Goals from Jack Barham and Kai Corbett secured a 2-0 win for the Shots against Boreham Wood as Aldershot progressed into the last eight of the Isuzu FA Trophy.
Luca Woodhouse scored his first goal for the Shots in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Tamworth heading in from a corner unmarked and it seemed Boreham Wood hadn’t done their homework on set-pieces as they left the defender unmarked only for Woodhouse to head just wide in the second minute.
The visitors should have taken the lead in the ninth minute, though, as Matt Rush made more of a goal-line clearance than an attempt at goal. Tom Whelan’s cross came straight to the Wood striker’s feet just yards out at the far-post but with an open goal, he could only knock it straight into the grasp of Marcus Dewhurst.
The Shots had started well though and falling behind early would have been harsh. Tyler Frost drove down the left-wing and cut inside as he broke into the box but could only curl his effort wide of the far-post.
Jack Barham came close twice in the space of five minutes as firstly in the 20th minute he turned Aaron Jones’ cross over the bar, before again flicking on a cross from Josh Barrett’s clever free-kick that had caught the visiting defence out that Nathan Ashmore had to scramble away with his feet.
Perhaps the Shots’ best chance of the first-half fell to Josh Barrett in the 34th minute as Jack Barham flicked the ball over his marker to James Henry who found Barrett with a first-time ball. Barrett’s first touch was superb and played him in on goal but he dragged his effort wide and the sides went into the break goalless.
HALF-TIME
Dewhurst was called into action just three minutes into the second-half as he dove to his right to keep out Jon Benton’s shot from the edge of the area.
Just a minute later though, the Shots almost took the lead up the other end as Tyler Frost’s cross was deflected just wide of the far-post after Josh Barrett’s clever backheel sent him in down the left.
Boreham Wood had grown into the game following the half-time break and began to pressure the Shots but unable to convert their period of pressure into anything meaningful, were punished as Jack Barham fired the Shots into the lead in the 62nd minute.
Flying forward on the counter, Kai Corbett played it out to Jack Barham who drove forward 25-yards before firing his shot from the edge of the area past Nathan Ashmore.
Barham almost had a second in the 75th minute from yet another flick-on. Barrett’s backheel set Frost down the left of the box and he did well to keep the ball in and deliver a cross that Barham could only turn wide.
But just two minutes later the Shots did have a second after some sublime work by Kai Corbett. Swivelling on the edge of the box, he worked space for himself and drilled a precise effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
With a comfortable lead, the Shots were happy to see the rest of the game out and comfortably controlled the final 15 minutes of play to advance into the Quarter-Finals of the Isuzu FA Trophy.
Attendance: 1647 (127 Away)
Shots lineup: 28. Marcus Dewhurst, 6. Theo Widdrington (4. Luke Jenkins, 87′), 7. Cameron Hargreaves, 8. Tyler Frost, 10. Josh Barrett, 17. Aaron Jones (C), 18. Olly Scott, 22. Jack Barham (24. Maxwell Mullins, 81′), 27. James Henry (9. Kai Corbett 38′), 33. Luca Woodhouse, 36. Will Armitage.
Subs not used: 1. Jordi van Stappershoef, 5. Christian Maghoma, 11. Ryan Jones, 35. Dan Ellison.
Boreham Wood lineup: 1. Nathan Ashmore (C), 3. Femi Ilesanmi (20. Abdul Abdulmalik, 71′), 5. Chris Bush, 7. Tom Whelan, 11. Jon Benton (17. Charles Clayden, 87′), 14. Kwesi Appiah (18. Junior Dixon, 75′), 15. Charlie O’Connell, 16. Callum Reynolds, 19. Erico Sousa (26. Jayden Richardson, 59′), 21. Gus Mafuta, 32. Matt Rush (10. Tyrone Marsh, 81′).
Subs not used: 6. David Agbontohoma, 8. Mo Sagaf.