Barnet 0-3 Aldershot Town

A comprehensive victory for the Shots at Underhill on Boxing Day courtesy of goals from Scott Davies, Danny Hylton and Anthony Charles against his former club. Gary Waddock, Nikki Bull and goalscorer Charles can now be heard on The Shots Online reviewing the match and looking ahead to Sunday's (28th) visit of Dagenham and Redbridge to the EBB Stadium.

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There was no disputing the final outcome at Underhill as Gary Waddock's side produced a balanced and inspired performance on Boxing Day to record a second successive away day victory in style.

Marvin Morgan returned to the starting line-up after serving his one match suspension against Grimsby Town. John Grant made way as Morgan partnered Danny Hylton.

Barnet goalkeeper Rob Beckwith was taken ill before kick-off which meant a Football League debut for goalkeeper Ran Kadoch, the first Israeli goalkeeper to play in the competition. The experienced former Sunderland, Coventry City and Irish international Gary Breen made his first appearance at Underhill after recently being appointed Player-Coach.

Despite a sprightly first couple of minutes for the home side in a windswept Underhill it was Gary Waddock's side that took the lead as early as the fifth minute. A throw on the right-hand side parallel with the 18 yard box saw Morgan thread the ball to Kirk Hudson; his byeline delivery swept across goal into the path of Danny Hylton who slotted home from 10 yards with his left foot into the bottom corner of the net.

Inspired by the early goal Aldershot played with confidence. Morgan struck just wide from a quickly worked corner from Andy Sandell as the visitors forced the pressure.

Barnet struggled to get the ball out of their own half whilst Anthony Charles, playing against his former club, was fortunate not to receive a caution from referee Kevin Wright after a firm challenge on Adam Birchall inside the Barnet half. Although they forced a succession of corners Aldershot did not make great use of the possession from the set plays with debutant keeper Kandoch not called into action..

On 26 minutes Hylton broke free on the right after an intelligent ball from Hudson. Although there were two players at the far post the former youth product chose to go alone and was nearly proved correct when he unleashed a low strike that took a slight deflection to edge just wide of the far post.

If Barnet were to produce it had to be at the feet of Albert Adomah. Sprightly, tricky and a real nuisance he did force the first save of the match from Nikki Bull on the half hour with a teasing run and shot; not bad for a player that started the year at Harrow Borough. Adomah did volley a Kenny Gillett strike goalbounds but the effort lacked pace and was blocked with ease.

There was no doubting Aldershot's superiority in the first half. They were disciplined, closed down and always played with an urgency when they attacked against a home side that became noticeably more frail as the half progressed. The ever-improving Anthony Straker struck sweetly from distance. They could have extended the lead.

Shots nearly did so on 38 minutes when Hudson broke through the centre. After a catalogue of errors inside the 18 yard box as Barnet failed to effectively clear Ishmail Yakubu headed towards his own goal and Kadoch was forced to fingertip the ball away; he just about succeeded.

Nicky Nicolau fired just wide as a Charles clearance was sliced into his path just before the interval. Bull came for a cross soon after and was unable to gather cleanly allowing Birchall a path through on goal; Charles cleared under pressure. Totally against the frame of the game up to that point Aldershot started to show a flaw. Captain Rhys Day sliced the ball backwards on the edge of the six yard box and John O'Flynn was able to shoot into the side netting at the near post.

Shots started the second half positively. Hudson was put through just over the halfway line by Hylton but the final effort did not match the pacy run as the final shot was wayward past the far post. Charles provided a snap shot from Scott Davies' free kick that was cleared.

It was a continuation of the first half and boss Waddock's side were always at their most threatening on the break. No more so than on 53 minutes when Hylton's trickery allowed him an opportunity on the right. His fiery effort cannoned off the crossbar into the path of Harding whose rising follow-up from 18 yards was just wide. Another Hudson break resulted in Andy Sandell's side footed effort from the edge of the six yard box appearing to be turned over the bar by an excellent save from Kadoch. Referee Wright denied the keeper credit though by awarding a goal kick.

Barnet did create on 55 minutes when Birchall crept in but he was snuffed out by the alert Straker.

Cliff Akurang, an old hand at competing against Aldershot, came on to add some aerial presence up front for the home side who showed a livelier approach to their game after the interval.

Davies and Harding worked an excellent interlink from a free kick on 66 minutes and the latter's final strike from 20 yards powered wide of the far post.

With 20 minutes remaining Shots deservedly extended the lead when Anthony Charles headed home at the far post after Sandell had flicked on Davies' delivery from the left-hand side. There were no complaints. It was thoroughly deserved as more pressure was exerted onto home boss Paul Fairclough.

There could have been more too. Morgan showed why boss Waddock recalled him back into the starting line-up with an powerful run that was thwarted when Kadoch managed to force the ball behind at the near post.

Louie Soares was introduced late on against his former club and provided a decent byeline ball that fellow substitute Junior Mendes angled wide with a header from 10 yards.

Perhaps Barnet's last chance to provide a grandstand finish came when Adomah's hopeful punt goalwards caught Bull unawares and the ball crashed off the bar into the path of Flynn who fired well over the bar from the rebound.

Shots polished off an excellent Boxing Day when Blackburn's through ball found the Shots' top scorer Scott Davies onside although he had plenty to do. Pace and a desire to score a rare goal on the road ensured that he rounded the oncoming Kadoch and slotted home into an empty net. He ran to the Shots supporters massed on the side. A fitting end to a decent day.

Half-Time: Barnet 0-1 Shots
Stoppage Time: 2 minutes
Actual Playing Time:47:08

Full Time: Barnet 0-3 Shots
Stoppage Time: 4 minutes
Actual Playing Time: 49:10

Referee: Kevin Wright
Assistants: I Woodward (Yellow) C Knowles (Yellow and Red)
Fourth Official: G Young

Attendance: 2729
Visiting Supporters: 728