A first-half goal from Billy Waters meant Mark Molesley’s first game in charge at Aldershot Town ended in a 1-0 defeat.
The Shots made one change from the 2-2 draw against Wealdstone last Saturday, as Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong came into the starting XI, taking the place of George Fowler. This change also saw Aldershot Town convert to a back four for the first time this season.
It was a quiet start to the game for both teams, with neither side creating any opportunities in the opening 15 minutes.
The Shots had the first chance of the afternoon after 20 minutes, with Toby Edser taking the free-kick from just outside the area, but his effort was comfortably dealt with by Johnson in the Halifax Town goal.
Just a few minutes later, Aldershot Town had another opportunity to open the scoring. After a cross from Bettamer wasn’t cleared by Halifax, Aldershot Town picked up the loose ball and eventually found Whittingham on the edge of the box, but his shot sailed over the bar.
But 27 minutes in, it was the visitors that opened the scoring. A ball inside from Warburton managed to find Billy Waters in the Shots box, and he found the back of the net from a tight angle to give the Shaymen the lead.
A minute later, Aldershot Town had another effort from long range, but the shot from Edser didn’t have enough power to trouble Sam Johnson.
And the last 15 minutes of the half were a lot like the first 15, with neither team troubling Walker or Johnson at either end of the pitch.
The Shaymen had the first look at goal in the second half, but Spence’s effort from distance flew over the bar.
A couple of minutes later, Aldershot Town won a free-kick via Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong, but the powerful strike from Bettamer was deflected just wide of the goal, and the resulting corner led to the ball being cleared away.
The Shots continued to pile on the pressure, but still couldn’t find a goal to get themselves back into the game.
In the 66th minute, a brilliant ball from Edser found Andrews inside the area, but his headed effort went straight into the arms of Johnson.
Shortly after, Halifax Town had a chance to double their lead. A drilled cross into the area from Slew was cleared only as far as Warburton, and his goal-bound effort was blocked well by Phillips.
With 10 minutes to go, a corner taken by Kinsella found the head of Giles Phillips, but his effort was wide of the mark.
A minute later, Aldershot Town had another chance to equalise, with substitute George Fowler trying to curl one into the top corner from the edge of the area, but his great effort was tipped over the bar by Johnson.
The final chance of the game came in the 89th minute, a free-kick from Martin Woods almost caught Walker out, but ended up going just wide and into the side netting.
Aldershot Town FC: 1 M Walker (G/K), 3 L Kinsella (C), 6 K Lyons-Foster, 7 A Whittingham (T Willard 57’), 8 T Edser, 9 M Bettamer (W Aouachria 70’), 10 J Berkeley-Agyepong, 11 C Andrews, 12 C Oxlade-Chamberlain (G Fowler 68’), 22 G Phillips, 23 J Harris
FC Halifax Town: 1 S Johnson (G/K), 3 J Senior, 6 T Bradbury, 8 K Green, 10 M Warburton, 11 B Waters, 17 K Spence (M Woods 56’), 20 H Gilmour (J Vale 84’), 21 T Warren, 25 J Slew (J Allen 69’), 31 N Maher (C)
