The Shots’ free-scoring start to the 25/26 season continued with another four-goal game as the points were shared by Aldershot and Brackley.
Two changes had to be made from the midweek draw in Truro with Will Nightingale’s injury resulting on him missing out on the squad list and Cameron Hargreaves missing through suspension. Ben Jackson took the place of Nightingale, and Theo Widdrington replaced Hargreaves in midfield.
It was a fairly cagey opening 20 minutes at the EBB Stadium but it was the Shots who were dominating possession and the visitors looked to be eating up any time they could at any opportunity.
Returning to the starting lineup, it was Theo Widdrington that finally got the Brackley defence unlocked with a darting run down the right channel. He was found by Josh Barrett and delivered an inviting cross that was well cleared.
Just seconds later though, Widdrington returned the favour to Barrett picking him out down the same side with a clever ball, but unfortunately for the Shots it was the same result as Brackley cleared the danger.
in the 26th minute, Brackley had their first opportunity and they came very close. A low ball across the Shots box from the left was fired towards the bottom corner by Matt Lowe but Ryan Hill was well-placed on the post to block it behind.
But The Shots returned to the ascendency, albeit having to be patient in possession in attempts to beat a well-structured Brackley side. A nice link-up between Archy Taylor and Tristan Abrahams in the 34th minute saw Abrahams break into the box from the right wing, but his effort was saved by Jonathan Maxted and turned behind for a corner by Kyle Morrison.
As the Shots tried to play the ball out from a goal kick a few minutes later, a high press invited trouble, but the defence worked their way out well and Aldershot were able to break on the counter. Barrett played a superb, volleyed pass down the left to set Tristan Abrahams free, but Kwame Thomas was dragged down in the middle meaning Abrahams had to run with no support. But as Ryan Hill bust a lung to over lap, the pair were able to win a corner which came to nothing.
A lot of the Shots attacking moves were coming through Josh Barrett and so it was fitting that he put his side into the lead in the 41st minute. Dejan Tetek broke free of his marker on the edge of the box superbly and raced into the box and though his cross was deflected, it fell straight to Barrett to fire home.
HALF-TIME
The visitors needed to seek the initiative and start the second-half on the front foot in search of an equaliser and they had the first chance after the break as Matt Lowe’s header had to be kept out by Marcus Dewhurst.
Barrett had an opportunity for a second on the hour as he broke into the Brackley box with the ball looking like it was glued to his foot and teasing three Brackley defenders, his toe-poke was blocked behind for a corner.
The resulting corner was cleared behind for a second corner, which, coming back out to Barrett down the right, his cross into the middle was headed just over by Charlie Penman.
The Shots were on the end of another seemingly controversial refereeing decision in the 64th minute when a penalty was awarded to Brackley. There seemed to be no appeals from the visiting side and a look of pure shock form a number of the Shots as Ben Jackson was adjudged to have brought down a man as a Brackley corner was delivered and Jackson was shown a second yellow card in a matter of minutes.
Shane Byrne converted the penalty, finding the bottom corner with a well taken spot-kick that beat Marcus Dewhurst despite the Shots ‘keeper diving the right way.
Despite enjoying a numerical advantage, Brackley didn’t offer much. But their extra man proved fruitful as they converted a corner in the 82nd minute and looked to have taken a late lead. The delivery was right on the goal line and the Shots defence couldn’t deal with it as it was bundled home by Matt Lowe.
But the Shots refused to let the game get away from them and just two minutes later, they got back level. James Henry’s substitution was inspired as he made a huge difference and set up the equaliser. His low-cross made its way across the Brackley box, finding Archy Taylor on the edge of the box and his first-time, left-footed strike found the bottom corner.
It was Aldershot who looked the most likely to score as the game went into additional time and they continued to push forward despite being reduced to 10-men and almost won it at the death as Kwame Thomas headed wide.
Attendance: 2240 (70 Away)
Shots lineup: 1. Marcus Dewhurst, 5. Ben Jackson, 6. Theo Widdrington (C), 9. Kwame Thomas, 10. Josh Barrett (17. James Henry, 80′), 15. Charlie Penman (14. Jed Meerholz, 63′), 19. Ryan Hill (11. Ryan Jones, 80′), 28. Archy Taylor, 30. Tristan Abrahams (23. Hady Ghandour, 63′), 32. James Clarridge, 34. Dejan Tetek.
Subs not used: 16. Pat Nash, 18. Kiban Rai, 24. Maxwell Mullins
Brackley lineup: 1. Jonathan Maxted, 2. Tyler Lyttle, 4. Jack Price (15. Bailey Hobson, 46′), 5. Kyle Morrsion, 6. Gareth Dean (C), 10. Morgan Roberts (14. Danny Waldron, 90′), 11. Matt Lowe, 19. Zak Lilly, 23. Shane Byrne, 27. Connor Hall (7. Scott Pollock, 77′), 37. Ryan Haynes (3. Riccardo Calder, 46’).
Subs not used: 21. Cameron Gregory, 8. Zak Brown.
