Aldershot Town’s FA Trophy journey came to an end in the fourth round, after a 2-0 defeat to fellow National League side Bromley FC.
Mark Molesley made just one change to the starting XI after a 1-1 draw with Maidenhead last weekend, and it was Harrison Panayiotou that came in to make his second debut for the club after returning to The Shots on an 18-month deal. Kodi Lyons-Foster also returned to the matchday squad after a spell on the sideline due to injury, sitting just one appearance shy of 100 for Aldershot Town.
It was Bromley that had the first half-chance of the game, but it was certainly nothing more than that. James Alabi managed to get on the end of a free-kick, but his header was weak and easily dealt with by Walker.
Just after the ten minute mark, the visitors built up a promising attack that eventually fell to Whitely on the edge of the box, but the shot went way over the bar and was never troubling the goalkeeper.
Alabi had another effort 20 minutes in, but this one was ambitious and flew wide of the post from 25 yards out.
It took Aldershot Town just over half an hour to produce any type of shot, and it was nearly worth the wait. The ball found its way to Ryan Glover 30 yards from goal, and his spectacular effort forced Charles-Cook into a good save to deny Glover of his first goal for the club.
Just over a minute later, it was The Shots that came close again. Kinsella delivered the resulting corner and it was initially cleared, but the second delivery, once again from Aldershot Town’s captain, managed to find the head of Jordan, but his effort from close range was straight at Charles-Cook.
The final chance of what was a fairly quiet half came in the one additional minute. After Panayiotou was brought down 25 yards out, Lewis Kinsella stepped up to take the free-kick. His curling effort looked as if it might find the top corner, but Charles-Cook got across well and kept it all even heading into the break.
10 minutes into the second half, The Ravens broke the deadlock. After winning a free-kick just outside the area, it was Joe Partington who had a go at goal, and his shot found the top left-hand corner, giving Walker no chance.
Bromley continued to put the pressure on Aldershot Town, and could have had a second if it weren’t for some great defending by Corey Jordan, who cleared the danger from a ball across goal by Whitely.
Just after the hour mark, The Shots came close to leveling things up. A good ball found Panayiotou inside the area, but the striker seemed to lose his footing as he shot and the effort was straight at the keeper.
With 20 minutes to go, Aldershot Town continued to search for an equaliser. Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong picked up the ball on the halfway line and drove towards goal. His long-range effort looked to be heading on target, but the shot was blocked and the resulting corner came to nothing.
The momentum seemed to be swinging in favour of The Shots, and a promising break saw multiple players involved. However, the final ball from substitute Fawole was just in front of Berkeley-Agyepong, and Bromley regained possession.
In the 77th minute, Bromley should have had a second. A corner from Arthurs looked to be unthreatening, but it fell to Alabi just a few yards in front of goal, and his effort was sliced and sailed over Walker’s goal.
Five minutes later, Oxlade-Chamberlain tried his luck from way outside the box, but his effort was high and nothing for Charles-Cook to worry about.
In the 85th minute, Bromley doubled their lead. After clearing the danger from an Aldershot Town attack, the ball was played to Sablier and it was a two-on-two situation. Sablier drove inside and then played a through ball to fellow substitute George Alexander, who tucked it away and looked to have sealed the game for his side.
Toby Edser came close to pulling one back late in stoppage time, but his curling left-footed effort was just off the mark.
This saw Aldershot Town’s cup run come to an end, but they are back in league action next Saturday when they travel to take on high-flying Chesterfield.
Aldershot Town FC: 1 M Walker (G/K), 3 L Kinsella (C), 7 A Whittingham (T Edser 51’), 10 J Berkeley-Agyepong, 11 H Panayiotou (J Fawole 67’), 12 C Oxlade-Chamberlain, 14 R Glover, 16 C Jordan, 18 M Sylla (M Ndjoli 75’), 22 G Phillips, 23 J Harris
Unused Subs: 31 C Coulter (G/K), 6 K Lyons-Foster, 9 M Bettamer, 21 B Shroll
Bromley FC: 13 R Charles-Cook (G/K), 2 J Partington, 4 B Bingham, 5 C Bush (C), 6 O Sowunmi, 8 J Arthurs, 10 J Alabi (P Francis 81’), 18 C Whitely, 19 H Forster, 28 F Lovatt (G Alexander 46’), 34 J Cawley (M Sablier 46’)
Unused Subs: 1 M Cousins (G/K), 7 L Coulson, 9 M Cheek, 27 K Fisher
