Aldershot Town 4-0 Barnet

Goals from John Grant (2), Andy Sandell and a penalty from Scott Donnelly give Aldershot a festive victory at home to Barnet for the second successive Boxing Day in front of 3231 spectators. Subscribers to The Shots Online can now view match reaction interviews with Assistant Manager Gary Owers, John Grant, Marlon Jackson and Adam Hinshelwood.

Excellent planning from Andy Nunn and his groundstaff in addition to the superb support of volunteer supporters prior to Christmas Day ensured that the EBB Stadium pitch was in excellent condition for this Boxing Day encounter.

With Anthony Charles sidelined with a one match suspension manager Kevin Dillon recalled captain Adam Hinshelwood for his first start since the visit of Macclesfield Town in mid October. Lewis Chalmers also returned to the midfield making his 100th appearance for the club. John Grant, after coming on at Burton Albion, started in a forward role supported by Marlon Jackson.

Bees boss Ian Hendon made five changes from the side that were defeated at home to Crewe Alexandra that extended their winless run to eight matches in all competitions. He was able to recall experienced campaigner Paul Furlong to the starting line-up. The former QPR striker is now 41 years of age.

The Hertfordshire side started sprightly kicking towards the East Bank and Chris Blackburn had to be vigilant blocking a fierce striker from Albert Adomah in the first minute.

There were strong appeals for what appeared to be a blatant handball on four minutes when Kenny Gillet diverted the ball back to keeper Jake Cole inside the penalty box clearly using his stretched arm in doing so. Clearly in front of the Assistant Referee on the North Stand side there was astonishment as play continued.

Mark Hughes became the first cautioned player of the afternoon as he took out Marlon Jackson with a challenge from behind on the halfway line.

Although it was a game inclusive of commitment and endeavour, there was a distinct lack of goalmouth action as the half progressed, with both sides guilty of petty breaches of the law that prevented the required fluency to proceedings.

Andy Sandell did have to be alert just past the half hour when a long ball created problems on the edge of the 18-yard box as Adomah threatened. The former Bristol Rovers player stretched to win the ball and did enough to direct it back into the path of Mikhael Jaimez Ruiz who was close by.

The visitors won a succession of corners which saw Hughes angle a header over the bar from the far side of the six-yard box.

Aldershot did take the lead on 36 minutes. Jackson did exceedingly well on the right as he took the ball to the byeline before his cross was directed into the net by Grant who bravely put his body in front to force the ball home to score for the second successive match.

Bubbling, Grant could have added to the score sheet within a minute as he was put through on the edge of the 18-yard box. He broke free of his marker before a baffling decision from referee Darren Sheldrake gave the visitors a free kick.

Jackson was in his element though on the right flank. Further trickery enable Grant to latch on to his cross on 41 minutes and the first-time effort touched the side netting. Aldershot were certainly on the offensive at this stage and with the new partnership connecting well.

Half-Time: Shots 1-0 Bees
Added Time:2 minutes
Actual Playing Time:47:08

The home side won a couple of early free kicks in the second half. After Sandell's 20-yard effort cannoned into the wall Donnelly stepped up a minute later for a further award. His curling effort tested Jack Cole in the Barnet goal as he scrambled to his right to parry the ball away into the path of Chalmers whose follow-up sauntered wide.

Sandell then chipped a tricky centre in from the left. It eluded the advanced Louie Soares and Jackson and deceived Cole only for the ball to trickle just wide of the far post.

The rain may have started to fall again but there was no stopping Grant on 59 minutes. With there seemingly being no danger as Soares produced a delivery from the centre the striker homed in on goal from the left and produced a delightful curling effort into the far corner of the net to confirm his brace.

Barnet were struggling on the back foot with Dillon's side now looking both comfortable on the ball and confident in their approach. There appeared to be only one obvious outcome at this stage.

Two became three on 65 minutes when Sandell stepped up to rifle home a 20-yard free kick into the roof of the far corner of the net for his third goal of the season.

There were a number of substitutions from both sides with the industrious Chalmers limping off for the home side. He was replaced by Ben Harding whilst Oliver Bozanic came on for Soares.
Grant was then withdrawn to a standing ovation as Danny Hylton came on.

Aldershot were then awarded a penalty as Hylton was held back as the ball had drifted away from the danger zone. Referee Sheldrake pointed to the spot immediately. If only it had been a minute earlier, Grant would surely have been given the opportunity to net his hat-trick.

As it was Donnelly stepped up to place his kick low past Cole for his ninth goal of the campaign. Hylton came close to extending the lead with a first time effort just wide. It was all one-way traffic, though as Hendon's men could not wait for the final whistle.

Hylton was busy and eager to impress the new boss after a recent absence due to injury. He did superbly on 82 minutes when he won the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box and somehow threaded his shot through a crowd of players only to see the ball cannon off the post with Cole beaten.

As the game entered the final minutes, the target was to ensure a clean sheet was preserved. They achieved that target too with a polished victory to send the fans home happy to enjoy the festivities.

Full Time: Shots 4 -0 Bees
Stoppage Time: 4 minutes
Actual Playing Time:49:02
Attendance:3231 (inc 320 from Barnet)
Referee: Darren Sheldrake
Assistants: P J Knight, T J Robinson
Fourth: C J Berry
Central Heating Services Man of the Match: John Grant