Aldershot fell to a 3-0 defeat as the division’s top side showed their quality. Goals from Jim O’Brien, Ruben Rodrigues and Aaron Nemane secured the visitors the points.
The game started much in the Notts County half with a number of set-pieces proving dangerous for The Shots. An Ollie Harfiled wide free-kick and an Archie Davies in-swinging corner were inches away from an Aldershot head and perhaps opening goal. Joe Partington was then mere centimetres away from finding the top corner with a free-kick from just outside the box.
Notts County settled into the game and began to assert their usual possession dominance and this resulted in a couple of chances. Macauley Langstaff found himself unmarked in the box as a cross from the right came in but his header was saved really well low down by Luca Ashby-Hammond.
Langstaff’s strike partner Cedwyn Scott then also came close to heading an opener as his looping effort only just cleared the bar with Ashby-Hammond stretching.
Aerial attacks seemed to be the theme in the first 20 minutes as down the other end, The Shots also came close. Ollie Harfield delivered a trademark brilliant cross from the left, but Marcel Elva-Fountaine’s flick-on was cleared with Justin Amaluzor lurking at the back-post.
The Shots started well and were holding the league leaders stubbornly but Notts got a lucky break for their opener in the 27th minute. The ball fell to Langstaff in the box who turned and shot but a fantastic block fell straight to Jim O’Brien who couldn’t miss from a few yards out.
County’s opener allowed them to begin to play with more confidence and the game began to be played more and more inside The Shots half. Aldershot coped well, however, with some brilliant defending, blocking a number of shots and quelling a number of attacks as half-time approached.
HALF-TIME
The second-half started much the same as the first as Notts looked to push on for a second goal and they got their reward 10 minutes into the second 45. Ruben Rodrigues received the ball on the edge of the box and curled a fantastic effort into the bottom corner.
Aldershot weren’t buoyed by conceding the second and still looked to score themselves as Ody Alfa came close. Running down the left he cut inside but saw his powerful effort clip the outside of the post as it flew just wide.
Alfa then came close again five minutes later as his shot that looked to be goal-bound was deflected wide. Tyler Cordner then rose highest from the resulting corner but his header was off-target.
The second-half fell victim to it’s scoreline as Notts put in a confident performance in possession. New signings Jake Hutchinson and Oliver Pendlebury were introduced and looked bright when they received the ball.
County’s performance was rewarded with a third as the game came to a close. A misplaced pass from Ashby-Hammond fell to Aaron Nemane who was able to perfectly lob it over The Shots ‘keeper.
Shots lineup: 1. Luca Ashby-Hammond, 2. Archie Davies, 3. Ollie Harfield, 4. Joe Partington (c), 5. Tyler Cordner, 7. Justin Amaluzor, 9. Inih Effiong (17. Jake Hutchinson 69′), 12. Marcel Elva-Fountaine, 16. Corey Jordan, 18. Ody Alfa (27. Tommy Willard 69’), 23. Ryan Glover. Subs not used: 11. Harrison Panayiotou, 19. Oliver Pendlebury, 20. Michael Klass.
