Aldershot will be left wondering how they haven’t finished the Boxing Day derby with Woking with three points as a dominant second-half finished level at 2-2.
The Shots twice had to come from behind as Harry Beautyman opened the scoring from the spot and Tyler Frost equalised, before a spectacular Josh Barrett free-kick levelled things up again after Frank Vincent put Woking back in front not long after the break.
The game didn’t start off in the way the 5412 supporters were hoping as a quiet opening to the game ended when Inih Effiong drew a challenge from Christian Maghoma that Referee Wayne Cartmel deemed worthy of a penalty.
Cian Harries had scored eight times from the spot for Aldershot Town last season but perhaps couldn’t handle the pressure on his return to the EBB Stadium as Harry Beautyman stepped up and converted the penalty straight down the middle.
The game didn’t exactly burst into life, however, as neither side were ready to take control. A long Ryan Jones throw in was flicked towards goal by Dan Ellison five minutes after the goal, but it hit the side netting.
An emphatic equaliser from Tyler Frost in the 28th minute was what the game needed, however. Ryan Jones continued his recent good form and delivered a low cross from the left that Frost controlled and fired past Will Jaaskelainen to draw his side level.
And witihin five minutes, both sides had chances to go in front as first, Beautyman came close to scoring a second as his shot looked destined for the bottom corner until Ryan Jones popped up to make a crucial intervention and clear the danger on the half-hour.
Three minutes later and a superb curling effort from Jack Barham via his weaker left-foot rattled the frame of the goal with Jaaskelainen well beaten from the edge of the box.
HALF-TIME
The first-half had been a fairly even affair, but the visitors took the initiative in the second-half as they regained the lead just five minutes into the resumed action.
An unfortunate bounce off a Shots defender fell to Frank Vincent who fired past Marcus Dewhurst form close-range to score against his former side.
But that was it from Woking this afternoon as Aldershot Town took control of the game and began to dominate. Looking for his second goal, Frost launched a curling effort from distance that had to be saved well by Jaaskelainen, turning it round the post at full stretch.
Josh Barrett was introduced just after the hour and the visiting defence will certainly be wishing that wasn’t the case as the Shots’ number 10 entered the action with purpose, winning a corner after being found by a neat chip from Dejan Tetek.
From that corner, Barrett fizzed a ball into the box that Dan Ellison headed to the edge of area for Frost to volley just wide of the post.
And just five minutes after coming on, Josh Barrett scored a sensational equaliser. Lining up a free-kick from 25-yards out, the midfielder found the top corner, which even Jaaskelainen’s Father, Jussi, would have barely had a chance at saving in his prime.
A seemingly over hit cross from Jack Barham found Ryan Jones 10 minutes later, but cutting in on to his right-foot, Jones fired past the post.
As the game entered it’s final 10 minutes, the Shots were in complete control and looking like the side who would go on to take all three points. In the 83rd minute, Barrett almost stole the show with a chipped effort from the edge of the box that Jaaskelainen had to tip over the bar at full stretch.
From the resulting corner, Barrett and Frosty drew two more stops out of Jaaskelainen who was doing a very good job of keeping his side in the game as Aldershot ramped up the pressure.
Dejan Tetek had had a very strong game in midfield and his creativity was fully on show in the 88th minute as he burst in from the left via a stepover leaving him space to shoot and bend a superb effort against the bar as the frame of the goal denied the Shots for the second time.
But Aldershot couldn’t find the winner their performance deserved and had to settle for a Boxing Day point.
Attendance: 5412 (1018 Away)
Shots lineup: 28. Marcus Dewhurst, 5. Christian Maghoma, 7. Cameron Hargreaves (6. Theo Widdrington, 78′), 8. Tyler Frost, 11. Ryan Jones, 17. Aaron Jones (C), 18. Olly Scott, 22. Jack Barham, 27. James Henry (10. Josh Barrett, 61′), 34. Dejan Tetek (9. Kai Corbett, 90+3′), 35. Dan Ellison.
Subs not used: 1. Jordi van Stappershoef, 2. Lachlan Byrd, 19. Jonny Stuttle, 24. Maxwell Mullins.
Woking lineup: 22. Will Jaaskelainen, 4. Cian Harries, 7. Harry Beautyman, 8. Dale Gorman (C), 12. Inih Effiong (10. Lewis Walker, 86′), 15. Adam Chicksen, 16. Tunji Akinola, 17. Matt Ward (11. Dennon Lewis, 86′), 23. Jermaine Anderson, 27. Dion Kelly-Evans, 30. Frank Vincent (19. Jack Stretton, 73′).
Subs not used: 28. Ollie Webber, 6. Jamie Andrews, 18. Raheem Conte, 24. Rohan Ince.
