The Shots fell to defeat on the first game of the season despite coming back from two goals down with two debutant goalscorers. Matt Penney and James Clarridge’s goals were not enough as Jimmy Knowles’ late strike gave Altrincham the win.
There were six debutants in Tommy Widdrington’s first lineup for the 25/26 season and Theo Widdrington was given the Captain’s armband for the opening game.
Shots ‘keeper, Marcus Dewhurst, was given his first test of the new season after just three minutes when he was equal to Tom Crawford’s low effort from the edge of the box.
It seemed that every small nudge or 50/50 was going against Aldershot with Referee Niall Smith giving a lot of harsh fouls in the home side’s favour and their opening goal in the 11th minute was a beneficiary of one of those decisions.
A very soft foul was given against Tristan Abrahams on the halfway line and Altrincham’s quick free-kick spread the play out to the left. A well-placed cross found Kahrel Reddin at the back-post and despite Dewhurst’s best efforts to scramble across and save the close-range effort, it found the back of the net.
Altrincham almost had a second two minutes later as James Gale tried to lob Dewhurst with a first-time half-volley from distance, but the Shots ‘keeper did well to acrobatically turn it wide.
The Shots forayed forward with intent looking to test the home goal for the first time around the 20th minute mark when a clever ball from Theo Widdrington found Ryan Hill who spread it further out wide to Cameron Hargreaves. His first-time low cross was dangerous but just evaded Tristan Abrahams in the centre.
But Altrincham had a second in the 24th minute as the scorer of their first goal, Kahrel Reddin, turned provider. His looped cross to the back-post found his skipper Lewis Banks to head in.
Aldershot were forced into a first-half substitution when a very high boot from James Gale caught Ben Jackson. The Shots defender had to receive treatment and was forced off with the home doctor holding his nose and a fair amount of scarlet on his shirt. We hope it is nothing serious and it was encouraging that Ben was at least able to walk off.
The last chance of the first-half came the way of Aldershot Town with a minute remaining before additional time was declared and it was close to some opening day Josh Barrett magic as his free-kick from 25-yards out was well saved by Luke Hutchinson.
HALF-TIME
The Shots had the initiative from the off to try and get back in the game and in the 54th minute, a nice one-two between Cameron Hargreaves and Ryan Hill down the right saw Hill’s attempted cross blocked behind for a corner.
And from that corner, The Shots found their route back into the game. After it was initially cleared, play was recycled and Josh Barrett found Theo Widdrington in space down the right and his dinked cross was perfect for Matt Penney, who was racing forward and desperate to get on the end of it, to power his header into the back of the net.
But the home side were still a danger and James Gale’s neat turn on the edge of the box found him in behind the Shots defence but Dewhurst rushed out to close the angle and stopping the first effort, forced Gale wide and he could only fire wide from an impossible angle.
Hargreaves was playing in a more advanced role to how he was seen lining up for the Shots for the majority of last season and was enjoying his role. Found in space down the right of the box, he was caught between finding the bottom corner and Tristan Abrahams at the far-post and powered his low effort well wide.
It may have been the first game of the season but we were very close to seeing a Goal of the Season contender as Tristan Abrahams rattled the crossbar with a sensational effort from at least 30-yards out in the 72nd minute.
The Shots managed to get the game back level with another debutant goalscorer as James Clarridge found the back of the net to seemingly complete the comeback. A short corner was worked well and Josh Barrett’s dink into the middle was met by Clarridge who, despite being initially denied by an incredible save, managed to bundle in the rebound.
But just three minutes later, Altrincham retook the lead. A deep free-kick was headed back across goal and it fell kindly for Jimmy Knowles to fire in past Dewhurst.
The Shots had two good opportunities to equalise again but as the ball fell well for Hargreaves in the box, it was cleared behind for a corner. And after that corner was cleared behind, the second corner was perfect for Kwame Thomas but his header was just past the post and Altrincham were able to hold on to take the three points.
Attendance: 1852 (291 AWAY)
Shots lineup: 1. Marcus Dewhurst, 5. Ben Jackson (25. Will Nightingale, 41′), 6. Theo Widdrington (C), 7. Cameron Hargreaves (18. Kiban Rai, 87′), 10. Josh Barrett, 14. Jed Meerholz, 19. Ryan Hill (28. Archy Talor, 87′), 30. Tristan Abrahams (9. Kwame Thomas, 73′), 32. James Clarridge, 34. Dejan Tetek, 42. Matt Penney (24. Maxwell Mullins, 73′).
Subs not used:
Altrincham lineup: 30. Luke Hutchinson, 2. Lewis Banks (C), 3. Sam Reed, 7. Olly Crankshaw (40. Charlie Kirk, 64′), 8. Isaac Marriott, 9. James Gale (11. Jimmy Knowles, 64′), 10. Keaton Ward (6. Elliot Osborne, 85′), 20. Kahrel Reddin (17. Lucas Weaver, 85’), 22. Tom Crawford, 23. Tylor Golden, 34. Dan Sassi.
Subs not used:
