Josh Barrett’s brilliant hat-trick earned the Shots three points in a 3-1 win over Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park.
Oldham had lost just three times in the Vanarama National League so far this season before kick-off this afternoon, with one of those defeats coming against the Shots at the EBB Stadium back in August and with the 3-1 win this weekend, Aldershot ensured they did the double over a side in the race for the title.
Luca Woodhouse was put in from the start for his Shots debut having signed on loan from Wycombe this week and joined fellow loanee Will Armitage in defence as Jonny Stuttle was given a start.
Oldham began the strongest of the two sides and Mark Kitching forced Marcus Dewhurst into a save in the 10th minute after the hosts had worked a short corner well.
Tyler Frost showed his quality a minute later as he drove down the left wing and beat two opponents after cleverly intercepting a quick free-kick but his cross was cleared.
On his Oldham debut, Corry Evans almost introduced himself to the home support in superb fashion winning the ball off of Theo Widdrington in midfield, and seeing Marcus Dewhurst off his line, lobbing the Shots’ ‘keeper from almost 40-yards out only to hit the inside of the post.
Just a minute later, Oldham had a golden opportunity to go in front as Mike Fondop rounded Dewhurst but his touch took him too wide and Oldham were unable to recycle the opportunity.
Dewhurst had to bravely dive in to stop Alex Reid from shooting from close-range after a brilliant turn from the Oldham striker and had to receive treatment after catching Reid’s studs high up in what in fairness to Reid was an attempt to score but ended up as studs up, high challenge that remarkably was not even given as a free-kick.
The Shots had their backs against the wall for most of the first-half but were doing well to keep Oldham at bay but a wide free-kick was their undoing as Manny Monthe headed home Josh Kay’s delivery just before half-time in the 42nd minute.
But despite taking the lead just before the break, it would be Aldershot who would go into half-time in front thanks to a sublime brace from Josh Barrett.
In the 44th minute Tyler Frost headed Olly Scott’s long ball forward down for Barrett who dinked the ball over the on-rushing Matthew Hudson with his left-foot.
And just four minutes later, deep into first-half stoppage time, Barrett lobbed Hudson again as another Olly Scott ball forward was knocked down into his path and the Oldham ‘keeper hadn’t learned from his earlier lesson as he was forced to watch Barrett catch him off his line once more.
HALF-TIME
Incredibly, Barrett completed his hat-trick just six minutes into the second-half as the Shots showed a clinical touch. Frost’s through ball was knocked into Theo Widdrington’s path by an Oldham defender and the midfielder squared it across to Barrett to finish well and earn himself the matchball.
Oldham made a triple substitution in a desperate attempt to not let the game slip further away and got a lifeline in the 65th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Olly Scott brought down half-time substitute Josh Lundstrum.
Billy Waters stepped up to take the spot-kick on his Oldham debut, but Marcus Dewhurst guessed the right way and pulled off a fantastic save to his right.
Manny Monthe’s physical presence was causing the Shots defence problems from set-pieces and almost had his second in the 73rd minute when he should have done better with his header at the back-post from a corner.
Dewhurst pulled off another vital save as the game entered the final 10 minutes but Oldham should have scored as Mark Kitching received the ball from a flicked-on long throw just yards out.
And in what turned out to be the final chance of the game in the second of seven additional minutes to the 90, Fondop summed up Oldham’s afternoon in front of goal as he failed to control another dangerous delivery and thus spurned a golden opportunity for the home side to make a late comeback.
The Shots managed the game superbly and will have certainly sent their 211 travelling supporters home happy.
Attendance: 5960 (211 Away)
Shots lineup: 28. Marcus Dewhurst, 6. Theo Widdrington (34. Dejan Tetek 90′), 7. Cameron Hargreaves, 8. Tyler Frost, 10. Josh Barrett (24. Maxwell Mullins, 61′), 17. Aaron Jones (C), 18. Olly Scott, 19. Jonny Stuttle (22. Jack Barham, 56′), 27. James Henry, 33. Luca Woodhouse, 36. Will Armitage.
Subs not used: 1. Jordi van Stappershoef, 9. Kai Corbett, 11. Ryan Jones, 35. Dan Ellison.
Oldham lineup: 1. Matthew Hudson, 2. Reagan Ogle, 3. Mark Kitching, 6. Manny Monthe, 9. Mike Fondop, 11. Josh Kay (7. Harry Charsley, 54′), 15. Jordan Rossiter, 16. Charlie Raglan (C), 20. Jake Caprice (17. Jes Uchegbulum, 54′), 24. Corry Evans (8. Josh Lundstrum, 46′), 25. Alex Reid (18. Billy Waters, 54’).
Subs not used: 13. Jake Dennis, 14. Joe Garner, 34. Jake Leake.
