Despite Ryan Glover scoring his first goal for the club, a late equaliser from Harry Cardwell meant Aldershot Town were held to a 1-1 draw by Southend United.
The Shots made two changes to the starting XI that held title challengers Chesterfield to an impressive 0-0 draw on Saturday. Harry Panayiotou and Brad Webb were both straight swaps for Josh Fawole and Lewis Kinsella, and given Kinsella’s absence, Kodi-Lyons Foster was named as captain after recently becoming the club’s latest centurion.
There was a goal within the first five minutes of the game, with Ryan Glover giving Aldershot Town the lead and getting his first goal for the club. The ball came to Webb on the left hand side just outside the area, and his great cross was met by the head of Glover who powered it in past Arnold.
A few minutes later, The Shots were already looking for a second, with Berkeley-Agyepong driving into the box but firing over the bar.
Southend were trying to come up with a quick response, with a number of dangerous crosses making their way into the Aldershot Town penalty area over the next quarter of an hour, but The Shots defense continually dealt with the pressure.
Aldershot Town had another headed effort that found the target, after Jordan found fellow centre-back Phillips from a long free-kick, but the connection was weak and easily gathered by Arnold in the Southend goal.
Another dangerous ball from the visitors came in, this time from a corner, and it narrowly missed the heads of a few Southend players and was cleared by Phillips. A second cross followed immediately after, but it was straight into the arms of Walker, who hadn’t really been tested all half.
Southend had a chance to equalise just before half time. A dangerous free-kick was met by Harry Cardwell, but his effort travelled directly into the arms of Walker and meant The Shots headed into the break a goal to the good.
The Shrimpers had the first couple of chances to start the second half, both courtesy of Harrison Neal. The first was what looked to be a cross, but it ended up putting Walker in a difficult situation that forced him to tip the ball over the bar. A few minutes later, he tried a long-range effort, but it was always rising and flew over the goal.
Just after the hour mark, a promising Aldershot Town attack nearly led to a second of the night for Glover. A brilliant challenge from Harris saw the ball come to Panayiotou, who drove from just behind halfway to near the edge of the box. He managed to find Glover, who did have Oxlade-Chamberlain overlapping, but he decided to shoot from 20 yards out and his shot couldn’t find the target.
Cardwell had another chance to attack a decent ball with his head, but once again it didn’t cause a threat and was gathered by Walker.
Down the other end, Lyons-Foster found the ball at his feet six yards out, but he was well defended and his effort was blocked.
With just over ten minutes to go, Neal had another effort from outside the area. This time it was on the half volley, and despite a good connection, Walker easily dealt with it.
In the 87th minute, Southend drew level. A cross by Ferguson found the head of Cardwell, and after multiple previous efforts either off target or straight at Walker, he managed to direct this effort to the far side of the goal.
Shortly after, Cardwell had yet another chance to score, but like the majority of his efforts, it was gathered by Walker.
Seven minutes into added time, and after a lengthy stoppage in play, The Shots came close to grabbing an equaliser right at the death. The free-kick was put into a dangerous area, and after some connection in a crowded box, the ball nearly fell to Fawole, but Arnold got there first to claim it.
The final whistle blew a couple of minutes later, and meant the points were shared. Aldershot Town are next in action when they travel to the south coast and take on Weymouth away on Saturday.
Aldershot Town FC: 1 M Walker (G/K), 6 K Lyons-Foster (C), 10 J Berkeley-Agyepong (T Edser 55’), 11 H Panayiotou (J Fawole 82’), 12 C Oxlade-Chamberlain, 14 R Glover, 16 C Jordan, 18 M Sylla, 22 G Phillips, 23 J Harris, 32 B Webb (A Whittingham 62’)
Unused Subs: 31 C Coulter (G/K), 20 M Ndjoli
Southend United FC: 1 S Arnold (G/K), 3 N Ralph (C), 5 S Hobson, 10 S Dalby, 12 T Clifford, 20 W Atkinson (M Rush 60’), 21 H Neal, 22 K Lopata, 27 L Davies (J Demetriou 75’), 38 N Husin (N Ferguson 82’), 39 H Cardwell
Unused Subs: 25 C Andeng-Ndi (G/K), 35 O Kensdale
