The Phoenix rose over Spennymoor at Wembley, as Aldershot Town were
crowned FA Trophy winners in the a first trip to the famous stadium for the red
and blue.
Three goals in front of the Shots fans were the difference on the day, as Tommy
Widdrington’s side triumphed over the Moors.
Jack Barham got the party started, before Dan Ellison put the Shots in control, and
Josh Barrett (again ole, ole) put both hands on the trophy for Aldershot.
Ahead of the game, gaffer Tommy Widdrington made just the one change to the
squad that were 2-1 victors over Yeovil on the final day of the National League
season.
It came in midfield, as Dejan Tetek slotted into a pivot alongside Theo Widdrington,
with Cameron Hargreaves dropping out the squad.
The 17,000+ travelling Shots gave rapturous evasions to Jordi van Stappershoef and
Marcus Dewhurst as they came to warm up in front of them, and then the rest of the
squad a few minutes later.
The Shots got the game underway, and the support from those behind Marcus
Dewhurst’s goal could be heard around London.
Spennymoor had the better of the opening five minutes possession wise, but the
three of Luca Woodhouse, Dan Ellison and Will Armitage in defence were able to
keep the Moor at arm’s length.
The first Shots venture into the final third came thanks to some nice play from Theo
Widdrington, finding Aaron Jones over the top of the Spennymoor defence, but the
play came to nothing.
After a tense opening 10 the Shots had the first chance of either side, James Henry
lofting a ball into the area for Jack Barham, who headed wide of Brad James’ goal.
The Shots were growing into the game, and a few moments later Tyler Frost had
another opportunity to venture into the opposition box, this time earning a corner, but
the chance came and went.
The best chance of open the scoring did fall to Spennymoor, Theo Widdrington
selling Josh Barrett a bit short with a pass from a corner, before a lethal counter saw
Rob Ramshaw send a somewhat tame effort into the grateful grasp of Dewhurst.
A wake up call for the Shots who answered in turn, the magic Josh Barrett beating a
man on the edge before forcing Brad James into a full stretch save for the best
chance Tommy Widdrington’s side mustered in the opening 25.
The red and blue were beginning to control the tempo of the game, but Spennymoor
had set up to anticipate as much, with Woodhouse, Ellison and Armitage seeing
most of the ball, as the Shots waited for any gaps to emerge.
Chances were few and far between following the aforementioned Barrett strike, but
the Shots ended the first half with a flurry.
Firstly, Barrett tested the hands of James in the Spennymoor net, before James
Henry dispossessed the Moors inside of the Shots half, ran the length of the
opposition half, and sent an effort flying over the bar, into the Moors fans behind their
goal.
Half-time: Shots 0-0 Spennymoor
Just like they do at the EBB Stadium, the Shots shot towards the ‘East Bank’, which
this time was a section of safe standing behind the goal.
And, within three minutes of the restart, the makeshift East Bank was sent into
raptures by super Jacky Barham.
The Shots number 22 glided in at the back post after James Henry did supremely
well to beat a man and get the ball across, and the simplest of touches sent the ball
beyond Brad James, and sent the Shots supporters wild.
For a moment a hush fell over the travelling Shots supporters, as after some magic,
Josh Barrett went to ground and needed assistance from the medical staff to get
back up.
Barrett, however, refused to let his final be ended by an injury, and was back into the
equation a few minutes later.
A first caution of the game went the way of Spennymoor skipper Glen Taylor, he
went flying into a header against Dan Ellison with his elbow, the referee showed no
hesitation as he cautioned Taylor.
Aldershot were beginning to once again take a hold of the game, with Barrett and
Barham only having half chances despite the pressure.
But, the Shots would have a second goal to show for all their pressure, and it came
courtesy of Dan Ellison.
The Barham half chance just mentioned had actually gone behind for a corner, and
Josh Barrett came across to take it, delivering a peach for Elisson to connect with a
flicked header which went beyond James in the Moors net.
As if the deal was not sealed 2-0 up with five to go, Josh Barrett put the seal on what
was to be a historic day for the Shots.
His goal, the pick of the bunch, made the Shots fans breath a little easier, as a third
goal put the game out of reach for Spennymoor town.
A looped hopeful ball forwards from the Shots defence bounced once in the Moors
half, before Kwame Thomas flicked the ball towards the Moors area, and after
another bounce Barrett smashed it on his left foot into the top corner of the
Spennymoor goal.
The Shots almost had a fourth in added time, as a counter attack found Maxi Mullins
free as a bird in the Moors half, before he squared to Tyler Frost, but his effort was
saved superbly well by Brad James one-on-one.
But, at around 6:10pm BST on Sunday, May 11, 2025, referee Andrew Fox blew his
full-time whistle, and confirmed Aldershot as winners at Wembley for the first time in
the history of the town.
From Aldershot FC to Aldershot Town, from the Football League to setting FA Cup
history at Swindon, once that whistle blew, for Aldershot, it was all worth it.
Shots XI: Dewhusrt (Van Stappershoef, 89’), Armitage, Ellison, Woodhouse, Jones
(C), Tetek (Corbett, 59’), Widdrington, Frost (Scott, 92’), Henry (Mullins, 81’), Barrett,
Barham (Thomas, 74’)
Shots unused subs: Bray, Ghandour.
