Aldershot Town travelled to Berkshire for their penultimate pre-season friendly, which resulted in 2-1 defeat to Slough Town, who reached the National League South Play-Offs last season.
After a relatively quiet opening period, the home side opened the scoring through striker Ben Harris, who pounced on an under-hit back pass, rounded the advancing Walker and stroked the ball home from an acute angle.
The Shots first effort on goal came in the 16th minute, when good work from Joel Nouble and Alfy Whittingham set up Harry Panayiotou, who forced Slough keeper Jack Turner into a save, low down his right.
The lively Nouble carved out a chance for himself on 23 minutes, cutting inside before curling a powerful drive just past the Slough upright.
The home side doubled their lead four minutes later, through Harris again. The Slough No.9 latched onto a long ball and wriggled past the Aldershot Centre-Backs before rounding Walker again to execute a similar finish to his first strike.
The Shots capped a fine move down the left flank in the 36th minute with a strong left footed finish from the edge of the area by Toby Edser, after good work by Shroll, Trialist A and Nouble.
Cascadian international Nouble showed great strength, touch and pace again shortly before half time with another burst down the left flank, resulting in a Panayioutou snapshot which was blocked at source and The Rebels took a 2-1 lead into the break.
Aldershot manager Danny Searle made four half time changes, with Kodi Lyons-Foster, Josh Rees, Craig Tanner and Trialist B joining the action. Rees was soon involved in a double-chance for Shots’ as both he and Whittingham saw powerful efforts blocked in the same move.
The Shot’s came close to an equaliser on 70 minutes, when following a foul on Panayiotou just outside the box, Mo Bettamer’s firmly struck free-kick thumped against the Slough crossbar. Two minutes later, James Rowe drew a fine save from Turner, with a left-footed 18 yard shot.
Ross McCormack made his Aldershot Town introduction in the 72nd minute and he soon tested Turner, with a left footed strike from inside the area which the Slough keeper did well to parry.
A lovely combination between Rees and Trialist C saw the latter draw another fine save from Turner on 85 minutes and moments later The Shot’s went close again, only for Shroll’s close range header to clear the bar. Aldershot carved out another opportunity soon after when substitute Reece Wylie squared the ball across the face of goal, with McCormack inches from connecting with it.
Despite the flurry of late chances, the home side held on for the 2-1 win.
Aldershot Town First-Half XI: 1 M Walker (G/K), 2 G Fowler, 4 J Sendles-White, 16 B Shroll, 15 Trialist A, 12 A Whittingham, 7 J Rowe, 17 T Edser, 9 M Bettamer, 10 H Panayioutou, 14 J Nouble
Aldershot Town Second-Half XI:1 M Walker (G/K), 2 G Fowler, (Colombie 63′) 6 K Lyons-Foster, 16 B Shroll, 19 Trialist B, 12 A Whittingham, (Wylie 76′), 7 J Rowe, 8 J Rees, 9 M Bettamer, (McCormack 72′), 10 H Panayiotou, (Trialist C 72′), 3 Tanner
