The Shots suffered a 4-3 defeat to FC Halifax Town as goals from Ashley Akpan and James Henry saw the home side come back from 2-0 down before Halifax restored their two-goal advantage and Jack Barham scored for a late glimmer of hope.
Whilst not necessarily threatening the Aldershot goal in the opening exchanges, it was the visitors who were enjoying a territorial advantage and with three early corners were sending testers to the Shots’ defence.
Andrew Oluwabori gave Jordi van Stappershoef his first bit of work in the fifth minute with a low shot that the Shots’ ‘keeper had to palm away for a corner.
Halifax took the lead in the 18th minute as Billy Waters’ shot was deflected off a Shots defender and looped over van Stappershoef and in.
Aldershot almost found an equaliser in the 25th minute as Ashley Akpan’s drilled shot looked to be heading in as it flew through a crowded penalty box, but Adam Senior made a crucial block on the goal-line.
And less than 10 minutes later, the Shots were punished as Andrew Oluwabori scored the Shaymen’s second goal of the game in the 33rd minute.
It had been a slow start from Aldershot but they hadn’t surrendered the game and they looked to salvage something from it before the half-time break as Ryan Jones drove forwards and fired a shot just wide of the post.
And with the last kick of the first-half, James Henry’s flick from Ryan Jones’ corner was agonisingly just past the post and so the Shots went into the break two goals behind.
HALF-TIME
The Shots came out of the break inspired and within a minute had clawed a goal back as Ashley Akpan popped up at the far-post to fire in Ryan Jones’ cross that had made its way through everyone in the Halifax box.
Contrary to the first 45, Aldershot were in control of the second, but a rare Halifax foray forward on the coutner from a corner saw Billy Waters break the offside line, but in on goal, he dragged his shot wide.
The visitors were intent on leaving their mark at the EBB Stadium as they received a number of yellow cards for late challenges but the Shots couldn’t take advantage of the set-plays as Dan Ellison came close to heading in after winning a couple of aerial duels.
In the 74th minute, James Henry saw an effort from the edge of the box well saved by Sam Johnson and two minutes later, Shots ‘keeper van Stappershoef almost had an assist when his brilliant kick forward picked out Jack Barham, but Barham’s touch got away from him and was gathered by Johnson.
But James Henry got his goal in the 79th minute as the Shots came back from two goals down. In a similar position to his earlier missed effort, he found the bottom corner on this occasion after the Shots did very well to keep an attack alive.
But just five minutes later, Halifax were gifted an opportunity to retake the lead. Van Stappershoef was looking for a long pass forward and rolled the ball forward too strongly, leading to Jamie Cooke stealing the ball and finishing into an open net.
Halifax then had a fourth in the 89th minute as Zak Emmerson headed in Max Wright’s cross to undo the Shots brilliant work to draw the game level and allow Halifax to restore a two-goal lead.
Jack Barham headed home a superb Tyler Frost cross in the 93rd minute to spark hopes of a second two-goal comeback for the Shots but in a game with countless stoppages, only five minutes of added time was given and the final whistle was blown dead on the 95th minute despite many stoppages during the additional time.
Attendance: 2047 (79 Away)
Shots lineup: 1. Jordi van Stappershoef, 4. Luke Jenkins (5. Christian Maghoma, 60′), 7. Cameron Hargreaves, 10. Josh Barrett (19. Jonny Stuttle, 75′), 11. Ryan Jones, 17. Aaron Jones (C), 21. Ashley Akpan (24. Maxwell Mullins 90′), 22. Jack Barham, 27. James Henry, 34. Dejan Tetek (8. Tyler Frost, 84′), 35. Dan Ellison.
Subs not used: 28. Marcus Dewhurst, 2. Lachlan Byrd, 9. Kai Corbett.
Halifax lineup: 1. Sam Johnson (C), 5. Adam Senior, 6. Jack Evans, 10. Jamie Cooke, 11. Angelo Capello (3. Ryan Galvin, 59′), 15. Will Smith, 18. Florent Hoti, 20. Jack Jenkins (23. Tom Pugh, 65′), 22. Andrew Oluwabori (7. Max Wright, 66′), 27. Adam Almi-Adetoro, 29. Billy Waters (21. Zak Emmerson, 80’).
Subs not used: 2. Jo Cummings, 12. Nathaniel Ford, 26. Owen Bray.
