Aldershot Town exit the Emirates FA Cup in the First Round as Jack Barham’s opening goal was cancelled out by three Bradford goals early in the second-half.
The Shots started brightly with the travelling Shots faithful in fine voice over in the corner of the Bradford Lifts Stand. The Shots broke into the opposition box on a number of occasions in the opening minutes with two fairly hopeful shouts for a penalty turned away as they hoped to replicate their quick start against League Two Swindon in last year’s Emirates FA Cup First Round.
The home side had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the fifth minute as Calum Kavanagh fired over a dangerous Jay Benn cross when he should have at least hit the target.
Theo Widdrington had been spraying some really nice passes around but gave the ball away in the 11th minute as he tried to drive out of Shots territory and a chipped ball forward found Vadaine Oliver. Marcus Dewhurst pulled off a fantastic stop to deny him however and got straight back up to also stop the rebound before Aldershot were able to clear.
15 minutes later, Bradford did beat Dewhurst as Neill Byrne turned in a cross from a short-corner at the far post, but the Assistant Referee’s flag was raised to rule the goal out as the cross had gone out of play before meeting Byrne.
And in the 32nd minute, Aldershot scored the opening goal. Jack Barham, who scored a hat-trick in last year-s First Round, was picked out by Josh Barrett and cut in on his left-foot to curl it into the top corner from the edge of the box: A fantastic finish.
Bradford had a couple of chances to equalise in the 10 minutes after Aldershot’s opener. Oliver forced Dewhurst to tip the ball over the bar as he met a Bradford corner and Benn attempted to chip it over the on-rushing Dewhurst but could only put it wide.
The Shots came close to increasing their advantage just before the break through two of their three centre-halves as Dan Ellison’s header had to tipped wide by Sam Walker from the resulting corner, Christian Maghoma headed just wide.
The Bantams had the final chance of the half, however as a minute before half-time, Aaron Jones’ clearance bounced off the back of a Bradford attacker and looped just over the bar for what would have been an incredibly unfortunate leveller.
HALF-TIME
Just five minutes into the second-half Bradford found an equaliser. A long ball forward saw Calum Kavanagh beat Dewhurst to the ball and he laid the ball across to Oliver, who was able to score into an empty net.
But the Shots didn’t let their heads drop and looked to head back in front as Tyler Frost fired wide in the 53rd minute after being teed up by Jack Barham on a break forward.
A golden opportunity then fell to Frost on the hour mark as Aaron Jones’ sublime through ball sent him clean through on goal. He rounded Walker, but found himself at a very tight angle and his shot could only hit the side netting just inches wide of the post.
This proved to be a pivotal moment of the game as just five minutes later, Bradford were in front. Jay Benn’s cross from the right found the back of the net via Christian Maghoma as the Shots centre-half scored an unfortunate own goal.
And just three minutes later, Bradford scored a third and found themselves further in front as Rollin Menayese got the ball stuck between his feet and Calum Kavanagh pounced to break into the Shots box and fire past Dewhurst.
It was an unfortunate few moments for the Aldershot defence that had stood firm for the vast majority of the game and had put in a stellar performance.
A flurry of substitutions from both sides killed the game as Aldershot’s fresh legs were unable to help the Shots get back into the game and Bradford were more than happy to sit on their two-goal advantage.
Maxi Mullins delivered a dangerous cross three minutes into stoppage time that just evaded Hady Ghandour in the centre in what proved to be the final chance of the game, but despite the defeat and subsequent FA Cup exit, the Shots can be proud of their showing against a League Two side currently challenging for promotion.
The travelling Shots faithful was announced as 438 and were in fine voice throughout the game, constantly outsinging and showing up the home support. A brilliant effort.
Attendance: 4737 (438 Away)
Shots lineup: 28. Marcus Dewhurst, 5. Christian Maghoma, 6. Theo Widdrington (34. Dejan Tetek, 78′), 7. Cameron Hargreaves, 8. Tyler Frost (11. Ryan Jones, 83′), 10. Josh Barrett (23. Hady Ghandour, 78′), 17. Aaron Jones (C), 18. Olly Scott (27. James Henry, 78′), 22. Jack Barham (24. Maxwell Mullins, 87′), 25. Rollin Menayese, 35. Dan Ellison.
Subs not used: 1. Jordi van Stappershoef, 2. Lachlan Byrd, 9. Kai Corbett, 21. Ashley Akpan.
Bradford lineup: 1. Sam Walker, 2. Brad Halliday, 3. Lewis Richards, 5. Neill Byrne, 6. Richie Smallwood (C), 8. Calum Kavanagh, 19. Vadaine Oliver (9. Andy Cook, 72′), 21. Olly Sanderson (23. Bobby Pointon, 72′), 24. Jack Shepherd, 27. Jay Benn (39. Cheick Diabate, 72′), 30. Corry Evans (7. Jamie Walker, 72′).
Subs not used: 13. Colin Doyle, 14. Tyler Smith, 20, Paul Huntington, 33. George Goodman,
