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MATCH REPORT: EASTLEIGH (H)

A brilliant performance from the Shots secured themselves a 2-1 victory and a well-earned three points at home against Eastleigh. 

The Shots had the first chance of the game 15 minutes in.  Ashley Akpan found Josh Barrett on the edge of the box but his effort was blocked. From the resulting corner, it fell to Akpan who slipped and saw a shot from close-range blocked before a clearance off the line despite the referee blowing for a foul.

Another chance arose for the Shots just three minutes later. A great move led by James Henry whose pass down the wing was dummied by Barrett and found Olly Scott, whose low cross was turned away before Hady Ghandour could get to it. 

Just over the half hour mark, Cam Hargreaves broke forward down the right and squared the ball a bit too far forward. Barrett reworked it to Akpan who shot into the arms of Joe McDonnell from the edge of the box.

A big chance for the home side came in the 36th minute. A corner from Barrett was met on the half-volley by Lachlan Byrd but McDonnell pulled off a quick reaction save to keep the game goalless. 

The last chance of the first half came from the Spitfires, who had been relatively quiet for chances. Ludwig Francilette fired a shot towards goal but an incredible save from Marcus Dewhurst was able to deny him from close-range. 

HALF TIME

Moments into the second half Eastleigh took the lead. A cross was headed back across by Luis Fernandez, where Francilette was able to head the ball into the goal.

In the 64th minute the Shots come close to making it level. Henry broke down the right-hand side, but his low cross headed straight across goal. Ryan Jones managed to keep it alive but Jack Barham couldn’t turn it in.  

Seven minutes later the Shots made it 1-1. A free-kick was met by the head of an unmarked Barham who guided the ball into the back of the net from close-range. 

In the 80th minute the Shots completed the comeback. The ball found the path of Ryan Jones who fired a powerful strike into the bottom corner from 25-yards out. 

After a quiet period, an opportunity for the visitors to level came in the final minute of the game. A cross was met by the head of Jake Vokins, who’s effort sent Dewhurst diving across goal to keep the ball out.

The referee blew his final whistle, and Aldershot Town picked up a long-awaited three points. 

Attendance – 3037 (334 away)

Shots lineup: 28. Marcus Dewhurst, 2. Lachlan Byrd, 6. Theo Widdrington, 10. Cam Hargreaves, 10. Josh Barrett (60’ 11. Ryan Jones), 17. Aaron Jones (c), 18. Olly Scott (66’ 8. Tyler Frost)  21. Ashley Akpan, 23. Hady Ghandour (62’ 22. Jack Barham), 25. Rollin Menayese, 27. James Henry (87’ 24. Maxwell Mullins)

Unused subs: 1. Jordi Van Stappershoef, 9. Kai Corbett, 32. Emmanuel Maja

Eastleigh lineup: 1. Joe McDonnell, 3. Jake Vokins, 5. Luis Fernandez, 6. Ludwig Francillette (76’ 2. Richard Brindley) , 7. Christopher Maguire (62’ 15. Dominic Gape), 8. Jake Taylor (c) (25. Wes McDonald) 9. Paul McCallum, 10. Tyrese Shade (78’ 23. Jai Semenyo), 18. Angel Waruih, 20. Scott Quigley, 31. Niall Maher

Unused subs: 13. Tommy Scott, 14. Lee Hodson, 19. Corey Panter