Aldershot Town progressed in the FA Youth Cup with a 2-1 win over Badshot Lea thanks to a brace from Nofal Jama.
The Shots took an early lead in the fourth minute when Thomas Neail’s through ball found Nofal Jama who kept his composure to slot the ball under the Badshot ‘keeper.
In a scrappy affair that saw a lot of challenges fly in, there weren’t too many chances for either side until a strike from distance narrowly flew over the Shots’ net in the 16th minute.
Jama came close to a second in the 23rd minute as Lloyd Pryce-Jones’ long-ball forward caught the Badshot Lea defence off guard and played Jama through. On this occasion, though, the Badshot ‘keeper made an important stop.
Neail stung the palms of the Badshot Lea ‘keeper with a long-range strike in the 33rd minute as The Shots were enjoying a fairly dominant spell.
Badshot Lea created a good opportunity a minute before half-time as their number six made a smart run down the left and was found. His ball across the Shots box found a teammate, but the effort was skied over the bar.
HALF-TIME
In almost complete synchronisation to the first-half, Nofal Jama got an early goal to set The Shots on their way. A ball in from the left found Jama in the box and on the turn, he found the bottom corner.
Controversy almost ruined Badshot’s hope of getting back into the game on the hour as they were awarded a penalty as they found the back of the net from close-range. A great save from Louis Knight and last-ditch block kept Badshot out but on the third attempt they found the back of the net only for the Referee to blow for a penalty before the ball crossed the line.
Luckily for Badshot Lea, their number nine stepped and beat Knight with a superb penalty to get one reduce the Aldershot lead.
There were few chances for either side in the second-half but in the 80th minute, Badshot came very close to an equaliser. A deep cross was headed onto the bar and though the rebound fell to a Badshot player, Louis Knight in The Shots goal reacted well to smother the ball and force it wide.
Badshot Lea had a good opportunity to level things on the 90th minute as Knight took too long on the ball with the defence under heavy pressure from a high press and his clearance was closed down. It fell to an attacker, but the Shots defence closed him down well to block it.
Shots lineup: 1. Louis Knight, 2. Joel Johnson-Cole, 3. Archie Wisdom, 4. Lloyd Pryce-Jones, 5. Samuel Holubec, 7. Nofal Jama (17. Jacob Chrismas, 83′), 8. Wesley Otieno, 9. Kian Dugdale, 10. Gabriel Wall (15. Cezar Popa, 61′), 11. Thomas Neail (6. Joshua Payne, 90′), 12. Max Walker (C)(16. William Dunford, 76’).
Subs not used: 13. Keanu Black, 14. Koby Kircher, 18. Max Howells.
