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Aldershot
celebrated their 500th competitive match, since the Club was re-created
in 1992, with an emphatic victory over Boro' on Tuesday night.
The
visitors included two new signings from Division Three, two from
Division Two, one from Division One and a player making only his
second appearance since recovering from a broken leg. I
mention these facts only to highlight the circumstances behind Boro's
defeat at the Recreation Ground, which saw them remain in 17th place
in the Ryman Premier Division, three places and three points above
the relegation zone.
On
a night when torrential rain fell throughout and the pitch cut up
notably, Boro's squad casualties were Newby, Barnes and Oliver Lyons.
Into the squad came new signing Tony Fontenelle, from Arlesey, and
Carl Levene, from Yeading, whilst Pat Gavin returned from illness.
Facing the Boro' were former Earlsmead favourites, 'keeper Andy
Pape and midfielder Mark Pye.
Early
home pressure resulted in hurried clearances, a caution for Levene
and a good tackle by former skipper Cooper. Inevitably, a goal soon
resulted, though in controversial circumstances. After 11 minutes,
Graham was awarded a corner when the ball clearly came off him for
what should have been a goal kick but was awarded as a corner to
the Shots. When Graham sent the ball over, there wasn't enough of
a challenge and BENTLEY was given time and space to head past Hook.
Seven
minutes later, a fierce 25 yard drive by Holsgrove rebounded off
the far post, all before Boro' had raised an attack! Derek Payne
tried his luck with two efforts from the edge of the box, only to
miss the target. At the other end, Bentley steered a shot well wide
but in the 31st minute, Aldershot doubled their lead, Republic of
Ireland under 21 international Coll curling his cross in towards
the far post, where BROWNE netted a glancing header.
Another
Payne effort did at least cause Pape to save, at the second attempt,
whereupon Lewis was withdrawn in a tactical move that saw Gavin
enter the pitch to move up into the attack. He was soon in the thick
of the action, but an apparent foul by Coll, in the area, went unpunished.
Aldershot finished the half strongly, Browne firing just wide, Graham
seeing his corner palmed onto a post by Hook and wide of a post.
THe second half followed much of the same pattern.
Joe
Lyons tackled well to deny a further score, then Pape's long clearance
forced Hook to race out of goal, Browne rounding him and shooting
wide of the completely open goal ! Good covering by Hook and Lyons
denied Bentley a shot. Matt Turnbull, as brought on to add width
and pace to the midfield force After 67 minutes, the result was
finally clinched, or given away, when Coll's deterrmination saw
him win the ball from James and cross for BROWNE to steer an unchallenged
header inside the far post.
In
reply, little was seen of the Harrow attack until the final stages.
Levene and Valenti set up Fontenelle and he turned the ball into
the side netting aty the near post. Valenti then crossed for Gavin
to send a diving header just wide, then the pacy Fontenelle tried
his luck with a solo effort, though his shot ended up wide of the
goal.
Harrow:
Hook, Rose, James; Lewis ( Gavin ), Cooper, J. Lyons, Hurlock (
Bates ), Payne, Fontenelle,Valenti, Levene ( Turnbull ).
Aldershot:
Pape; Coll, Chewins, Crossley, Adedeji , Pye ( Hathaway ); Graham
( Protheroe ), Bentley, Browne, Payne ( Andrews ), Holsgrove.
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