MORECAMBE 2 ALDERSHOT TOWN 1

Lewis Blain reporting...

Aldershot Town headed north following the disappointing home defeat to Plymouth. Dean Holdsworth made one change for the Shots, it was Asa Hall in for Craig Reid. Winning this game in hand would have seen the Shots rise up to 20th and a few points clear of the drop. That wasn't the case. Jack Redshaw was the first to test Jamie Young less than 10 minutes in, it was an easy save. Shortly later the Shots gained some possession  and from Kieron Cadogan's cross Peter Vincenti couldn't keep his header on target.

Cadogan looked to be regaining his form, last seen before he signed a contract extension. He caused all sorts of trouble down the right, using his pace and skill. The best chance of the game fell to Danny Hylton as Cadogan cut inside and neatly found Hylton inside the box, however he went for placement as he mishit it round the post. Vincenti grew into the game and pulled off an emphatic effort from outside the box, it took a cracking save from Barry Roche to stop it.

Exeter City 0 Aldershot Town 0

The Shots returned to the league this weekend on the back of the heartbreak at Middlesbrough. Their next opponents were Exeter City. After Michael Hector returned to Reading (and then was loaned to league 2 promotion candidates Cheltenham) it meant that Oliver Risser was granted a place in the starting line up alongside new loanee Asa Hall from Shrewsbury. Anthony Tonkin also replaced the injured Aaron Morris to return to his left back role. Danny Hylton started up top on his own.

The Grecians kicked off the first half, but it was the Shots who started on top. From a free-kick conceded by Jamie Cureton, the ball was put in a dangerous area and it took one of the Exeter centre halves to clear. Asa Hall on his debut for the Shots caused some trouble and managed to win a corner. Kieron Cadogan swung in the ball for it to be headed out for another Shots corner. This time Danny Rose hit the ball into the box for Troy Brown who couldn’t head it on target.

Aldershot were still in control after a short opening spell, until Exeter hit on the counter but Cureton couldn’t beat the offside trap; something that continued throughout the 90 minutes. It was the Shots with the next chance as Sonny Bradley headed over a half way line free-kick. Exeter seemed to grasp the game slightly when Guillem Bauza weaved in past Aldershot’s defence but Tonkin with a last ditch slide tackle saw the ball clear for a home corner.

MIDDLESBROUGH 2 ALDERSHOT TOWN 1

Match report kindly supplied by guest writer Lewis Blain.  

The game began in lively fashion, as Ben Herd was wrongly tackled, less than 60 seconds in. 1 minute later Marvin Emnes unfairly brought down Michael Hector in the middle of the pitch, he got away with no booking. The Shots kept possession throughout the opening few minutes. Danny Hylton picked up the ball and weaved past the Boro right back but just outside the box he was clattered down. Danny Rose curled the free-kick a few inches over the bar. On the 10 minute mark Adam Reach caused problems and managed to find Emnes who slotted the dangerous Merouane Zemmama through on goal, however his low shot was superbly saved by Jamie Young. 

Zemmama delivered in a perfect free-kick shortly later but Nicky Bailey's headed attempt flew wide. Hylton continued to cause trouble in and around the Boro area by dragging their defence out of position then making darting runs behind them. An awful challenge by Seb Hines on Hylton which saw the first yellow of the game. This time Peter Vincenti stepped up, but it was poorly hit into the wall and with the rebound he skied it over the goal.

An effective ball played in low by Richard Smallwood set Emnes away deep in Aldershot's half. He then set up Stuart Parnaby who struck it first time. It took a terrific save from Jamie Young to keep it out. Ben Herd cleared. Young was in action again as Zemmama found space to shoot from 22 yards out. His curling strike was expertly tipped over by Young and that took the Shots into half-time. All square.

ALDERSHOT TOWN 1 NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2

Incredibly, given the torrent of snow that fell on the EBB Stadium pitch from 4.30pm onwards, this game survived, as did Danny Hylton's slim chances of making the Middlesbrough FA Cup tie to follow at the weekend. Unfortunately though, Hylton was the only Shots beneficiary, as his team slumped to their first defeat of 2013 - outthought, outfought and outplayed in difficult conditions, by a Northampton side that moved up to third place in League Two with this victory.

What a scene the EBB was; A complete white-out! The only green visible on the pitch were the lines and they were only kept that way thanks to constant re-visits from groundsman Andy Nunn and his hard working team of volunteers. The match had only been possible on the day thanks to the sterling efforts of a small army of Shots fans, who gave up their time on Monday to help clear several inches of snow off the pitch.

Onto the game itself then and Shots Manager Dean Holdsworth made two changes for this match, one of them enforced. Keiron Cadogan was rested, allowing some much needed match time for young Adam Mekki. Aaron Morris deputised for the injured Anthony Tonkin.

A tad surprisingly, Cobblers Manager Aidy Boothroyd elected to leave top scorer Adebayo Akinfenwa on the bench. The lively and in-form Jake Robinson was one of three Ex-Shots that did start - the other two being Ben Harding and Luke Guttridge.

Whilst Shots stuck with their traditional home kit, Cobblers elected to play in what can only be described as a luminous lime green colour!

With just 75 seconds on the clock, Shots took the lead. Mekki, relishing a rare start, sprinting on to a deep midfield pass by Peter Vincenti, rounded the out-rushing Cobblers keeper Lee Nicholls and sent over a low centre, which Dani Lopez turned home from 8 yards, for the 5th Shots goal of his prolific loan spell. 1-0 Shots.