Nothing could separate the two sides as a hotly contested match-up between Aldershot and Dagenham & Redbridge finished goalless. The Shots’ unbeaten run continues, in what was an admittedly difficult midweek encounter at the EBB.
Tommy Widdrington named an unchanged eleven from Saturday’s Isuzu FA Trophy victory against Sittingbourne, though new signing Tariq Uwakwe was primed to make his debut from the bench.
The Daggers would have the first chance of the game, with a loose header starting a counter attack. Former Shot Josh Rees struck low from the edge of the box, hitting Marcus Dewhurst’s right-hand post before being cleared to safety.
It took a while for either side to get a true feel of the game, though the visitors enjoyed the lions share of possession in the opening twenty minutes, although had only one further shot off target to show for it, again from Rees.
An Aaron Jones free-kick found Josh Barrett close by, whose low cross bounced up for Will Armitage 12-yards out, with the Daggers defence doing well to block.
Barrett continued to look the most likely to pick the lock. His through ball was unlucky not to find his find Ryan Jones in on goal, after a marauding run from the right. The noise level of the EBB picked up considerably shortly after, as a fantastic piece of skill from Tyler Frost allowed the wing-back into area, unfortunately to no avail.
Christian Maghoma’s evening was finished on the 40-minute mark, after an innocuous seeming challenge left him unable to continue. The loss of last Tuesday’s man of the match didn’t perturb the Shots too much, however, as they would finish the half relatively strongly Theo Widdrington, Jack Barham and Ryan Jones linking up to create a free chance for the latter in the box, again blocked on the right.
Seconds after, a pinpoint cross from Frost found Ryan Jones at the back post, his effort palmed away by a terrific reaction save from Louis Jones to keep it all square at the break.
HALF-TIME
The hosts put the pressure on early in the second-half, but efforts from Aaron Jones and Cameron Hargreaves resulted much like the first, failing to surpass the blocks of a resilient Daggers back line.
Jack Barham produced a shot on target towards the hour-mark, after Ryan Jones’ speculative long ball forward perfectly found the feet of the Shots’ number 22 on the inside the left of the penalty area. Louis Jones produced a strong hand to keep the game goalless.
Marcus Dewhurst was called into action after Regan Clayton’s volleyed cross looked destined to find the head of Ryan Hill, the keeper intercepting the chance, palming away for a corner.
Dagenham & Redbridge proceeded to have the best chance of the game thus far. A necessary yet unconventional clearance found Josh Rees with a guilt-edged chance in the centre of the penalty area, blazing high and wide to the relief of the home side.
Some neat link-up play on the edge of the Aldershot box eventually allowed Ryan Hill to cut back to Josh Umerah, firing just wide with a first-time effort.
Tariq Uwakwe impressed with his maiden touches in a Shots shirt, beating two men with a confident dribbling display leading to a corner.
After a lengthy stoppage for a Josh Umerah injury, the game ebbed to conclusion.
Attendance: 1657 (73 Away)
Shots lineup: 28. Marcus Dewhurst, 5. Christian Maghoma (35. Dan Ellison), 6. Theo Widdrington (24. Maxwell Mullins 82′), 7. Cameron Hargreaves, 8. Tyler Frost, 10. Josh Barrett, 11. Ryan Jones (37. Tariq Uwakwe 82′), 17. Aaron Jones (C), 22. Jack Barham, 33. Luca Woodhouse, 36. Will Armitage.
Subs not used: 1. Jordi van Stappershoef, 9. Kai Corbett, 19. Brad Dolaghan, 24. Maxwell Mullins, 32. Emmanuel Maja.
Daggers lineup: 33. Louis Jones, 2. Chris Francis, 4. Jake Hessenthaler, 5. Tom Eastman (17. Trent Rendall), 7. Dion Pereira, 8. Josh Rees, 9. Josh Umerah (15. Aaron Loupalo-Bi 88′), 10. Ryan Hill, 21. Oscar Rutherford, 24. Regan Clayton, 30. Paul Kalambayi.
Subs not used: 12. Nathan Harvey, 16. Shiloh Remy, 20. Kayden Harrack, 23. Connor Lawless, 28. Rafiq Khaleel.
