Aldershot Town produced one of their finest performances of the season to see out the month of January, running out 3-0 victors against Hartlepool United at Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon.
A stop-start first half was concluded by a debut goal from Reading loanee Sean Patton, who netted his first in Shots colours in the thirteenth minute of added time, before second-half strikes from Charlie Warren and a returning Kwame Thomas secured a vital three points on a day where all around them in the table also picked up positive results.
John Coleman made two changes to the side that emerged 4-1 victors against Eastleigh, with Josh Barrett, and James Henry making way for Hady Ghandour and new loan signing Sean Patton, who found himself straight into the starting eleven having only officially joined on loan from Reading the day prior.
The Shots enjoyed a decent amount of possession in the opening 20 minutes of the match, with Theo Widdrington and Cameron Hargreaves stretching the hosts with their wide passing range in the middle of the park. However, it would be Pools who would forge the early chances, with attempts in the box from Alex Reid and Max Kouogun both going high of Coniah Boyce-Clarke’s net.
The first shot on target would also go the way of the hosts, as a long ball helped on by the wind saw Sam Inwood fooled, with Gavan Holohan reacting first to find himself in behind with only an onrushing Boyce-Clarke in his wake. While Holohan successfully met the ball first, the keeper made himself big, blocking the first time effort terrifically with his body.
Towards the half hour mark, a tie that had thus been played at an entertaining tempo fell victim to significant stoppages, with a clash of heads, an injured linesman, and a blood injury to Olly Scott – who subsequently saw out remainder of the clash brandishing a head-bandage and numberless shirt – would see as many as 14 minutes added onto the first half.
It was in the dying seconds of this bumper edition of stoppage time that the game bore witness to its opening goal. A blocked shot from Widdrington fell kindly to Hady Ghandour towards the right corner of the penalty area, with the forward striking first-time towards the bottom corner, where it would have stayed were it not for a miraculous goal-line clearance from Jay Benn. However, with the ball now trickling across the six-yard box, reacting quickest was Sean Patton to tap home on his debut, sending the Shots into a slender half time lead.
HALF-TIME
The second half would begin just as the first had concluded, and after having opened the scoring in the 58th minute, the Shots would confusingly double their advantage in the 48th. Widdrington’s first-time cross from the right-hand touchline arrived at the back post with considerable pace, met by a terrific piece of improvisation from Ghandour, who scissor kicked volley cushioned the ball back towards the penalty spot, where a grateful Charlie Warren was able to poke the ball home for 2-0.
Sean Patton almost got his second of the afternoon, as a long free-kick found the head of Will Nightingale, whose flick forward was pounced upon by Patton. Off balance, the young Irishman struck his left-footed volley true from close range, though Nicholas Hayes reacted well to quell the danger.
Down the other end, the Victoria Park crowd thought they might have had some reprieve when Alex Reid went down in the penalty area. However, cheers quickly turned to jeers as the referee had spotted a perfectly timed challenge from Olly Scott, with Reid receiving a yellow card for simulation.
An impressive 102 travelling supporters had been suitably entertained thus far, though their afternoon would improve further on the 86th minute, as a cross-cum-shot from Hady Ghandour on the edge of the area, found the head of substitute Kwame Thomas, who nodded home to seal the points before wheeling away in front of a jubilant away support.
Attendance: 4272 (102 away)
Shots line-up: 41. Coniah Boyce-Clarke, 6. Theo Widdrington (9. Kwame Thomas 77’), 7. Cameron Hargreaves,12. Keane Anderson (4. Luke Jenkins 60’), 19. Ryan Hill (C), 22. Olly Scott, 23. Hady Ghandour, 24. Charlie Warren (27. Toby Nelson 87’), 25. Will Nightingale, 29. Sean Patton (15. Christy Grogan), 33. Sam Inwood
Unused Subs: 16. Pat Nash, 17. James Henry, 18. Kiban Rai
