The Shots fell to defeat at the Silverlake Stadium as first-half goals from Jai Semenyo and Tyrese Shade saw Eastleigh pick up a 2-0 win.
Despite looking positive in the opening half-hour, Eastleigh’s pace on the counter proved too much for Aldershot’s defence as they were clinical in front of goal to build a two-goal lead that they guarded well.
A couple of early chances fell to James Henry as after just four minutes Josh Barrett broke into the box from a short corner and Henry’s backheel flick turned Barrett’s ball into the six-yard box wide. Henry’s second effort 10 minutes later was from considerably further out but was easily gathered by Joe McDonnell.
Aldershot were enjoying more of the possession, but Eastleigh were showing signs of intent on the counter as Jesurun Uchegbulum cut in from the left and fired a powerful effort just wide in the 21st minute.
Will Armitage did brilliantly to block a Jai Semenyo shot from the edge of the area with a diving header and launch a counter-attack that ultimately came to nothing in the 25th minute, but Semenyo scored the opening goal of the game five minutes later as Uchegbulum beat Olly Scott for pace down the Eastleigh right and fire a low cross to the back post for Semenyo to turn in.
Tyrese Shade almost doubled the home side’s lead just two minutes later with a low effort that was just wide as the Shots looked to get back level through Tyler Frost who fired a powerful strike over from close-range having driven down the left-wing very well just two minutes further.
The Shots were forced into a first-half change as James Henry couldn’t continue and his replacement, Kai Corbett, was straight into the action doing well to beat Ben Close and win a free-kick in a dangerous position that Josh Barrett used to force McDonnell into a diving save.
In the 44th minute, Frost did well down the left again but saw his effort saved by McDonnell after cutting inside but a minute into the additional three before the break, Eastleigh doubled their lead. Tyrese Shade launched a low effort after cutting in from a short corner that found the bottom corner with Marcus Dewhurst wrong-footed.
HALF-TIME
Josh Barrett had another chance to produce some set-piece magic five minutes into the second-half after his one-two with Frost saw the latter brought down just outside the box down the left, but he could only find the side netting.
In comparison to the first-half, there was far less action at either goal with only half-chances providing any threat to either Dewhurst or McDonnell. Brad Dolaghan was brought on with around an hour gone for his Shots debut.
In the 71st minute, Dewhurst was called into action to beat away a powerful strike from Eastleigh skipper Jake Taylor and six minutes later had to be on his toes to turn away a header from a corner, showing good reflexes.
Five minutes were added on as the Shots pushed forward to try and scramble some hope of a late comeback but after Kai Corbett’s cross was headed clear, the last chance fell to Cameron Hargreaves who could only fire high over the bar from distance.
Attendance: 2794 (718 Away)
Shots lineup: 28. Marcus Dewhurst, 6. Theo Widdrington (11. Ryan Jones, 75′), 7. Cameron Hargreaves, 8. Tyler Frost, 10. Josh Barrett (19. Brad Dolaghan, 65′), 17. Aaron Jones (C) (24. Maxwell Mullins, 90′), 18. Olly Scott (4. Luke Jenkins, 90′), 22. Jack Barham, 27. James Henry (9. Kai Corbett, 40′), 33. Luca Woodhouse, 36. Will Armitage.
Subs not used: 1. Jordi van Stappershoef, 5. Christian Maghoma
Eastleigh lineup: 1. Joe McDonnell, 2. Richard Brindley (21. Noa Boutin, 46′), 5. Luis Fernandez, 6. Ludwig Francillette, 8. Jake Taylor (C) (4. Lloyd Humphries, 90+1′), 10. Tyrese Shade (7. Chris Maguire, 67′), 17. Jesurun Uchegbulum (20. Scott Quigley, 60′), 18. Angel Waruih, 22. Ben Close (14. Lee Hodson, 62′), 23. Jai Semenyo, 31. Niall Maher.
Subs not used: 13. Tommy Scott, 30. Connor Underhill.
