With typically dramatic timing, the closing of the January transfer window might have had a nasty twist in the tale for Aldershot Town.

With the 5pm deadline apparently safely negotiated, Sky Sports News reported that The Shots had finally agreed a fee with Wycombe Wanderers for midfielder Scott Donnelly, only to be beaten by the clock. 

The deal, and subsequent compromise - of Donnelly moving when the loan windiow re-opens next week, with a view to a permanent transfer in the summer - conflicts with Kevin Dillon's assertion that no offer had been accepted.

Two players had earlier arrived at The Rec: Bristol City goalkeeper Stephen Henderson and, on trial, striker Omer Riza.

Henderson arrived on loan from Bristol City as temporary replacement for Hayes and Yeading-bound Clark Masters and to provide cover and competition for Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz. The 21 year-old Republic of Ireland under-21 international has made two substitute appearances in the Championship, and previously played at The Rec in loan spells with Weymouth and York City.

Also arriving, on trial, is 30 year-old striker Omer Riza, a free agent since leaving Shrewsbury at the beginning of January. Signed by Paul Simpson in the summer, with a strong reputation gained from experience in the top flight of Turkish football and a run in the UEFA Cup, Riza struggled to make an impact at The Prostar Stadium and was released. His pace and trickery, though, had previously marked him out as a star of the future at Arsenal – for whom he made just one League Cup appearance – and Cambridge United, from where he moved to Denizlispor in Turkey.