Shots took the points comfortably against young opposition in this totesport.com Combination fixture. Youth team Head Coach took charge, with Kevin Dillon watching from the stand.
Gillingham made the early running as the home side took their time to settle. In the first minute Rashid Yussuf's fierce shot was diminished by Rhys Tyler's outstretched leg allowing Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz time to get behind the ball. Josh Casey was also called upon to make a crucial clearance after Jaimez-Ruiz had parried Louis Cumbers' close-range effort. The Shot's stopper also saved by fisting out Jack Payne's header, and tipping Chris Palmer's drive over the bar, in a lively opening 10 minutes.
Aldershot, playing a 442 formation as the first team did last night, began to dominate from the twentieth minute onwards. Omar Riza was a composed presence in centre midfield, and it was Riza's patient run and passing exchange with Damian Spencer that found space for Kirk Hudson, ending with Hudson pulling his shot wide across goal. Spencer and Riza again combined effectively with the big target man laying off for Riza to attack, beat a defender and fire a shot on goal drawing Gillingham keeper Daren Hawkes' first save.
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