The Shots’ Academy Under 18s progress in the FA Youth Cup as they left it to a penalty shootout to overcome 10-man Dorking Wanderers.
The first chance of the game fell to the Shots in the seventh minute as Tommy Nelson sent an early warning to his opponents, rattling the crossbar with a powerful effort from 25-yards out that had beaten Dorking ‘keeper Harry Charlesworth.
Just two minutes later, Kian Dugdale raced past Chris Ewen but was pulled back by the Dorking defender on the edge of the box and as the last man, was sent off by the Referee who had initially waved away the foul but listen to the his Assistant who had flagged.
From the resulting free-kick, Euan Moss’ effort was a good one but it was just too high as it left the bar rattling again.
Despite being numerically disadvantaged, Dorking’s 10-men were doing well to deny Aldershot any attacking joy but in the 30th minute, a defensive header was misplaced straight into the path of Gabriel Wall but recovering well, the Dorking defence blocked his shot and deflected it just wide.
But in the 37th minute, completely against the run of play, Dorking took the lead. Aldershot failed to clear their lines and it fell kindly to Ollie Rawlins who found the bottom corner with a good finish in what was Dorking’s first real chance of the game.
Just before the half-time whistle, the Shots did find the back of the net, only to see the goal disallowed with the Assistant Referee’s flag raised for offside. Euan Moss had raced forward to round Harry Charlesworth and slot it into the open net to no avail.
HALF-TIME
Whatever was said in the Shots dressing room at half-time clearly worked a treat as they scored an equaliser just three minutes after the restart. Gabriel Wall showed creative intuition to turn in Kian Dugdale’s low cross with a smart backheel.
The 10 men of Dorking were happy to kill the game’s rhythm at any opportunity and were disrupting Aldershot who, after Tom Neaill and Lewis Hillary saw shots blocked in the 55th minute, failed to cause any danger to Dorking’s goal for a large period of the second-half.
Dorking were still able to cause the Aldershot defence problems and Luca Fullo headed just over from a corner in the 76th minute. A couple of minutes later up the other end, Tommy Nelson forced Harry Charlesworth into a save with a free-kick from just outside the box.
Dorking should have snatched a late winner in the 85th minute as Jacob Todman found himself through on goal but he ran too wide and could only shoot straight into the arms of Keanu Black.
The Shots have every right to be annoyed at the woodwork at either end as this time the post denied a late winner from George Comben just seconds after coming on in the 86th minute. Jacob Chrismas did well on the left to beat his man and get a cross in that Comben could only head against the foot of the post.
And though Aldershot pushed forward in search of a late winner, they couldn’t find one and the game went to penalties.
PENALTIES:
- Dorking score.
- Sam Holubec scores
- Dorking score
- Tommy Nelson scores
- Dorking score
- Sav Shah scores
- Dorking score
- Lewis Hillary scores
- Dorking miss – Keanu Black saves
- Joshua Payne scores
The Shots win the shootout 5-4 thanks to a Keanu Black’s save of Dorking’s final penalty and all five of the Shots takers (Sam Holubec, Tommy Nelson, Sav Shah, Lewis Hillary and Joshua Payne) scoring!
Shots Lineup: 1. Keanu Black, 2. Olly Rowan, 3. Euan Moss (18. Archie Wisdom, 66′), 4. Callum Kent (12. Joshua Payne, 90+4′), 5. Kaden Hughes, 6. Lewis Hillary (C), 7. Gabriel Wall (15. Sav Shah, 66′), 8. Sam Holubec, 9 Kian Dugdale (14. George Comben, 85′), 10 Tommy Nelson, 11. Tom Neaill (16. Jacob Chrismas, 81′).
Subs not used: 13. Oscar Noone, 17. Max Walker.
Dorking Lineup: 1. Harry Charlesworth, 2. Chris Ewen, 4. Max Holland, 5. Neo Wooster (C), 6. Luca Fullo, 7. James Laws, 8. Ted Sullivan (14. Zak Cuhusac, 46′), 9. Ollie Rawlins (17. Jacob Todman, 59′), 11. Lucas Elliot (12. David Obeng-Adjei, 68′), 15. Gabriel Jacks, 19. Liam Manby.
Subs not used: 21. Louie Sullivan, 3. Ted Clark, 18. Miles Straker, 20. Cristiano Bareca.