Aldershot were beaten for the first time in five games at Meadowbank, as goals from Jason Prior and Jimmy Muitt gave Dorking all the points in a 2-1 win against the Shots. Cian Harries had the Shots on terms from the spot in the second half, but his effort wasn’t enough to send the Shots home with any points.
Kwame Thomas had made an impact of the bench against both Hartlepool and Maidenhead, and was rewarded by Tommy Widdrington with a start against Dorking in one of three changes made to the Shots XI looking to make it five wins in a row. Theo Widdrington and Josh Stokes were the other returners to the side, with Jack Barham and Joe Haigh on the bench, with Haji Mnoga also on the sidelines from the off.
The Shots had picked up wins against Solihull Moors, Lewes, Hartlepool and Maidenhead in their last four, and their quest for a fifth win started with disaster. Niall McManus had a throw in close to the Shots box, which was headed away by Coby Rowe, but the rebounded cross was flicked past Jordi Van Stappershoef by Jason Prior to give Dorking their first goal in four games against the Shots.
It took 15 minutes, but the Shots finally started the trouble the Dorking defence. The first Shots chance of note fell to Lorent Tolaj after some good work from Josh Stokes found him in the box, but Dorking had surrounded their goal, and Tolaj’s left footed effort was blocked.
Jordi Van Stappershoef was forced into action in the 35th minute, as Jason Prior beat Coby Rowe to head the ball back across the Shots box, but the header followed in was saved from close range Van Stappershoef, when it had looked destined for the back of the Shots net.
A good spell of possession in additional time couldn’t bring any goals for the Shots, so the hosts went into the break a goal to the good.
HALF TIME: Dorking 1-0 Shots
The visiting Shots started the second half as well as they ended the first, and were putting the Dorking defence under more pressure, without really causing Harrison Male any problems, but just before the hour mark Josh Stokes was taken down in the Dorking box and earned the visitors a spot kick. From the spot Cian Harries made no mistake, sending Male the wrong way to put the Shots back on terms.
Dorking would retake the lead in the 70th minute, as Jimmy Muitt picked up the ball unchallenged in the Shots half, and thanks to a huge deflection the ball was sent past Jordi Van Stappershoef to give Dorking a 2-1 lead.
After falling behind Tommy Widdrington turned to the bench, bringing on Tyler Frost in place of Tommy Willard in the 71st minute, and then bringing on Jack Barham in place of Theo Widdrington in the 77th minute as the Shots searched for a way back into the game.
Dorking’s game management was frustrating for the Shots, with the visitors unable to make any real chances before additional time, with the referee giving Aldershot six minutes of added time to try and find a point. Lorent Tolaj came closest to levelling for the Shots, but his effort in the 94th minute was sent into the Shots fans behind Harrison Male’s goal.
Despite a handful of corners in the 96th minute the Shots couldn’t find a way through, and Dorking walked away with the points. Results elsewhere see Aldershot remain in 7th place, with the points moving Dorking from 17th to 15th. Attention will now turn to Swindon in the FA Cup next weekend for the Shots.
Shots XI: 1. Jordi Van Stappershoef, 3. Ollie Harfield, 4. Cian Harries, 5. Coby Rowe, 6. Theo Widdrington (22. Jack Barham, 77′), 9. Lorent Tolaj, 10. Josh Stokes, 11. Ryan Glover, 17. Aaron Jones (C), 27. Tommy Willard (8. Tyler Frost, 71′) 39. Kwame Thomas,
Unused subs: 2. Haji Mnoga, 20. Joe Haigh, 24. Maxwell Mullins
