The Shots continued their record of making it into the First Round of the Emirates FA Cup under Tommy Widdrington with a 3-2 win over Dorking Wanderers at Meadowbank.
Four changes were made from last weekend’s loss to Southend as a cup-tied Keane Anderson missed out and Charlie Penman, Kiban Rai and Tristan Abrahams dropped to the bench with Theo Widdrington, Cameron Hargreaves and Jed Meerholz regaining enough fitness to start and Hady Ghandour given a starting opportunity.
Dorking had a couple of early chances as Charlie Carter and Jimmy Muitt fired narrowly past the post, but it was The Shots who came closest to taking the lead early on when a soft backpass put the home ‘keeper under pressure and Harrison Foulkes’ clearance smashed into Kwame Thomas and though it could have gone anywhere, unfortunately for Aldershot, it looped just over the bar.
Ben Jackson clashed heads in just the second minute causing him to play with a very large bandage, but as blood starting seeping through once more, he required further treatment around the 20th minute, killing the momentum of the rather fast start.
Jason Prior came close with a header not long later, though as both teams tried to rebuild their rhythm. He couldn’t get enough power on it, though, as Marcus Dewhurst was able to get down and save it.
The Shots were forced into a first-half change with another injury concern as Theo Widdrington pulled up and couldn’t continue. James Clarridge took his place, seeing Jed Meerholz move into midfield and Cameron Hargreaves take the armband.
Aldershot took the lead a few minutes before half-time as Josh Barrett produced more of his magic with a sublime chipped finish from the edge of the box. Jed Meerholz had done brilliantly down the right wing to beat his man and cut it back to Barrett.
Dorking almost equalised immediately as they piled on the pressure from kick-off. A scramble in the box saw a shot from very close range blocked behind for a corner.
With 10-minutes of added time to end the first 45, there was plenty of time for things to change before the break and The Shots took full advantage as Kwame Thomas headed Josh Barrett’s wide free-kick in, in the fifth added minute. Barrett’s delivery was sublime and Thomas had shaken his man to power his header into the corner.
But with so much added time, it gave Dorking the opportunity to get one back and as the clock ticked over the 10 added minutes, they did just that. Frank Vincent scuffed a shot at goal that was turned in by James McShane.
HALF-TIME
The second-half got off to the best possible start for Aldershot as they regained their two-goal advantage in the 46th minute. A long ball forward found Hady Ghandour down the left of the box and he did well to keep his composure, turn back and lay it off for Josh Barrett who had found space at the far-post to power it past Harrison Foulkes.
Dorking again reduced the deficit within the next 10 minutes as they scored in almost an identical time to their first-half goal. Dennon Lewis found the bottom corner with a curling effort in the 55th minute after being found in space out on the left and cutting back onto his right foot.
Lewis came close to getting his second and the equaliser 10 minutes later after being found in lots of space on the edge of the box, but his curling strike rattled the crossbar.
The home side should have had an equaliser in the 75th minute when an in-swinging cross from the right caused problems and somehow wasn’t turned in as it bounced just over the bar.
A late goalmouth scramble caused panic at the back for Aldershot as just two minutes remained of the 90. Multiple Dorking attackers tried their luck only to see their efforts blocked by the Shots defence who held firm and Louis Storey headed just wide from the resulting corner.
And The Shots did hold firm and earned their place in Monday evening’s First Round draw with a hard-fought win.
Attendance: Not officially announced – has been requested.
Shots lineup: 1. Marcus Dewhurst, 5. Ben Jackson, 6. Theo Widdrington (C)(32. James Clarridge, 38′), 7. Cameron Hargreaves, 9. Kwame Thomas (15. Charlie Penman, 90+7′), 10. Josh Barrett (30. Tristan Abrahams, 79′), 14. Jed Meerholz, 19. Ryan Hill, 23. Hady Ghandour, 24. Maxwell Mullins, 28. Archy Taylor.
Subs not used: 16. Pat Nash, 18. Kiban Rai, 26. Joe Lewis-Evans.
Dorking lineup: 1. Harrison Foulkes, 7. Jimmy Muitt (3. Jordan Norville-Williams, 70′), 8. Dennon Lewis, 9. Jason Prior, 10. Alfie Rutherford, 11. James McShane (14. Teddie Sullivan, 82′), 12. Louis Storey, 16. Charlie Carter (C)(18. Luke Moore, 51′), 17. Josh Taylor, 33. Frank Vincent (30. Josh Herbert, 84′), 37. George Francomb (2. Brennan Camp, 80′).
Subs not used: 13. Louie Sullivan, 5. Tony Craig.
