Aldershot Town 2 – 0 Portsmouth
After a long 81 days, The Shots returned to the EBB Stadium and how good did it feel to be back. Scott Davies first test at home was against EFL Championship side Portsmouth FC as the Shots continued their preparations for the 26/27 season. After three previous games against Bagshot Lea, Bedford Town and Fleet Town this proved to be the biggest challenge yet for a new look side still gelling together.
Straight from kickoff, The Shots set the early tempo with good play from winger Basil Tuma whose lopping ball just sailed over the head of Marcus Dinanga. From then, Aldershot remained on the front foot and looked well matched against established Championship opposition.
More chances came the way of The Town when Dominic Odusanya volley sailed over the bar and Dinanga almost found himself in behind from a well won flick on by Michael Efete.
After a much-needed hydration break in the sweltering heat, The Shots continued to be in charge at home pushing for the opener. For Pompey, they struggled to string any momentum together, and committed a second foul-throw offence within the first 25 minutes. Perhaps new signing Elijah Oladunjoe could offer a quick tutorial on how to take proper throw-ins.
John Gilbert showed eager pressing to win the ball off Pompey keeper Ben Killip, but with his back to goal laid the ball for Odusanya whose effort was blocked on the line by the defender.
From the resulting corner, The Shots took the lead as a quickly taken corner from Gilbert found Hakeem Sandah whose low driven shot from the edge of the box found the net.
And not too long after the first, the lead was extended to two. Another mixup at the back from Pompey was ruthlessly punished from excellent pressing work from Gilbert yet again. This time he found Dinanga who had all the time in the world to pick his spot and put The Shots two up.
From scoring two in two minutes, The Shots looked increasingly comfortable and in the ascendancy, limiting Pompey to very little. They almost had a third from a teasing corner by Gilbert that couldn’t quite find a Shots player in yellow at the back post.
HALF-TIME: Aldershot Town 2 – 0 Portsmouth
At the break, Jack Matton replaced Michee Efete in defence. As is customary in pre-season, Portsmouth rotated to a more experienced eleven for the second period. This half would prove to be the most challenging for Scott Davies’ side so far up against experienced EFL players.
While Pompey enjoyed a lot more of the possession, it was Hakeem Sandah that continued to be a headache for Portsmouth’s right side. Winning a free-kick just outside the box, Gilbert’s low shot could only bounce off the wall.
As we hit the hour mark in North-East Hampshire and the second hydration break, a completely new Shots team emerged minus Nick Hayes who remained in goal for the time being.
When coming on, Tristan Abrahams injected energy immediately. Managing to break free and while having the option to square the ball across, went by himself cutting on his left and firing a shot over the crossbar and into the East Bank.
Portsmouth had their best chance of the game, when fullback Jordan Williams’ dangerous low delivery was turned over from point-blank range from a stretching Colby Bishop.
In a half that had less goalmouth action compared to the first, Abrahams was found by Brody Peart out on the wing and he looked to catch the keeper out of his goal but his effort narrowly missed the top right corner.
Marcus Wyllie almost added to his pre-season tally, as a well worked move from The Shots found the No.20 free in the box whose effort skimmed the post and out for a goal kick.
Charlie Patmore was called into action soon after replacing Hayes. Pompey’s striker Colby Bishop found a pocket of space and fired a powerful shot that required a fingertip stop from Patmore to keep The Shots clean sheet.
Wyllie continued to cause a nuisance, running at Pompey’s defenders and getting his shot away which was parried dangerously into the box from the Pompey GK.
With just two minutes to go, the referee pulled up on the half-way line with a muscle injury which didn’t go down well with a crowd eager to catch the England game afterwards. The injury called a halt to proceedings and Aldershot secured the win and yet another clean sheet.
All in all, an impressive first display from Scott Davies’ new team at the EBB against arguably their toughest pre-season test. Another win and clean sheet, means The Shots remain unbeaten in pre-season and are yet to concede a goal. The squad will return to the rec on Saturday where they will face local rivals Farnborough (3pm kickoff) as they build closer to the start of the 26/27 season.
Aldershot Town Lineup:
- Nick Hayes, 3. Jacob Borgnis, 4. Kiki Oshilaja, 5. Michee Efete, 7. Hakeem Sandah, 8. John Gilbert, 9. Marcus Dinanga, 10. Basil Tuma, 11. Michael Stickland, 18. Nino Adom-Malaki, 36. Dominic Odusanya
Line up ‘60 Onwards: 1. Charlie Patmore, 2. Joe Lewis Evans, 6. Jack Matton, 25. Tyrese Dyce, 22. Maddox MacMillan, 12. Kwaku Frimpong, 19. Conor Lawless, 21. Toby Nelson, 26. Brody Peart, 30. Tristan Abrahams, 20. Marcus Wyllie
Written by Jack Brunning.
