Aldershot Town succumbed to a heartbreaking defeat on Saturday afternoon as a visiting Tamworth emerged 2-1 victors in what proved to be the final kick of the game. Kwame Thomas’ first-half opener was undone by goals in both sections of additional time, as strikes from Haydn Hollis and Beck-Ray Enoru denied a positive end to a difficult week in North Hampshire.
Alan Dowson was forced into making two changes to the side that emerged victorious in Dorking, with an injured Theo Widdrington and recalled Jed Meerholz being replaced by a duo of incomings, Ciaran Gilligan making his Shots introduction in midfield, while a second debut for was provided to Will Armitage at the back, who returns for a second loan spell from Southampton U21s.
Tamworth’s tactical outset became apparent from the off, applying consistent pressure in the Shots’ third and deploying a series of long-throws and corners towards the vertically gifted duo of Manny Duku and defender Kennedy Digie, to no early avail.
The Shots would settle into the tie towards the quarter hour mark, with Barrett, Taylor and Ghandour linking up impressively down the right-hand side in particular. Kwame Thomas was a regular target from crosses, displaying his impressive athleticism on numerous occasions, though failing to connect as he would like towards goal.
The first guilt-edged chance of the afternoon fell the way of the Lambs, after a defensive mix-up allowed the visitors to break through on goal. However, a hesitant Stefan Mols seemed to take one touch too many as he bore down on Marcus Dewhurst’s penalty area, allowing the Shots’ stopper to claim the ball down at the midfielder’s feet.
Tom Tonks continued to cause problems with his long throws, planting the ball onto the head of Haydn Hollis no more than ten yards from goal. The defender rose well, though failed to get any direction on his effort, nodding straight into the palms of Dewhurst.
Having been foreshadowed for much of the opening half-hour, it was the combination of Archy Taylor and Josh Barrett that would bring the game’s opening goal. The full-back received the ball on the right flank before cutting onto his left and playing an inch-perfect reverse ball into Barrett who had timed his run to perfection to find himself with the freedom of the Tamworth area. The forward looked up to assess his options before unselfishly squaring to Kwame Thomas, who poked the ball in from two yards to rapturous approval from a lively EBB Stadium.
Tamworth’s efforts at equalizing were immediate, most notably through second-striker Joe Riley. The former Manchester United man shaped up to cross into a loaded penalty area from 30-yards out, though seemingly caught everyone off guard after unleashing a powerful strike to the near post, which forced a strong dive from Dewhurst to prevent honours being even once more.
Controversy marred the end of the first half, as an unusual circumstance at the back for the Shots was adjudged to be a pass back, leading to an indirect free-kick for the Lambs within the penalty area. After significant protest, the set-piece was eventually taken, with a low drive from Haydn Hollis squeezing through an extremely congested box and into the back of the net for 1-1. Further complaints from Alan Dowson saw the caretaker boss shown red seconds before the half-time whistle, seeing James Henry – who started the week fourth in charge – leading the home dugout for the fixture’s remainder.
HALF-TIME
The shots would receive a magnificent chance to retain their lead just minutes after the restart, after tremendous work from Ryan Hill down the left saw the full-back infiltrate the Tamworth box before putting in a teasing low cross towards Thomas. While the ball struck a Tamworth boot first, the resulting ricochet fell into the path of an onrushing Archy Taylor 12-yards from goal, though his time strike connected poorly, sailing high and wide of Jas Singh’s goal.
A lengthy pause in play caused by an injury to Joe Riley saw disrupted the flow of the second half significantly, the playmaker eventually limping off with the assistance of his physio team. Tempers continued to flare after a series of unsavory challenges from the Lambs raised decibel levels from the East Bank.
The Shots would turn defence into attack with quarter of an hour to go. A Tamworth corner floated over the head of everyone, with Ben Jackson reacting quickest to start a breakaway on the counter-attack sending forward to Cameron Hargreaves who in turn found Tristan Abrahams baring down on goal. Josh Barrett arrived square screaming for the ball in support, though the substitute was unable to find his fellow forward, cutting inside and eventually losing control of possession.
A largely uneventful and scrappy second-half devolved further into stoppages and inconclusive fouls, as the Shots would go into stoppage time with a feeling of frustration, which would be compounded by a smash and grab winner from Tamworth’s Bec-Ray Enoru in the dying seconds of the game.
Attendance: 2,412 (101 away)
Shots lineup: 1. Marcus Dewhurst, 5. Ben Jackson, 7. Cameron Hargreaves, 9. Kwame Thomas, 10. Josh Barrett (C), 14. Ciaran Gilligan, 19. Ryan Hill, 23. Hady Ghandour (30. Tristan Abrahams 63′), 24. Maxwell Mullins (42. Matt Penney 86′), 28. Archy Taylor, 36. Will Armitage.
Subs not used: 16. Pat Nash, 12. Keane Anderson, 15. Charlie Penman, 18. Kiban Rai, 26. Joe Lewis-Evans.
Tamworth lineup: 1. Jas Singh, 4. Tom Tonks, 5. Kennedy Digie, 8. Ben Milnes, 9. Manny Duku (7. Harvey Sayer 88′), 10. Bec-Ray Enoru, 11. Luke Fairlamb, 14. Stefan Mols (27. Oli Lynch 81′), 15. Kwaku Donkor, 16. Joe Riley (38. Jordan Ponticelli 57′), 26. Haydn Hollis.
Subs not used: 21. Leon Phillips, 2. Matt Curley, 12. Joe Rye, 18. Jordan Cullinane-Liburd.
