To close out their 2025/26 away campaign, Aldershot Town suffered defeat at the hands of Brackley Town as the Saints emerged 2-1 victors in Northamptonshire, giving the home crowd something to cheer about on what would be the already relegated side’s final fifth-tier match at St. James’ Park for the foreseeable.
Goals from Morgan Roberts and Connor Hall bookended a comparatively otherwise uneventful 90 minutes, while an excellent consolation strike from Matt Penney six minutes into injury time would achieve only in ending the Shots’ four game goal drought going into the final day of the campaign.
As well from the forced exclusion of Sam Inwood through suspension, John Coleman named several changes to the side that finished second best against Southend United in midweek, Luke Jenkins, Charlie Warren, Callum Stewart and Coniah Boyce-Clarke returning in favour of Tyler Frost, Dejan Tetek, Kwame Thomas and Pat Nash, while academy graduate Toby Nelson received his maiden National League start out on the left wing.
It was an all too familiar story for the visitors as they fell witness to an early goal from their opponents. Midfielder Scott Pollock’s high-arching pass down the right channel was taken down well by Morgan Roberts with his back to goal, before the 25-year-old proceeding to twist and turn through three black shirts, finding himself with shooting space on the edge of the area, his effort was hit tamely, though with the aide of a deflection, had the spin and direction to upend Coniah Boyce-Clarke and his left-hand post for 1-0.
The Shots would have to wait until the 34th minute to forge their first serious chance of the game. After carrying the ball just inside the attacking third, Ryan Hill placed a tantalizing ball over the defensive line and into the path of both Callum Stewart and Toby Nelson. With the latter claiming a touch, Nelson took the ball down well before prodding a delicate effort over an onrushing Harrison Rhone, though a faint touch from the keeper saw the effort dribble agonizingly wide and out for a corner.
Brackley could – and perhaps should – have made it two just five minutes later. A long clearance from Gareth Dean was misjudged by Will Nightingale at the back, allowing Ben Wodskou to break in behind with only a sprinting Boyce-Clarke between him and the net all of 30-yards away. The forward took one touch before producing a delicate dink of his own, though a seemingly straight forward finish failed to possess the direction required, resulting in a goal kick.
HALF TIME
Long balls would continue to become a theme for both sides in the way of chances created, particularly in the 50th minute where a chance apiece manifested in just ten frantic seconds. A searching ball from Theo Widdrington fell towards an area of uncertainty, as substitute Josh Barrett’s well timed run saw him potentially in on goal. Unfortunately, Rhone would win the footrace, with his first time clearance on the edge of his area arrowing all the way to Wodskou at the other end, who found himself in similarly, though the resulting half volley left much to be desired.
Barrett would test the keeper soon after, however, as some smart, tight dribbling saw him taken down ten yards from the penalty area to earn a free-kick. With Warren and Barrett both shaping up to take, it was last season’s top scorer who would whip a near-perfect effort towards the top-left corner, for what would have been an excellent goal if not for the fingertips of Harrison Rhone.
The Saints would eventually double their lead through a man who had been on the pitch less than 60-seconds in Connor Hall. Tyler Lyttle received the ball out right making an inverted run towards the center circle, before playing a delightful and unexpected outside-the-boot pass through a gap in the back four, allowing the fresh legs off Hall to both pounce upon and finish astutely to secure the points for the hosts.
The Shots would finish the game with positive, however, as their considerable goal drought game to an end in what was the final phase of play of the afternoon. A tame clearance from a cross out right found the feet of Matt Penney 30-yards from goal, who took one touch before lasering a great strike into Rhone’s bottom right. Despite the quality of the celebration, understandably muted celebrations marked what, by the necessity of time, could only be a consolation goal.
Final score: Brackley Town 2-1 Aldershot Town
Attendance: 1097 (315 away)
Shots line-up: 41. Coniah Boyce-Clarke, 4. Luke Jenkins (10. Josh Barrett 46′), 6. Theo Widdrington (34. Dejan Tetek 57′), 7. Cameron Hargreaves, 19. Ryan Hill (C), 20. Callum Stewart (11. Brody Peart 57′), 24. Charlie Warren, 25. Will Nightingale, 27. Toby Nelson (17. James Henry 79′), 31. Ryheem Sheckleford, 42. Matt Penney
Subs not used: 16. Pat Nash, 12. Keane Anderson, 22. Olly Scott
Brackley line-up: 30. Harrison Rhone, 2. Tyler Lyttle, 6. Gareth Dean (C) (12. Michael Nottingham 90+2), 7. Scott Pollock, 10. Morgan Roberts (8. Zak Brown 71′), 11. Matt Lowe (27. Connor Hall 89′), 15. Ben Wodskou (5. Kyle Morrison 71′), 17. Aidan Elliott-Wheeler, 19. Zak Lilly, 23. Shane Byrne, 34. Callum Tripp
Subs not used: 1. Jonny Maxted, 13. Ali Worby, 37. Ryan Haynes
