Aldershot Town produced a good display against reigning Step Five champions academy side Alresford in a seven-goal thriller on Saturday.
Aldershot Town started brilliantly with Leandro Jardim and Tom Willard firing The Shots into a quick 2-0 lead.
The two-goal lead encouraged a response from Arlesford who got a goal back to make it 2-1. Early goals from both sides suggested that this would be a high-scoring game and this would certainly continue for the rest of the first half.
Aldershot Town had a foothold on the game and both teams were going for it in the early stages. It was a battle between two good attacking sides but it was Arlesford who went in front for the first time in the game. The hosts got two goals after a few controversial decisions from the official gave them a 3-2 lead.
Having felt aggrieved, The Shots had the last say in the first-half when they equalised just before half-time. Willard grabbed his second goal of the game for Aldershot Town to keep his side level with the hosts.
At half-time, Aldershot Town made a few changes to give some players a run-out, getting them extra fitness for the upcoming season. The game remained competitive in the second-half with the tempo and intensity changing. The Shots started the better of the two teams after the interval as they battled with Arlesford for the winning goal.
Both sides had many chances to edge ahead but it was Arlesford who nicked it. Aldershot Town produced a valiant display to compete with a really good side but Arlesford held on to their narrow lead in the final minutes to secure a win in a seven-goal affair.
Aldershot Town u23s 1st Team XI: L.Booth (GK), A. Saunders, A. Youngson, J. Hughes, D. Walster, T. Thein, L. Phair, D.Pereira, L.Jardim, H.Walker, T. Willard.
