Jaden Harris and Tommy Willard were on the scoresheet as Aldershot ran out 3-0 victors away to Slough as preparations for the 2022/23 Vanarama National League season continued.
Aldershot enjoyed the better of an even opening 10, Justin Amaluzor and Trialist A coming close before a fine piece of footwork saw Tommy Willard create an opening and play an inviting ball to Jaden Harris, who saw his pull back converted into a goal courtesy of a Slough defender.
Slough enjoyed their best spell of the game just after the goal, but neither side was able to find another breakthrough, with Joe Partington going closest following his drilled effort straight into the grasp of the keeper as the game headed towards the break.
Shots ended the half strongly, Willard and Harris once again proving difficult for the Slough defence as they worked an opening in the 39th minute, but a cross went agonisingly past everyone in the box, and 2 minutes later Justin Amaluzor came close, seeing his effort saved before Inih Effiong headed the rebound onto the crossbar.
The score remained 1-0 as the referee drew the first half to a close, and the beginning of the second half saw the Shots first 2 changes of the afternoon came at half time, as Trialist B and Trialist C replaced Jordan and Effiong.
Aldershot struck again in the 52nd minute after a well worked move, Jaden Harris playing a slick 1-2 with Trialist B to go one on one with the Slough keeper, making no mistake as he slotted the ball low into the bottom right corner to double the Shots lead.
Shots added a third in the 57th minute thanks to a lovely solo effort from Tommy Willard, as he got on the end of a through ball and took on the Slough defence as he drove into the box, before wrong footing the keeper to finish off his run and all but wrap up the game for Aldershot with less than an hour on the clock.
Aldershot began to take real control of the game, making a floury of changes to freshen up the team around the hour mark, with scorers Tommy Willard and Jaden Harris both departing, with only Harfield, Davies and Ashby-Hammond lasting the full 90.
The changes made the impact for Shots, as most of the action began to take place at the Slough end, with their keeper forced into a few good saves down low to keep the score at 3-0. Trialist B was making a real impact down the right, but unfortunately many of his crosses could not be converted into goals for Aldershot.
Aldershot couldn’t capitalise on their dominance to end the game, but alas it made no difference, as the three goals were enough to wrap up a dominant victory for the Shots. The three in the scoresheet today makes it seven goals in two games for the Shots, with Aldershot’s first home pre-season friendly on the horizon against Crawley next Saturday.
Aldershot Town XI: L Ashby-Hammond (G/K), A Davies, C Jordan (Trialist B, 46’), T Cordner (M Mullins, 68’), O Harfield, J Partington (J Ngalo, 60’), J Harris (K Anderson, 60’), Trialist A (Trialist D, 68’), J Amaluzor (F Amartey, 60’), I Effiong (Trialist C, 46’), T Willard (H Panayiotou, 60’)