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MATCH PREVIEW: Aldershot Town v Maidenhead United (H)

WHO ARE THE SHOTS PLAYING?

Maidenhead United FC, The Magpies, Founded in 1870.

 

HOW DID THEY DO LAST SEASON?

The Magpies finished 13th last season, with 56 points, 2 places and 4 points above The Shots.

 

HOW DID SHOTS GET ON AGAINST THEM LAST SEASON?

In November 2020, the two sides played out a 0-0 draw at the EBB Stadium. Mike Fondop was shown Red for The Shots in the second half. Earlier this year, Ricky Miller’s opener and a Josh Rees Hat-trick ensured that Aldershot took all three points in a 4-2 win, with Danilo Orsi scoring both Magpies goals.

 

WHO’S THEIR GAFFER?:

Magpies boss Alan Devonshire is well into his second spell at York Road. He began life in football at non-league Southall before he was picked up by West Ham United. With the Hammers, he spent 14 years between 1976 and 1990. After over 350 appearances with the club he departed for the final two years of his playing career at Second Division Watford. In 1996, he took charge of Maidenhead United and had a successful reign at the club. He won promotion from the Isthmian League Division One in 2000 and won 4 Berks & Bucks Senior Cups. He also won the Isthmian Full Members Cup (1997) and made the 2000 Isthmian League Cup Final. He moved on to Hampton & Richmond in 2003 for eight years where he reached the FA Cup First Round proper, finished runners-up in the Conference South (2009) but lost in the play-offs. Previously, he won promotion from the Isthmian League Division One South & the Isthmian Premier Division (2007). Devonshire took over as Braintree manager in May 2011 as they ventured into the National League for the first time. He spent four seasons with the Iron, remarkably taking his part-time side to the Conference Play-Off semi-final, prior to re-joining Maidenhead in 2015. Two years later he steered them to the National League South title and a twelfth-place finish in their first season in the National League. Since then they have battled hard to stay in Non-League’s top tier, coming dangerously close to relegation in 2019-20, when, despite finishing in 22nd place, they survived by the slightest of margins on PPG. Last season’s 13th place finish was their highest yet. They are currently 19th place, two below the Shots six points behind, but with 3 games in hand.

 

WHO’S DEPARTED?

Josh Coley signed for Exeter City for an undisclosed fee and striker Danilo Orsi also moved up to the EFL with Harrogate Town – more recently returning to the National League with Boreham Wood on loan). James Comley also left and has recently turned up at Boreham Wood.

 

WHO’S STAYED?

14 players remain contracted at York Road from last season, including; Defenders Remi Clerima. Manny Parry & Alan Massey, Midfielders Josh Smile & Ryan Upward and Forwards Nathan Blissett, Josh Kelly and last season’s top scorer Sam Barrett.

 

WHO’S ARRIVED?

Devonshire has signed a dozen new faces this season to date, including; Kane Ferdinand from Woking (6 goals to date), Striker Emile Acquah from Southend United and most recently, Keeper Dan Gyollai, on loan from Championship club Peterborough United.

 

ANY EX-SHOTS?

Centre-Backs Will De Haviland had a spell with Aldershot Town, and last season’s Shots skipper Jamie Sendles-White has recently joined the Magpies on a short term contract.

 

WHO’S GOT THE WHISTLE?

Saturday’s referee is Robert Massey-Ellis. This season, to date, he has taken charge of 11 National League matches, showing 49 Yellow Cards and 0 Red Cards. It’s his first visit to the EBB Stadium, but he did referee Aldershot Town’s matches at Notts County (3-2 defeat) and Dover (2-1 win).

 

HOW TO GET TICKETS:

Kick-off begins at 3pm for Mark Molesley’s team as we would like to remind both home and away supporters of our ticketing/match-day protocols HERE.

Our Ticket Office will be opening on the day of the game from 11am for home supporters who would like to purchase on the day of the game, (we advise fans planning on buying tickets on the day to arrive earlier). We further encourage supporters to pre-book their tickets via our upgraded Flowte ticket website HERE to avoid queues on the day.

With our Flowte ticket website, supporters can pick their exact seats and have their tickets emailed to them which can be scanned off a smart phone or printed off before the day of the game.

We will NOT be accepting payment at the turnstiles but for supporters who decide to attend closer to the game, they will be able to purchase their tickets via the Club Shop/Ticket Office in person through cash, card or contactless payment.

Following this, please use the scanners on the turnstiles to enter through to the ground once they’ve collected their ticket.

Turnstiles will open at 1:30pm.

We would also like to take the time to remind supporters of our new pricing structure going forward.

With updated Concession categories and in replacement of our Under 11s Go Free scheme, we have now introduced a new Family Ticket as shown in the full pricing list below:

  • Adult – £20
  • Concession (Disabled + Carer, Senior (over 65) – £16
  • Junior (17 & under) – £7
  • Family Ticket (2 Adults, up to 3 Juniors) – £45
  • Family Ticket (2 Concession, up to 3 Juniors) – £40

Away Supporters

• Tickets for away fans will not be available on the turnstiles on the day of the game, they must be purchased online or from the ticket office..

• All Maidenhead United Supporters will enter the ground via Turnstile 4 at the front of the ground. This game is not segregated.

• Disabled/Carers should be booked in advance via our ticket office, but if they arrive on the day those people need to purchase their ticket from the ticket office. We have limited wheelchair spaces, so we advise supporters are advised to reserve them prior to the game.

• Any planned Supporter Coach travel needs to be advised to Aldershot Town in advance so that coach parking can be organised and planned.

• For this fixture, away supporters will be seated in the Away Seating in the South Stand and the Covered Terrace.

• There will be catering units available on the day of the game.

• We would also like to welcome away supporters into our hospitality lounges too. Please click HERE for more information or contact Commercial Manager Mark Butler at mark.butler@theshots.co.uk.

 

WHERE TO FOLLOW THE MATCH:

There will be ‘Live’ BBC Radio Surrey Sport Online commentary of the match with Rob Worrall and Guest Summariser Stuart Griffiths. There will also be Social Media coverage on Instagram & Twitter (@OfficialShots) with team news, updates and post-match coverage throughout the afternoon.