Ryan Case’s young Shots were convincing in victory against Cobham Academy, as goals from Joe Lewis-Evans, Harry Thorpe, Ashley Akpan and Finn Evans gave his side a 5-1 victory at the SB Stadium on a drizzly Friday night.
Harry Thorpe and Joe Lewis-Evans scored two of a handful of chances in the first half, but their lead would be just one at the break, as number 6 for the visiting Cobham got a goal back before the break.
Joe Lewis-Evans scored again in the second 45, alongside goals from Finn Evans and Ashley Akpan to make it three, four and five in the second half, the final score being Aldershot 5-1 Cobham in a successful evening for the young Shots.
The Shots were the more dominant of the two sides in the first half, and Adam Ahmed had the best chance to take the lead with a few minutes on the clock, but he fired wide. 6 minutes in Harry Thorpe had the ball in the back of the net for the first time, sweeping home into the bottom left from the edge of the box to give the Shots an early lead.
Ryan Case’s side got a numerical advantage on the pitch as well as on the score board in the first half, as number 19 for Cobham was shown red after an incident off the ball. Joe Lewis-Evans had been commanding in the first half, and struck again low into the bottom left to make it 2-0 with 30 minutes gone.
Cobham had been reduced mainly to their own half by the Shots, but would get a goal before the break, as a headed clearance from Maxwell Mullins ended up on the edge of the box, and number 6 for Cobham struck well as he beat Will Lacey to make it 2-1, and the score remained until half time.
HALF TIME: Shots 2-1 Cobham
The rain began to pour in the second 45, but that wouldn’t dishearten the red and blue’s as they went on to add three more to their tally for the night. The wet surface played a factor in the Shots third goal, as Ashley Akpan let fly from distance, and the slippy nature of the ball meant it slid out of the grasp of the Cobham ‘keeper and into the back of his net.
Starting number 9 on the night Finn Evans got himself amongst the goals to make it 4-1, Ashley Akpan again had a hand in the goal. His strike from range was saved by the Cobham ‘keeper, but he was unable to keep a hold of the strike, and Evans was ready and waiting to put the ball into the back of the net to make it four.
Joe Lewis-Evans would go on to make it five, as the ball bounced around in the Cobham box and eventually found a way to Lewis-Evans at the back post, who converted from close range to make it five for Ryan Case’s side for the night and two for himself on the scoresheet. Cobham’s ‘keeper made a handful of good saves to deny six, so the Shots walked away 5-1 victors.
Shots XI
- Will Lacey, 2. Ashley Akpan, 3. Freddie Stanley (C), 4. Tom Hill, 5. Maxwell Mullins, 6. Joe Throp, 7. Joe Lewis-Evans, 8. Louis Hutchings, 9. Finn Evans, 10. Harry Thorpe, 11. Adam Ahmed
Starting subs
12. Theo Weorner-Peacock, 14. Mark Holley, 15. Morgan Elliot, 16. Danny-James Carter, 17. Harry Hurst
