The first of two Christmas crackers between Aldershot Town and Woking would finish goalless and level as both ‘keepers Jordi van Stappershoef and Alexis Andre Jr pulled off fantastic saves to take home well earned clean sheets.
Tommy Widdrington returned to the dugout after missing our trip to Chesterfield through illness and his lineup also saw the return of Lorent Tolaj who also missed Aldershot’s final pre-Xmas clash after picking up a knock in the defeat to Eastleigh.
Club Captain Stuart O’Keefe also returned to the starting lineup and partnered Tyler Frost in central midfield in what was otherwise an unchanged side from Saturday.
A fiery game with a big build-up failed to live up to it’s billing in the first 10 minutes, with neither side able to break through and create a chance.
Woking saw the first chance of note in the 14th minute. Padraig Amond found himself in on goal with only Jordi van Stappershoef in the way but the Dutch stopper made a fantastic stop with his feet to keep the deadlock intact.
The Aldershot left-wing has been a very successful passage this season and Ryan Glover, setting Ollie Harfield in on the overlap created the Shots’ first chance of the game a few minutes later, but his cross was blocked behind for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Glover and Tyler Frost linked up with a smart routine that was recycled into the box by Stuart O’Keefe in the centre but Tyler Frost’s looping header was just wide of the mark.
It was another header for the next chance, but this time up the other end in the 19th minute. Rhys Browne was only a few yards out but sent his header wide.
A smart touch from Jack Barham set in Lorent Tolaj after a relatively quiet 10 minute period, but his shot from a tight angle dragged across goal and was just wide at the far-post.
The Shots would have the ball in the back of the net in the 37th minute but the linesman’s flag was raised to deny the jubilant scenes erupting around the EBB Stadium.
Ollie Harfield sent in a curling shot from distance that was parried by Alexis Andre Jr straight to Lorent Tolaj, Stuart O’Keefe’s header was then blocked on the line but Tolaj was able to turn it in; though one of the two was adjudged to be offside in what was an intense scramble.
HALF-TIME (0-0)
The second-half started rather bleakly in comparison to much of the first-half. A dangerous ball into the Shots box was really well dealt with by Ollie Harfield in the 57th minute, but the second-half didn’t bounce into life until the 68th minute.
A sensational effort from Lorent Tolaj from 30 yards out kick-started a flurry of chances for the Shots; despite the distance from goal, Tolaj found the target and Andre Jr was left scrambling to pull off a good save.
A minute later, The Shots were denied from an incredible save from Woking’s ‘keeper. Ryan Glover cut the ball back from the left-wing straight into Kwame Thomas’ path, but his shot was somehow saved as Tolaj sent the rebound well over.
And just two minutes after that, another chance fell the way of Thomas. Jack Barham gambled on a ball over the top from Cian Harries and found himself in but with a tight angle against him, unselfishly sent a low cross to the back-post where Thomas was waiting. He couldn’t bundle the ball in, however, and Tolaj sent another rebound off-target.
But for the flurry of Aldershot chances, Woking remained in the game and almost nicked it themselves in the 79th minute. A ball across the face of the Shots goal fell to Dan Moss’ feet but van Stappershoef pulled off a fantastic reflex save to deny him.
As the game entered the dying stages, Andre Jr again proved to be Aldershot’s nemesis. Josh Stokes found himself in down the right side of the box and looked to square the ball but Woking’s ‘keeper showed good anticipation to intercept the cross with a diving save, before denying Tolaj’s effort from just outside the area.
These would be the last chances of the game with Woking seeing out the final minutes playing for a draw.
Attendance: 5970 (902 away)
- Jordi van Stappershoef, 2. Haji Mnoga, 3. Ollie Harfield, 4. Cian Harries, 5. Coby Rowe, 7. Stuart O’Keefe (C) (39. Kwame Thomas 57′), 8. Tyler Frost, 9. Lorent Tolaj, 10. Josh Stokes, 11. Ryan Glover (27. Tommy Willard 90+2′), 22. Jack Barham (18. Olly Scott 86′).
Subs not used: 20. Joe Haigh, 24. Maxwell Mullins.
