Adele Matthews reports from Gander Green Lane…
Aldershot Town continue their winless drought at Gander Green Lane as Sutton United come out trumps against a struggling Shots side.
Two early goals, courtesy of Harry Beautyman and former-Shot Brett Williams in the opening six minutes left the Shots trailing behind. Reece Grant managed to claw back a goal in the 23rd minute, but their earlier mistakes ultimately cost them.
Jake Cole returned to the squad as a replacement for Will Mannion, who was left on the bench. Centre-forward, Gerry McDonagh also returned following his absence against Maidenhead United.
As Aldershot prepared to fight for three points, the opening six minutes could not have begun any worse. Alex Finney chased the tailend of a long-ball forward for Beautyman and headed it towards Cole, who failed to collect it and Beautyman snuck it past the keeper.
Two minutes later and Sutton doubled their lead from a set-piece. A long free-kick found Nicky Bailey who headed it towards Williams. Sutton’s newly-signed striker peddled his shot around Cole at the first attempt.
The Shots grabbed one back when Reece Grant looped a shot from 15 yards out. The ball took a deflection off a defender and looped over Jamie Butler and gracefully landed into the back of the net.
Matt McClure flicked a clever pass forward for Grant to access, however in doing so, the striker collided with Butler just as the exchange was ruled offside.
Early into the second half, Gime Toure left the home side exasperated when the striker drove an opportunity from four-yards straight over the top-post. It was a very poor execution for a heavily dominant Sutton United.
On the counter-attack from an Adam McDonnell free-kick, Sutton chased the ball through the middle. Marvin McCoy aided the attack by accidentally providing a through-ball but Jake Gallagher managed to close in on them and the attempted shot rolled wide.
McDonnell whipped in another set-piece which just swerved the top-post in the final quarter of the game.
Within six minutes of added time, Brandon Thomas-Asante, who was booked for a foul on Lewis Kinsella, raced through on goal with Dominic Bernard close behind. With an angled attempt, his shot flew over the goal and into the stand behind.
With the Maidenhead fixture fast approaching on New Years Day, the Shots need a win to distance themselves from the relegation zone and to start 2019 on a positive note.
ALDERSHOT TOWN: Cole, McCoy, Bernard, Finney, Kinsella, Gallagher, McDonnell, Wanadio, McClure, Grant (Booty 80), McDonagh.
Subs not used: Mannion, Lelan, Bozier.
