Aldershot Town Reserves 1 Brighton & Hove Albion Reserves 2

A young Shots Reserve team were narrowly beaten by strong Brighton opponents on a very wet afternoon at the EBB Stadium.

After further injuries to Gary Waddock's first team changes were made to the Reserves, with Josh Casey gaining a first Reserve start, in for Anthony Straker at left back, and Adam Mekki replacing Danny Hylton in a wide attacking role. Shots' first trialist of this totesport.com Combination campaign was former Leyton Orient, Hull City and Tottenham Hotspur centre defender Alton Thelwell.

Shots showed some crisp and tidy passing moves in the first half but rarely threatened the Brighton goal. Josh Casey and Ben Hutchings were called upon to make important challenges in the early stages, whilst Clark Masters provided a very vocal performance from goal.

The visitors took a lead on the half-hour mark; Lewis Ide crossed from the right flank to Craig Davies, who neither Therwell nor Hutchings had picked up, Davies gave Masters little chance dispatching a low shot to his left from 10 yards.

Davies nearly stretched Brighton's lead two minutes later. Dispossessing Bobby Hopkinson he slipped past Hutchings' tackle and hit a fierce shot which Masters pushed wide of his left post.

Davies turned creator shortly after, although he seemed to control the ball with his arm as he attacked down the right wing. Pulling his pass back across goal to Dean Cox at the far post, Cox had time and space but screwed his shot wide.

Brighton scored a second goal on 39 minutes; a strong run by Alan Navarro ended with a neat pass to James Smith. His shot was kept out by Dan Smith's sliding challenge. The loose ball came to Craig Davies, Clark Masters dived at Davies' feet but the Brighton forward drilled a shot in from a narrow angle for 2-0.

On 43 minutes a Brighton counter-attack saw Dean Cox through on goal. Josh Casey brought Cox down on the edge of the area, and was fortunate only to receive a yellow card. Navarro's free-kick was inches wide.

By kick-off for the second half the persistent rain had progressed into a downpour, with slippery areas towards all corner flags. Shots enjoyed far more incisive possession, and reduced the deficit on 55 minutes. Adam Mekki went on a terrific run down the left wing, beating Ide, and weighting a perfect pass towards Reece Connolly attacking the far post. Connolly coolly finished past Graeme Smith to cap a fine move.

Josh Pearson replaced the industrious Carlton Cox just after the hour, with Connolly pushing up as Shots switched to 4-4-2. Davies had two chances to complete his hat-trick; Ben Hutchings, with a well-timed block, kept out the first, with Davies' second effort curling narrowly wide.

On 75 minutes John Grant's pass to Josh Pearson enabled him to attack down the left, and then scoop a cross towards the back post. Smith's fist was just ahead of Connolly's head in reaching the ball. Brighton's substitutes combined well in the final stages; George Barker taking on the Shots defence then crossing to the onrushing Conor Wilkins who directed his header a foot wide of goal.

Reece Connolly made a good late chance for a Shots equaliser with a long powerful run down the right, then crossing to Max Worsfold. Worsfold laid a pass inside to Josh Pearson but his side-footed shot was wide.

A decent performance from a starting eleven that comprised six youth team players. Dan Smith again gave a good performance at right-back, Adam Mekki and Reece Connolly had good second halves, Carlton Cox worked hard and used the ball well, whilst Lewis Chalmers gave the performance drive and direction.

Aldershot Town: Clark Masters; Dan Smith, Josh Casey, Ben Hutchings, Alton Thelwell; Lewis Chalmers, Carlton Cox (Josh Pearson 63), Bobby Hopkinson; Reece Connolly, Adam Mekki (Max Worsfold 82); John Grant. Unused subs: Calum Nimmo, Luke Hutchings (gk), James Pilgrim.

B&HA: Graeme Smith; Lewis Ide, David Livermore, Jake Wright, Jamie Smith; Dean Cox (Lee Cooper 63), Steve Cook, Alan Navarro (Conor Wilkins 78), James Smith; Craig Davies, Gary Hart (George Barber 78).