Aldershot Town secured a 2-1 win against Southampton U21s as Josh Barrett and Tyler Frost scored to complete a comeback after Jay Robinson had put the young Saints in front.
The Shots started very well and dominated possession for the opening few minutes. Adopting a patient approach, they were happy to wait for an opportunity to appear, rather than force it.
They were finding more joy down the right wing and Josh Barrett and Aaron Jones both saw what would have been dangerous crosses blocked and Barrett saw an effort from the edge of the box flash past the post.
It was Southampton’s youngsters who took the lead, however, as Jay Robinson was played through and placed a shot past Jordi van Stappershoef against the run of play.
Aldershot continued to have the majority of the ball despite falling behind, but the Saints’ youngsters were quick and lively on the counter attack with good technical ability clearly on show and displayed by their attackers. Van Stappershoef did well to keep out a header from close-range as one of those counter attacks found William Merry at the back-post.
The Shots were beginning to create more dangerous opportunities after the half hour and Jack Barham could have found the opener had it not been for an exceptional recovering challenge from a Southampton defender after he was played through by a sumptuous through ball from Josh Barrett.
Barham was then again denied not long later but this time by Saints ‘keeper Adli Mohamed having been played in by Ryan Jones after a ‘roulette’ turn gave him space to break forward.
But, Aldershot did draw level before half-time. Replays will need to be watched and the dubious goals panel consulted as Josh Barrett’s cross from the right appeared to be deflected with Mohamed wrong-footed as the ball hit the back of the net.
HALF-TIME
Southampton had the first chance of the second-half as Baylee Dipepa broke through the Shots defence in the 50th minute, but van Stappershoef did really well to race out of his goal win the ball.
And just a minute later, the Shots took the lead. Olly Scott did fantastically well to win the ball back on the left and keep the ball in, before delivering a brilliant looping cross to the back-post for Tyler Frost to show expert control to volley past Mohamed.
Aldershot continued to push forward as they looked to extend their lead, but Ryan Jones saw an effort blast just over the bar after cutting in from the left and Theo Widdrington was close to turning in Barham’s cross either side of the hour.
It took until the closing stages of the game for a chance of note to appear again as Southampton looked to get a late equaliser. Princewill Ehibhatiomhan shot wide after a Romeo Akachukwu did well to create space in the Shots box and flash a low-cross across van Stappershoef’s goal.
Straight up the other end, Maxi Mullins perhaps should have done better after Kai Corbett kept the ball alive at full stretch with two neat flicks before finding Mullins, but the Shots’ youngster could only shoot straight at Mohamed after beating his man.
But with just minutes remaining, Jordi van Stappershoef pulled off a fantastic save to secure the win for Aldershot. Ehibhatiomhan headed down for Saints goalscorer Robinson but this time, the attacker couldn’t find the back of the net as the Shots ‘keeper denied him with his feet at full stretch.
Attendance: 272
Shots lineup: 1. Jordi van Stappershoef, 6. Theo Widdrington, 8. Tyler Frost (27. James Henry, 64′), 10. Josh Barrett (24. Maxwell Mullins, 71′), 11. Ryan Jones, 17. Aaron Jones (C), 18. Olly Scott, 21. Ashley Akpan, 22. Jack Barham (9. Kai Corbett, 78′), 25. Rollin Menayese (2. Lachlan Byrd, 46′), 34. Dejan Tetek (7. Cameron Hargreaves, 64′).
Subs not used: 28. Marcus Dewhurst, 33. Billy Walsh.
Southampton U21 lineup: 1. Adli Mohamed, 2. Derrick Abu, 3. Jonathan Moses Sesay, 4. Jayden Moore, 5. Nathanael Boot (15. Will Armitage, 46′), 6. Noel Buck, 7. Jay Robinson, 8. Joseph O’Brien-Whitmarsh (16. Romeo Akachukwu, 46′), 9. Baylee Dipepa (18. Princewill Ehibhatiomhan, 65′), 10 Rory Macleod (17. Brandon Charles, 65′), 11. William Merry (14. Joshua Lett, 82’).
Subs not used: 12. Samuel Tabares, 13. Joshua McNamara.
