The Shots are back in action at The EBB this weekend after a fantastic mid week trip to Braintree, continuing a fine run of results with another win. This Saturday we welcome Rochdale, who sit 2nd in the Enterprise National League and 11 points clear of third place, making them strong contenders for an automatic promotion if they can win the race against York City.
Established in 1907, the Dale have been a consistent piece of the furniture in the EFL, having spent a 102 year stint in the top four tiers before their relegation to the Enterprise National League in 2023. During this time, the club competed in League Two for a period of 36 consecutive seasons, the longest amount of time any team has ever spent in the bottom division.
Based in Greater Manchester, Rochdale are one of nine teams from the top five tiers to operate within the area and as such many rivalries have developed with local opposition. In 2019, they had the chance to play Manchester United in a cup tie, a game that almost ended in an extreme upset as they took the Premier League giants all the way to penalties before finally being defeated.
RECENT FORM
Unsurprisingly, our visitors are in the sort of form you would expect from a side battling for automatic promotion. The Dale are currently eleven games unbeaten, picking up 27 points from a possible 33 in that time as well as being the league’s joint-second highest scoring side on 63 goals. Despite this, with the Shots being in a similar successful winning streak it feels as though no side is unbeatable, and the match this Saturday will not be one to miss.
24th Feb – Halifax 2 – 2 Rochdale
21st Feb – Rochdale 3 – 0 Woking
17th Feb – Rochdale 1 – 1 Scunthorpe
14th Feb – Yeovil 1 – 1 Rochdale
11th Feb – Rochdale 2 – 1 Forest Green
REVERSE FIXTURE AND PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Last time out The Dale managed to get the better of us in what was a close 1-0 affair, with Harvey Gilmour scoring the goal. The defeat came at a tough time for the Shots and was the eighth consecutive game without a win. This time round however, that form has been completely flipped on its head, as they now look to continue with their tremendous winning streak.
Since 2008, there have been 13 previous meetings between ourselves and The Dale. Of these there have been 3 Aldershot wins compared to 7 for Rochdale, who have been a difficult side for us to play in the past. The Shots’ last win against Rochdale came in January 2024 in the form of a 3-1 home victory, and everyone at the club will be hoping for a repeat result on Saturday.
IN THE DUGOUT
Occupying the opposition technical box on Saturday is 41 year old Jimmy McNulty. The man in charge is new to the management scene, making the transition to player-manager while at Rochdale, taking charge as an interim manager before being handed a full appointment with a 3 year contract in 2024. He has done well so far securing 11th and 4th placed finishes in his first and second seasons respectively, and is now on track for yet another improvement as his side now sit second in the Enterprise National League.
McNulty likes to implement a possession based, slow build up style of play that can be effective in frustrating the opposition. Success from this style has come mainly from drawing in opposition players into a press, and then switching tempo to get forward quickly. The Shots will need to watch out for this and make sure they remain calm throughout on Saturday.
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
Emmanuel Dieseruvwe:
The number 9 is far and away the top goal-scorer for Rochdale this season. With 18 goals under his belt so far, he is clearly the danger man to look out for on Saturday. Standing tall at 6’5, Dieseruvwe is a defender’s nightmare in the box and a constant threat in the air, something that the Shots will need to prepare for.
Tobi Adebayo-Rowling:
The wing back has been a solid addition to Rochdale’s ranks this season after joining in 2024. With 9 assists from defence during this campaign, he likes to stay in the wide areas and stretch defences with his pace and power going forward. The Shots will look to prevent him from putting crosses into the box and allow him as little time as possible on the flanks.
TICKET INFO
Tickets for Saturday’s game at the EBB Stadium can be bought online by clicking HERE.
Please note prices will increase at 10am on the day of the match, these are noted in brackets.
Ticket prices are as follows:
ADULT – £23 (£25)
MILITARY PERSONNEL – £21 (£23)
SENIOR (66 and over) – £21 (£23)
YOUNG PERSON (16-20) – £21 (£23)
DISABLED – £21 (£23)
JUNIOR – (15 and under) – £8 (£10)
UNDER 11 – FREE
FAMILY (2 adults + 3 15 and under) – £48 (£52)
We strongly encourage buying tickets in advance or online to save queues in the Ticket Office before the game.
The Club Shop/Ticket Office is open for all supporters with cash and card accepted.
IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT
Live updates will be available from our social media platforms X (@OfficialShots), Instagram (@aldershottownfcofficial), and Facebook. After the game, highlights will be available on our YouTube channel.
The game can be streamed for overseas viewers via DAZN’s National League TV coverage. Click HERE to purchase a match pass.
There will be live commentary of the game provided by BBC Radio Surrey.
