the scoring after 14 minutes of some positive opening exchanges for the visitors who led at the break.

But, having weathered the storm of some intense pressure from their hosts, the Glovers conceded with 15 minutes remaining when Corie Andrews’ flicked header went beyond Grant Smith in the Yeovil goal.

Then a direct piece of play (a.k.a ‘a long free-kick’ forward) found centre half Luke Wilkinson inside the box where he was felled and Quigley stepped up to slot home his second after 83 minutes.

Here’s how our Hampshire-born reporter David Coates saw it…..

FIRST HALF

With Matt Worthington unavailable after his sending off against King’s Lynn in the season’s opener, Glovers’ boss Darren Sarll gave a start to loaneee Sonny Blu Lo-Everton who lined up in what appeared a 4-4-1-1 formation just behind Joe Quigley.
The other change saw fellow loan signing Dan Moss come in at right-back in place of Morgan Williams, who dropped to the bench. The Millwall under-23s captain had appeared off the bench two days earlier.
If stung by the criticism of their manager who described the weekend’s performance as “weak”, the visitors set off in positive fashion with Quigley at the heart of a number of  a couple of good moves.
After just two minutes, he linked up well with Dale Gorman to tee up Charlie Wakefield whose effort was well saved by Mitch Walker in the hosts’ goal and five minutes later he combined with Tom Knowles for the latter to flash a ball across the face of goal.
On 14 minutes, Quigley broke the deadlock after a driving run down the left side he broke in to the box and bent the ball past Walker.
As we have been promised through pre-season, Yeovil reverted to what we are informed will be our style of play this season, soaking up some pressure before Luke Wilkinson‘s headed a free-kick on to the cross bar after 30 minutes.
From that, Jayden Harris broke down the other end and was denied by a fine stop from Smith.
On the balance of chances, the visitors deservedly went in ahead at the break and while their attacking play was an improvement on two days ago, there was perhaps a touch of fortune that their hosts were wasteful in front of goal.
Half time: Aldershot Town 0 Yeovil Town 1 (Quigley)

SECOND HALF

Unsurprisingly, Aldershot returned after the break presumably with the words of their manager ringing in their ears and started the second half the brighter.
Defender Kevin Lokko had an effort just over the bar before Ibrahim Akanbi fired wide after good link-up play with strike partner Andrews. Neither had Smith in the visitors goal in major danger but against a sharper attack, the keeper could have found himself under greater pressure.
On 53 minutes, Adi Yussuf replaced Lo-Everton and the visitors reverted to a 4-4-2 with Yussuf partnering Quigley in attack and on 63 minutes the summer signing was in the action.
Again, good play by Quigley down the left found Yussuf who got an instinctive shot in which was blocked and landed at the feet of Gorman who shot wide.
When he arrived from Northern Ireland, the supporters of his old club Glentoran told us that Gorman loved a shot from range and there was certainly evidence of that with another flying wide six minutes later,
There also some evidence of the instinctive finisher that Yussuf’s CV suggests he could be……just maybe slightly out of practice.
But, the visitors continued to probe and on 75 minutes a cross from the left by Toby Edser was met by the head of Andrews to flick the ball over Smith and draw the Shots level – and they did deserve to be level at that point.
Suddenly, the de ja vu of two days earlier – a Quigley opener, an equaliser in the closing third – flooded back to the 334 travelling supporters but, to their credit, Yeovil did not give up.
This time equipped with a full compliment, a long ball forward found Wilkinson as a slightly odd resident of the attacking penalty area where he was hauled down and the visitors were awarded a spot kick.
After last season’s exploits from 12 yards, please forgive this correspondent for having heart palpitations at this point but Quigley stepped up to send the keeper the other way. Cue pandemonium in the away end – and what an amazing away end that is at the Recreation Ground.
But, far from shutting up shop at that pint, the visitors actually carved out two fantastic chances to put the game even further beyond their hosts in the closing four minutes.
Firstly on 86 minutes, great link up play Yussuf and Quigley linked up well for the latter to round Walker an inexplicably put the ball in to the side netting before three minutes later a cross from Wakefield found Yussuf, but his shot was tame.
So, three points on the road and while the celebrations at the end may have appeared over-the-top, there was a real sense of relief among the travelling faithful and presumably those on the pitch.
Drink in the victory (and I’ll even give only a passing mention to five bookings including a couple for stupidity) and get back on the training pitch for what is sure to be a very different challenge against FC Halifax Town at the weekend.
Oh, and the BT Sports cameras at Huish Park – deep joy.

Full time: Aldershot Town 1 Yeovil Town 2 (Quigley 2)

 

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In: Latest Yeovil Town News

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.