Report: Aldershot Town 4-3 Maidenhead United

 

The Magpies recent revival was checked at the EBB Stadium on Saturday as Aldershot Town edged a seven-goal thriller on an afternoon on which defences definitely were not on top. 

 

There were ten goals across the two games between the sides last season, so it was no surprise to see the scoring opened as early as the third minute. A shot was blocked by the Magpies but the rebound fell to the Shots experienced summer signing James Henry who thrashed an excellent effort through a crowd of players and into the net from the edge of the area. The hosts started like a house on fire, looking to avenge their 4-0 defeat at York Road back in March and they should have gone two up after a quick move down their right end with the ball moved into the box for Kai Corbett who saw his shot well saved by Craig Ross with Kevin Lokko clearing the loose ball off the line. 

 

Having been given that let off, United rallied and equalized within minutes. Some familiar magic on the left saw Reece Smith dance to the byline and pull the ball back into the penalty area for Tristan Abrahams to score at the near post. Two goals in the opening twelve minutes and there was little let up in the action to follow. 

 

Manager’s son Theo Widdrington threaded a ball over the top to Hady Ghandour for the hosts and despite Massey’s initial challenge the ball rebounded kindly for Henry who this time saw his shot from similar range blocked. Ghandour was later denied on the turn by smart defending by the Magpies on loan Owen Cochrane at the expense of a corner. The Magpies had the last chance of the half when Smith and substitute Bradley Keetch linked up with the latter’s chipped effort drifting over. 

 

Into the second period, United had a good early chance when this time Keetch fed Smith at the far post who was well denied by Shots stopper Marcus Dewhurst. Just as United had scored after a good opening for Aldershot, so did the Shots get on the scoresheet moments after a good Maidenhead chance as within minutes of Smith’s opportunity some hesitant defending let in Olly Scott to notch with a composed finish. 

 

Back came Maidenhead within two minutes of going behind again when Abrahams turned in the box and scored from a tight angle but unfortunately it was three goals in five minutes when Craig Ross pulled off an excellent save from Ghandour only for Corbett to restore the Aldershot lead. With a little under twenty minutes to go the game looked done when substitute Jack Barham added a fourth with another excellent finish but United were back in it with the final goal of the game with twelve minutes of normal time remaining as a handball on the edge of the box was punished ruthlessly as Lokko diverted Abrahams free-kick home at the far post. 

 

Magpies: Ross, Lokko, Latty-Fairweather, Ferguson, Mitchell-Lawson (sub Carvalho '70), Johnson (sub Keetch '38), Pettit (sub McCoulsky '80), Smith, Cochrane (sub Welch-Hayes) '70, Abrahams, Massey. 

 

Subs not used: Collins, De Havilland, Ajose. 

 

Shots: Dewhurst, Harfield, Maghoma, Widdrington (sub Tetek '76), Hargreaves, Corbett (sub Barham '64), Scott (sub Byrd '90), Akpan, Ghandour (sub Bray '90), Menayese, Henry (sub Jones '90). 

 

Subs not used: van Stappershoef, Jones.