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MATCH REPORT: Aldershot Town 2 Chesterfield 2

A stoppage time equaliser from visitors Chesterfield meant that Aldershot Town were held to a 2-2 draw at The EBB Stadium on Saturday.

It was the hosts who opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time through Ethan Chislett’s penalty after Mohamed Bettamer was fouled in the box.

Chesterfield equalised early in the second period through Scott Boden before Jack Powell restored The Shots’ lead.

However, it was substitute Thomas Denton who had the final say with his header in the final two minutes of five added on meaning it’s a second draw on the bounce for The Shots, but they remain unbeaten in three.

Danny Searle made two changes from Tuesday’s night’s game against Yeovil Town. James Rowe came into the side for the suspended Alfy Whittingham after picking up his 5th yellow card of the season midweek while Max Hunt dropped to the bench to be replaced by Robbie Tinkler.

The opening half an hour was certainly a cagey one. Half-chances high which fell to Matt Tootle and Gevaro Nepomuceno were the only incidents to speak of.

By far the best chance of the half fell to Bettamer who saw his close-range header miraculously cleared off the line by Anthony Gerrard after being found by Lewis Kinsella.

However, with mere second left in the half, the deadlock was broken. Bettamer was played into the box by Chislett who was tripped before being able to get his shot away. The midfielder, who had also scored a penalty against Yeovil on Tuesday, sent the keeper the wrong way again by coolly putting the ball into the top left corner.

Chesterfield found an equaliser just five minutes into the second period. Gerrard’s headed flick from a corner found the head of Boden who directed the ball past Walker to level up proceedings.

Gevaro Nepomeceno had a free header inside the area 58 minutes into the match but his was unable to keep the effort down.

Robbie Tinkler also found Bettamer in a similar situation be he was also unable to keep the header down.

However, the lead was eventually restored with 20 minutes to play. Some good work on the left-hand-side by Alefe Santos and Chislett meant that the Shots retained possession before finding Powell in the area. The midfielder carressed it first time into the bottom corner with his left foot to put the home team in a winning position again.

It was almost level again a few minutes later.Fortunately, following a penalty box scramble of sorts, Kinsella was on-hand to clear the ball off the line.

Substitute Max Hunt had a chance to head the ball back into a dangerous area with just under ten minutes to play but Luke Coddington read the ball well for Chesterfield in goal to gather.

Bettamer had another chance to wrap up the game in the final minute but a heavy touch let the forward down.

Regardless, it was Chesterfield who had the final say. Substitute Denton, the tallest player on the pitch, rose highest at the back post to head in from a cross in the fourth of five minutes of stoppage time.

 

Aldershot Town XI: 1 M. Walker, 2 R. Tinkler, 3 L. Kinsella, 4 D. Rance, 5 M. Anderson, 8 J. Rowe (Santos 63′), 10 C. Shields (Hunt 75′), 15 A. Finney, 19 M. Bettamer, 20 E. Chislett (L. Walker 81′), 34 J. Powell

Unused Subs: Lyons-Foster, Panayiotou

Chesterfield XI: 12 L. Coddington, 2 M. Tootle (McGlashan 81′) , 3 D Buchanan (Mandeville 81′), 5 W. Evans, 6 L. Maguire, 16 A. Gerrard, 33 J. Sheridan, 8 C. Weston, 32 L. Shaw (Denton 50′), 11 G. Nepomuceno, 19 S. Boden

Unused Subs: Jalal, Rowley