A point at the LNER Community Stadium proved enough for Aldershot to secure their place in the Vanarama National League for another season as Tyler Frost’s late equaliser rescued a good Shots performance.
The Shots named an unchanged side from their midweek win over Wealdstone with Ollie Harfield (rib) still not fit enough to start but Tyler Frost (knee) making his return to the Shots side via the bench.
It took more than 10 minutes to see the games first real sight at goal and it came to the Shots via Jack Barham. Tahvon Campbell and Barham continued their blossoming partnership with the former dinking a ball through to the latter who coulld only blast his shot over the bar from the edge of the area.
Barham saw himself with another opportunity not long after but his effort on target from a similar position was blocked though not out of danger, as it looped up towards York’s goal and narrowly went over the bar and hit the roof of the net.
But, despite the Shots forward line creating the early danger, it was centre-back Haji Mnoga who gave Aldershot the lead in the 16th minute. A Ryan Glover corner got a slight flick on from Joe Partington and Mnoga made sure the ball hit the back of the net to give his side an early lead.
Aldershot continued to look the more likely to push on and add to their early goal but were unable to threaten Ryan Whitley’s goal anymore. Tommy Willard was popping up down both wings and causing both full-backs problems but the Shots had to settle for a one goal lead at the break.
HALF-TIME
The Shots carried on into the second-half the way they went into the break as Barham again found himself with a chance but his shot on the turn was narrowly over the bar.
York – who had, in truth, played poorly and barely threatened Luca Ashby-Hammond’s goal – had a lifeline in the 56th minute when Shaqai Forde was brought down in the box by Josh McQuoid. Lennell John-Lewis stepped up to take the penalty and slotted it down the middle to equalise.
And the Minstermen were gifted the opportunity to take the lead from 12 yards when they were awarded another penalty. This time it was Luca Ashby-Hammond who clattered into John-Lewis. However, the York skipper missed, hitting the post.
But, the ball bounced back into action and caused a bit of chaos in the Shots area and as the ball was recycled back into the area, it hit Corey Jordan’s head and flew past Ashby-Hammond seeing York take the lead through an own goal.
The hosts should have then had a third a couple of minutes later. Olly Dyson was found at the back-post and his header crashed against the far post. The ball fell to the feet of John-Lewis but he couldn’t react quick enough and saw his snapshot effort fly high and wide from a couple of yards out with the goal wide open.
York’s failure to put the game to bed was punished as Aldershot were able to rescue a point in the 90th minute. Another Ryan Glover corner was converted with Tyler Frost firing the ball into the back of the net to ensure that the points would be shared.
Shots lineup: 1. Luca Ashby-Hammond, 2. Myles Kenlock (3. Ollie Harfield 74′), 4. Joe Partington (c) (7. Justin Amaluzor 83′), 5. Tyler Cordner, 9. Tahvon Campbell, 10. Josh McQuoid, 16. Corey Jordan, 22. Haji Mnoga, 23. Ryan Glover, 27. Tommy Willard (8. Tyler Frost 74′), 30. Jack Barham. Subs not used: 7. Justin Amaluzor, 15. Jai Rowe, 18. Henry Ochieng.
