The squad travelled to Beaconsfield in a confident mood, having won their last two games, including the win against Shanklin from the previous week.
Coach Jamie Woodfield had to re-shuffle the pack as ‘keeper Lesley Hubbard dropped out late due to work commitments, along with Nikki Moore. As a result Holly Gayler donned the gloves for the second time this season (the other being the FA Cup win over Portsmouth University).
Sian Houghton was moved across to right midfield, and Tara Coles returned from illness to slot in as the holding midfielder.
On a dry, bumpy pitch the early exchanges were frantic with both teams taking a while to get into the game. The Shots, courtesy of North, Shephard and Coles, were starting to win the ball in central midfield and several balls over the top saw the Slough defence in disarray on numerous occasions.
Tracy Marlow had her shirt pulled twice by an opposing defender; however this went unpunished to the disappointment of the striker. Breaking free again, Marlow shot against the keeper, only for her shot to rebound off herself and to Jade Ferguson, who slotted home but was adjudged offside.
Again Aldershot broke, this time with Ferguson, only to be closed down quickly by the Beaconsfield goalkeeper. Beaconsfield were limited to long range efforts and half-chances in the first half, but nothing too troubling for the back three of Funnell, Smith and Marsh.
HALF TIME: Beaconsfield SYCOB 0 Aldershot Town 0
The game continued in its scrappy manner at the start of the second half but the deadlock was finally broken in the visitor’s favour. A good passing move by the Shots on the edge of the box saw the ball fall to Kirsty Strachan. With quick feet she evaded a tackle and blasted the ball into the net.
The celebrations were short however when barely two minutes later, after having several chances to clear the ball, the Shots placed goalkeeper Gayler under unnecessary pressure. Gayler fumbled the ball, leaving Beaconsfield the easy opportunity to slot home.
The aggression was starting to develop on the pitch as the game wore on, as the home supporters encouraged their team and strong tackles were made on the pitch. The Shots deservedly retook the lead when North was played through to the edge of the area and she shot across goal to beat the stretching keeper.
Coles continued to dominate the midfield, breaking up play and distributing sensibly and Shots looked comfortable again in the lead.
Again however chances to clear the ball were not taken and a shot by a Beaconsfield player was handled by Furnell in the area, resulting in a clear penalty which was comfortably converted. Neither team in the last ten minutes could find a winner.
FULL TIME: Beaconsfield SYCOB 2 Aldershot Town 2
Shots’ squad
1. Holly Gayler
2. Amber Marsh
4. Di Smith
5. Tara Coles
6. Sian Houghton
7. Emma North
10. Caz Shephard
11. Jade Ferguson
12. Tracy Marlow
16. Kirsty Strachan
17. Laura Funnell
9. Kirsty Palfreyman
Referee
Bill Baines (Berkshire)
Venue
Beaconsfield SYCOB FC, Beaconsfield
“My ladies are disappointed after that. We were clearly the better ‘footballing’ team but this does not always get you the right result. We had good chances today but we didn’t take enough of them. Again the referee was disappointing. When he knows opposing players by their Christian names you have to wonder and worry – he simply was not good enough or fit enough for this standard of football today.” – Jamie Woodfield, Manager