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Hampton & Richmond Borough 3 Aldershot Town 0

Aldershot Town’s 3rd pre-season friendly took place at The Beveree, home of newly promoted Hampton & Richmond Borough FC, (HBRFC) who will compete this season in the National League South.

Triallists had featured heavily in the previous two, but Gary Waddock named just a 16 man squad for this one, including 14 contracted players plus Iffy Allen & goalkeeper Mark Smith.

Jack Saville was the only Shots player to miss out, a slight knock determining that he had to watch this one from the stands.

HBRFC’s squad featured ex-Woking striker Giiseppe Cole & former Shots youth teamer Josh Casey.

Waddock’s men began in an attacking 4-3-3 formation and forced a lot of the only running. However, it was the home side who took an early lead from the spot, after Jim Kellermann was adjudged to have tripped Jamal Lowe in the penalty area.

Tom Jelley sent Shots keeper Smith the wrong way with his spot-kick to give HRBFC a 6th minute lead.

A sustained period of Shots pressure followed before, HRBFC then won a second penalty. This time, Smith was the culprit, catching Hippolyte-Patrick inside the area. Once again Jelley sent Smith the wrong way and with just 23 mins gone the home side had doubled their early lead.

Aldershot certainly had their moments going forward on the first half but failed to trouble Beaver’s keeper Aaron Howe.

Mensah (high), Walker (across goal), Kellermann (straight at Howe) & McClure (headed over) before Walker let fly with a 30 yard volley which dipped a little too late.

Half time saw just one change for The Shots; Jake Cole replacing Smith between the sticks.

In a lively start to the 2nd period for the visitors, McClure curled a volley just wide from Kellermann’s free kick and soon after, Cheye Alexander grazed the crossbar with a 25 yard strike.

Waddock shuffled his pack on 55 minutes, bringing on Liam Bellamy & Iffy Allen for Kellermann and Shamir Fenelon.

The Beavers then made 4 substitutions of their own before Nick Arnold & Scott Rendell made their entrance. Walker & Alexander departed.

On 64 minutes, HRBFC scored a third, Kabamba slotting home from close range. The Shots players were unhappy with referee Williams, who somehow missed a rather obvious foul on Will Evans in the build up.

It could have been 4-0 on 75 minutes as Sole skipped round Cole only for his subsequent shot to be deflected behind by the well positioned Reynolds.

That was the final chance of any real note with the home side running out worthy winners.

Shots: Smith (Cole 46); Alexander (Arnold 56), Evans, Reynolds, Straker; Fenelon (Allen 52), Gallagher, Kellermann (Bellamy 52); Walker (Rendell 59), McClure (Capt), Mensah.