The Shots’ pre-season ended in defeat as a goal in the fourth minute earned AFC Totton the win.
The home side took the lead after just four minutes through ex-Shot, Scott Rendell. Ryan Hill did well to hold off Ralph Vigrass as he broke into the box down the right but hesitation between Hill and Ben Jackson left the ball free in the Shots box and Rendell pounced to blast it in off the underside of the bar with a powerful strike.
Another former Shot then came close to doubling Totton’s advantage as Tyler Cordner was free at the back-post from a corner but his downward header was saved by Marcus Dewhurst.
The Shots did have the ball in the back of the net in the 17th minute but the Assistant Referee’s flag was raised to deny an equaliser. Ben Jackson headed the ball down at the far post and Hady Ghandour acrobatically turned it in but Jackson was adjudged to have been offside.
Dejan Tetek was substituted after just 25 minutes after going down and receiving treatment in what was hopefully just a precautionary substitution.
Aldershot were far superior in possession and were holding onto the ball well as they patiently looked to work openings, but the home side were standing firm and the Shots were reduced to launching efforts from distance as Ryan Gosney gathered Josh Barrett’s curler and a powerful strike from Ryan Hill was blocked.
HALF-TIME
An early second-half change brought a change of positions for a number of the squad as Matt Penney was tested out on the left, Jed Meerholz was on the left of the back-three and Ryan Hill, who had started the game on the left, moved in behind Hady Ghandour.
It took a while for a chance of real note to occur in the second-half but it was typical that Josh Barrett’s magic was the catalyst. He had the ball in the back of the net in the 64th minute with a sumptuous half-volley but unfortunately the Referee had already blown for a foul.
Minutes later, Barrett’s skill then forced a Totton defender to fall to the floor as he faked a shot on the edge of the box and a perfectly-placed through ball to Ryan Hill created an opportunity but Hill’s shot was well-saved by Ryan Gosney.
Matt Penney began finding some joy on the left as he superbly took down a great switch of play by Theo Widdrington to beat his man and break into the box but his cutback was cleared as Tristan Abrahams waited in the middle.
Not long later, a first-time cross by Penney from the left was met by Abrahams in the middle and though his header down was not going to threaten the goal, Theo Widdrington raced in to try and turn it in but couldn’t get there in time to make a meaningful connection and could only knock it wide.
In the 74th minute, Barrett had the opportunity to score another free-kick in a good position in front of goal 25-yards out but though his effort nicked the wall, it still caused Gosney a problem.
The Shots were continuing to have the higher share of possession and despite pushing for an equaliser, were unable to find one as Totton had the last major chance of the game when racing forward on a rapid counter, but Christos Batzelis’ effort was tipped over by Marcus Dewhurst.
Attendance: 479 (No away attendance given)
Shots lineup: 1. Marcus Dewhurst, 5. Ben Jackson, 6. Theo Widdrington, 7. Cameron Hargreaves (C), 10. Josh Barrett, 19. Ryan Hill (18. Kiban Rai, 75′), 23. Hady Ghandour (30. Tristan Abrahams, 62′), 24. Maxwell Mullins (28. Archy Taylor, 51′), 32. James Clarridge, 34. Dejan Tetek (14. Jed Meerholz, 25′), 42. Matt Penney.
Subs not used: 13. Pat Nash, 12. Keane Anderson, 20. Haydon Vaughan, 25. Kaden Hughes, 26. Joe Lewis-Evans.
