Aldershot Town suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Kings Lynn Town in The Vanarama National League.
The Shots made three changes to the side that suffered defeat against Stockport last time out. New loan signing Ethan Ross came straight in between the sticks, and after a long spell on the sidelines, Kevin Lokko returned to the line-up as captain of the team. Harry Panayiotou also came back into Mark Molesley’s starting XI.
Aldershot Town’s first real attacking move came seven minutes in. After poking the ball round the goalkeeper, Ryan Glover couldn’t quite get a shot off, but 30 seconds later, some nice play saw Glover play through Jayden Harris, whose driven cross was blocked and went out for a corner. This was blocked behind for another corner, which was punched clear of danger by Jones.
Shortly after, a long throw-in from Oxlade-Chamberlain found the head of Jordan at the front post. He managed to flick the ball on, but there were no Shots players to get the final touch and it was gathered by Jones.
In the 17th minute, The Shots should’ve taken the lead. Some nice play from Colin Daniel saw him fake out a Kings Lynn defender and get a shot off, but it came back off the crossbar. Panayiotou was there for the follow up, but he too hit the crossbar. The ball then came to Glover, but some last-ditch defending saw his effort blocked and left Aldershot Town wondering how the game was still goalless.
But the game wasn’t goalless for much longer, with the deadlock being broken by the visitors on the 20 minute mark. Barrett picked up the ball on the left hand side of the area, and his cross found Malachi Linton who tapped it home from six yards out.
The Shots were looking for an instant reply, and a corner almost saw them draw level. Berkeley-Agyepong managed to find Lyons-Foster, whose header looked to be going on target. However, it took a diversion off the head of teammate Harrison Panayiotou, and went over the bar.
After a fairly quiet spell, Kings Lynn looked to double their lead. A ball in from Barrett was looking for Omatatyo, but his header was blocked by Oxlade-Chamberlain. The resulting corner was initially cleared, but Kings Lynn came right back at the Shots defence. Barrett, the provider for the first goal, this time had a go himself from just outside the box, but his attempt was easy enough for Ross to gather.
A few minutes before half time, Berkeley-Agyepong had the chance to run at goal, but his effort, a mix between a cross and a shot, was blocked and landed in the hands of Jones.
Down the other end, Barrett once again had another shot at goal, and his curling effort looked as though it may be creeping into the bottom corner, but it went just wide of the target.
The final chances of the half came in added time, and saw Aldershot Town once again come close to scoring. After the free-kick was delivered by Berkeley-Agyepong, the ball eventually fell to Panayiotou, whose effort was blocked. The ball was then won back by Jordan inside the area, and then came to the feet of Glover. His cross found the head of Lyons-Foster at the back post, but his effort was just wide of the post, and left The Shots wondering how they hadn’t scored going into the break.
Aldershot Town started the second half on the front foot. The counter attack started with a headed clearance by Lokko, and some nice exchanges saw Oxlade-Chamberlain pick it up on the left hand side. His cross found Glover who then played Harris, but his cross was gathered by Jones.
The Linnets then produced an attack of their own, with captain Michael Clunan finding goalscorer Linton, whose shot forced a good save from Ross.
Another counter-attack from The Shots saw Sylla carry the ball over half the length of the pitch and then play Glover. His ball was deflected and then fell to Harris, whose shot was blocked before it could trouble the goalkeeper.
Despite Aldershot Town looking dangerous going forward, the visitors doubled their lead, and Linton doubled his tally for the afternoon. After a cross into the box wasn’t properly dealt with by The Shots defence, the ball managed to find its way to Linton, who placed the ball into the bottom corner from just inside the area, just out of the keeper’s reach.
On the hour mark, The Shots once again came close to putting the ball in the back of the net. Some nice play from Berkeley-Agyepong saw him drive to the byline and get a cross in. It was met by the head of Harris, but went inches wide of the near post from close-range.
In the 65th minute, substitute Tommy Willard almost made an instant impact. After coming on just minutes before, he managed to fake out multiple Kings Lynn defenders and get a shot off, but his effort went just wide of the post, brushing against the side netting.
The efforts kept coming for Aldershot Town. This time, Panayiotou got a shot off from inside the area and almost caught Jones at his near post, but the keeper managed to deny him. The resulting corner was cleared for a throw in, which then ended up with Oxlade-Chamberlain crossing and picking out Jordan. He had a free header from just outside the six-yard box, but couldn’t keep it down as it flew over the bar.
Another Oxlade-Chamberlain long throw was not fully cleared by Kings Lynn, and this time the ball came to Sylla on the edge of the area. He hit it on the half-volley, and it sailed just wide of the target.
Just over five minutes from time, a good ball found Willard down the line. His cross found Panayiotou, who took a touch and shot, but his effort was blocked.
Panayiotou then had another go a couple of minutes later after the ball came to him at the back post, but he sliced his attempt off target, not troubling Jones in the Kings Lynn net.
Despite countless efforts and pressure from The Shots, it was the visitors that scored early into stoppage time. A cross from Linton found Omatayo in the area, and he climbed highest and powered his header past Ross and into the top corner.
The Shots will have felt as though they could’ve scored on numerous occasions, but ultimately they were left disappointed.
Aldershot Town are next in action in midweek, when they travel south and visit Torquay United.
Aldershot Town FC: 24 E Ross (G/K), 5 K Lokko (C), 6 K Lyons-Foster (T Willard 61’), 10 J Berkeley-Agyepong, 11 H Panayiotou, 12 C Oxlade-Chamberlain, 14 R Glover (A Whittingham 75’), 16 C Jordan, 18 M Sylla, 23 J Harris (S Matthews 61’), 33 C Daniel
Unused Subs: 1 M Walker (G/K), 22 G Phillips
Kings Lynn Town FC: 1 P Jones (G/K), 3 T Denton, 7 M Clunan (C), 8 J Hickman (A Jones 50’), 9 G Omatayo, 14 M Linton, 16 B McGavin (M Sundire 86’), 20 J Barrett (O Scott 80’), 22 R Barrows, 26 C Hargreaves, 30 J Coulson
Unused Subs: 2 L Fernandez, 27 C Kurran-Browne
