A late Cameron Hargreaves equaliser earned the Shots a deserved point and sent the 580 travelling supporters home happy in Aldershot’s first game of 2025.
Josh Barrett had the chance to better his superb free-kick goal on Boxing Day in just the 3rd minute as good work from Theo Widdrington won the set-piece 30-yards from Jack Sims’ goal. The extra five yards mattered, though as Barrett’s effort was gathered by Sims.
Just two minutes later, Sims almost gifted Aldershot the lead as he passes it straight to Jack Barham 40-yards out but he made up for his mistake by charging Barham down and blocking his shot.
Sutton began to venture into attack and fired two efforts from distance to give Marcus Dewhurst his first call to action. Finlay Barbrook’s effort forced a save at full stretch in the 17th minute and three minutes layer, Lewis Simper fired wide.
But in the 23rd minute, Sutton took the lead as Aldershot failed to clear their lines and as the ball fell to Ashley Nadesan, he fired into the bottom corner from close-range.
A couple of efforts from out wide by Josh Barrett from the left and Ryan Jones from the right came close without threatening Sims and Sutton too much but the Shots had a golden opportunity in first-half stoppage time.
A smart touch from Olly Scott allowed Tyler Frost to launch a counter attack and drove forward 30-yards to make it 3 vs 2 in Shots favour and laid it off to his left for Josh Barrett, who could only fire wide.
HALF-TIME
Barrett looked to also have the first chance of the second-half but was denied by the Assistant Referee’s flag as he hit the post having been found by Frost again with a nice chipped ball over the top of the Sutton defence.
Sims had to be called into action to deny a Shots equaliser in the 56th minute as Jack Barham looked to have turned in Aaron Jones’ low cross, but the Sutton ‘keeper reacted well to turn it behind for a corner.
And five minutes later up the other end, it was Dewhurst’s good reactions denying a goal as a powerful free-kick deflected off of Theo Widdrington.
A couple of chances off target for both sides followed but it was Aldershot beginning to enjoy the larger spells of possession as James Henry blasted the ball over following good work from Ryan Jones.
Sims pulled off a brilliant double save to keep his side’s lead intact but it would be his final action of the game as after denying James Henry’s initial shot, he bravely dove at Jonny Stuttle’s feet and received a blow to the head for his troubles whilst saving the effort and a change in goal had to follow.
This resulted in eight minutes of stoppage time and the Shots continued pressure paid off in the fourth minute of the eight as Cameron Hargreaves levelled the game. Cutting in from the left, his low, driven effort was too powerful for Sutton’s substitute ‘keeper Matt Kerbey and found the bottom corner.
With four minutes still remaining, Aldershot looked to have sufficient momentum to push for an even later winner, but were unable to test Kerbey further and picked up their third successive draw.
Attendance: 3013 (580 Away)
Shots lineup: 28. Marcus Dewhurst, 5. Christian Maghoma, 6. Theo Widdrington, 8. Tyler Frost (24. Maxwell Mullins, 90+1′), 10. Josh Barrett (27. James Henry (68′), 11. Ryan Jones, 17. Aaron Jones (C), 18. Olly Scott, 22. Jack Barham (19. Jonny Stuttle, 75′), 34. Dejan Tetek, 35. Dan Ellison (2. Lachlan Byrd, 14′)(7. Cameron Hargreaves, 68′).
Subs not used: 1. Jordi van Stappershoef, 21. Ashley Akpan
Sutton lineup: 1. Jack Sims (31. Matt Kerbey, 86′), 4. Tyler French (C), 8. Lewis Simper, 9. Will Davies, 11. Dillon Da Silva (5. Harry Ransom, 75’), 14. Finlay Barbrook, 15. Hayden Muller, 19. Jeremy Sivi, 20. Jack Wadham, 24. Ashley Nadesan, 33. Besart Toppalaj.
Subs not used: 3. Chin Okoli, 12. Eduino Vaz, 17. Nana Boateng.
