Adele Matthews reports from the EBB Stadium…
Aldershot Town’s relegation to the National League South was confirmed in a 1-1 draw with Hartlepool United at the EBB Stadium.
Reece Grant had put the Shots into a first half lead after scoring a close-range finish 10 minutes in, but with 10 remaining Hartlepool grabbed a point through Gavan Holohan’s effort, confirming the Shots relegation.
Gary Waddock’s side had to win to keep alive any survival hopes on the day against a Hartlepool side that had been suffering with inconsistent form.
And Waddock made just one change to the side that drew 2-2 with Bromley last weekend, Regan Booty recovered from illness and replaced Jake Gallagher, Jake Cole also returned to the bench.
Despite a promising start from the visitors it was the Pools who fell behind in the 10th minute to an early tap in by Reece Grant.
Grant could’ve and should’ve doubled his tally when John Goddard spread an excellent ball out wide to Booty, who continued it onto Grant at the far-post, but the forward smashed it over from close range.
It was more of the same in the second half as the Shots settled comfortably. Goddard executed a polished cross for Grant, who dummied it to Scott Rendell but the strikers effort was soon blocked by Holohan.
Former Shots loanee, Nicke Kabamba was in need of redemption after he cleared his own sides strike in the box. Soon after, the Hartlepool forward thundered an effort on goal but Will Mannion was on hand to palm it away.
Any hope to remain in the National League was all but lost in the 80th minute when a cross from Luke Molyneux was met by Holohan and nodded into the far-post.
The Shots had multiple opportunities to push for another goal, but as it has all been all season, there was no final finish.
As the season comes to a close, it’s one many Shots fans will be happy to see the back of. With relegation now confirmed, hopefully the summer break will lay important foundations for the next campaign.
ALDERSHOT TOWN: Mannion, Bernard, Menayese, Finney, Booty, McDonnell (Rowe 85), Howell, Goddard (Berkeley-Agyepong 85), Mensah, Grant (McDonagh 78), Rendell.
Subs not used: Cole, Gallagher.
