The Shots started brightly and were showing intent from the off. They were particularly finding joy down the right and Archy Taylor was looking threatening.
But the hosts took an early lead to scupper any promising signs from the first five minutes. The hosts’ Number 10 was slipped through between the Shots’ defence and wrong-footed Pat Nash with a feint to dink it over him and score the opener.
A James Henry cross from the right almost found the top corner and Tyler Frost blasted a shot over the bar as Aldershot looked to get back level but they found themselves two down in the 19th minute after Met Police’s Number 2 fired a shot in from at least 35-yards out.
Josh Barrett begun to see some chances fall his way after the 20 minute mark. Firstly, James Clarridge picked out the forward with a smart ball over the top, but his cross was cleared; before Barrett was able to test the Met Police ‘keeper with a free-kick from 25-yards out a few minutes later.
Taylor was playing well down the right wing but after cutting inside in the 32nd minute, he clipped a clever ball through to Barrett who rounded the ‘keeper but saw his shot superbly blocked by a home defender sliding in.
The hosts almost scored a second outrageous effort from distance just before the break as a defender cleared the ball high into the evening sky for it to come down and hit the post.
There was time for one final Shots chance as Theo Widdrington’s quick free-kick allowed Maxwell Mullins to break into the box down the right but his powerful cross-cum-shot was off target.
HALF-TIME
The Shots made 10 changes at the break with only James Clarridge remaining and Dejan Tetek taking the armband from Cameron Hargreaves.
And just five minutes in to the second-half, the Shots had a goal back via Hady Ghandour. Joe Lewis-Evans’ low cross was inviting and found Ghandour in the middle to turn it in from close-range.
A minute later, Lewis-Evans and Ghandour were involved again as the Shots youngster played Dejan Tetek down the left wing and another low-cross found Ghandour who could only fire wide on this occasion.
A strong spell of possession was enjoyed by Aldershot around the 70 minute mark, resulting in a number of chances. Kiban Rai’s defence-splitting pass to play Ghandour in was inch-perfect but as the Shots’ striker opened his body out, his shot was well saved low down.
Not long later, a nice pass down the right from Trialist C found Haydon Vaughan down the right and his cut back to Trialist B gave him space to fire a powerful shot against the bar. After recycling play, a ball forward was touched down by Ghandour for Tetek to slot home but the Assistant Referee’s flag was raised for an offside.
Aldershot were perhaps fortunate to get their equaliser when Keane Anderson’s shot from distance was heavily deflected and found the corner, but a few minutes later, the comeback was complete as Hady Ghandour headed home Dejan Tetek’s dinked cross into the middle.
Tetek saw a second goal ruled out for offside with a couple of minutes remaining with a smart finish from close-range as the Shots held out to earn a second pre-season win.
Whilst no official attendance was given, it was nice to see a healthy Shots following at Imber Court this evening. Thank you for your continued support!
Shots lineup: 13. Pat Nash (1. Marcus Dewhurst, 46′), 6. Theo Widdrington (12. Keane Anderson, 46′), 7. Cameron Hargreaves (C) (34. Dejan Tetek (C), 46′), 8. Tyler Frost (26. Joe Lewis-Evans, 46′), 10. Josh Barrett (20. Haydon Vaughan, 46′)(27. Harry Thorpe, 79′), 17. James Henry (18. Kiban Rai, 46′), 24. Maxwell Mullins (25. Kaden Hughes, 46′), 28. Archy Taylor (39. Trialist C, 46′), 30. Tristan Abrahams (23. Hady Ghandour, 46′), 32. James Clarridge (9. Trialist B, 60′), 38. Trialist A (14. Jed Meerholz, 46′).
