The Shots left it late to seal victory at Yeovil but their determination and, in fairness, dominance saw Giles Phillips and Tommy Willard gave their side a 2-0 win.
Justin Amaluzor started the game behind the strikers in a much narrower role than usual but his pace was still dangerous. A neat dummy freed some space for him to run into, he slotted Tommy Willard in but his shot from a wider angle than he’d have liked could only force Grant Smith into a good save low down.
Whilst neither team could really grab control of the game in the opening 30 minutes it was perhaps The Shots who had more momentum. Whilst they were unable to threaten Smith’s goal, a trademark venture forward and shot from distance by Tyler Cordner did come close.
A lovely backheel from the ever-elaborate Tommy Willard set Ryan Glover free on the halfway line. With Inih Effiong free on the right, it was two-on-one counter attack but Glover’s touch was heavy and Josh Staunton recovered the ball for Yeovil.
Justin Amaluzor and Willard were linking up well and looked dangerous on the counter. A one-two between the pair set Justin off but his shot was blocked and bounced back off of him and out for a goal kick.
The Shots were again frustrated by a heavy touch at the wrong time – though tonight’s surface was wet and zippy. A defensive mistake by the hosts gave Glover space down the right wing, the ball eventually found it’s way over to Ollie Harfield on the left with a clear sight of goal but his touch escaped him as the ball went harmlessly out for a goal-kick.
HALF-TIME
Aldershot began the second-half with a couple of blocked shots as they continued to look the most threatening without really threatening the goal. In the 57th minute, Frank Vincent received the ball after a mix-up between two Yeovil defenders from a brilliant knock forward by Tyler Cordner but Vincent’s shot was high and wide.
As with the first 45, it was a case of the nearlys for The Shots with a number of attacking moves just not working out and when shots were taken, were blocked.
The closest Shots came to taking the lead was pure fluke. A clearance was blocked by Justin Amaluzor and was inches away from lobbing Grant Smith.
Aldershot’s unlikely danger man Tyler Cordner came close not long after with another shot from distance. This one a curler, it was narrowly wide of the goal.
The Shots kept knocking at the door with a string of corners and finally they powered through a stubborn Yeovil defence through Giles Phillips’ head! Ollie Harfield’s corner was cleared but he re-delivered and Giles was free in the middle and there was no stopping his header.
And The Shots constant pressure was rewarded as full-time approached. Tommy Willard would have been forgiven for keeping the ball in the corner but instead he played it to Effiong who quickly found Faysal Bettache who instantly flicked it to Willard who finished a beautiful bit of football.
Shots lineup: 1. Luca Ashby-Hammond, 2. Archie Davies, 3. Ollie Harfield, 4. Joe Partington (C) (12. Kenny Davis 60′), 5. Tyler Cordner, 7. Justin Amaluzor, 8. Frank Vincent, 9. Inih Effiong, 22. Giles Phillips, 23. Ryan Glover (17. Faysal Bettache 75′), 27. Tommy Willard. Subs not used: 16. Corey Jordan, 20. Michael Klass, 33. Alex McAllister.
