Aldershot Town take on the leagues bottom two clubs over the next four days, and although they will enter each match in the unfamiliar role of ”favourites”, there will be nothing taken for granted from Dean Holdsworth’s side as they look to continue their four game unbeaten run.
With just ten games of the season remaining, safety is almost within touching distance for The Shots however for Hatters caretaker boss Ray Mathias, the story is a very different matter.
Just nine games remain for the visitors to claw their way to safety and victory against The Shots will certainly help them on their way, but with Holdsworth’s men looking to gain safety for themselves, there will certainly be no favours being offered at 3pm.
The Shots enter the match in 15th place in League Two with 45 points from 36 games, while the Hatters are bottom of the table with 32 points having played a game more.
Shots Team News
Another draw will see The Shots set a new club record for league draws in a season (16) however it will be all three that the side will be looking for but there will be no formality about the game.
Speaking to the Premium Shots on Wednesday evening, the boss highlighted the importance of not underestimating the opposition saying: ”We’ve got to really concentrate on our own game and concentrate on what’s important to us, not on everybody else. Not to be complacent and not to expect Stockport to come here and roll over, because they wont – they’ll be fighting for their lives.
”I’ve watched them and they’ve been creating chances and they’ve got a couple of decent players there and they’ll be working their socks off so we’ve got to make sure that we’re concentrating fully on our performance.
The Shots will continue without Jack Randall [broken leg] and Reece Connolly [on loan at Dorchester Town], however with Alex Rodman and Damian Spencer (who is poised to make his 350th career appearance as soon as he is selected).
Shots from: Jamie Young, Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz, Ben Herd, Simon Grand, Luke Guttridge, Anthony Straker, Darren Jones, Anthony Charles, Ben Harding, Danny Hylton, Manny Panther, Aaron Morris, John Halls, Peter Vincenti, Clayton Fortune, Jermaine McGlashan, Wade Small, Luke Medley, Alex Rodman, Damian Spencer, Albert Jarrett, Adam Mekki and Tim Sills.
The Opposition
The Hatters will be hoping that it won’t be a case of previous history repeating itself when they return up the motorway on Saturday evening, given that the Greater Manchester side failed to record a single victory against the “old Shots” on their travels, however Septembers fight-back after being 2-0 down at Edgeley Park which saw them earn a share of the spoils will certainly give the visitors belief that they do have the ability to match their opposition and like many struggling sides, including The Shots for large parts of the season, it’s a matterof consistency.
That belief was underlined last weekend when Ray Mathias saw his side pick up their first point under his leadership, having taken on the care-taker role the previous week and the 64-year old is under no illusions about the task in hand if the Hatters are to continue their 106 year run in the Football League.
”It’s tough, it’s very, very tough,” he told the local media during the week.
”We’ve got nine games left and everybody will laugh when we say we need 18 points. Where there’s life, there’s hope and we’ll keep going.
”The thing we’ve got to do is get back-to-back results. The fans have stuck with the players and the club and that’s what we need to keep this club going.
”Hopefully we can stay in the League and stop all the worrying.”
The Hatters will be boosted by the return of both Mansour Assoumani and Alan Goodall after recent injuries however Danny Swailes and Danny O’Donnell both remain sidelined while Ryan Doble has returned to Southampton following the end of his loan spell.
Stockport from: Ian McLoughlin, Ian Ormson, Matthew Glennon, Mark Lynch, Alan Goodall, Paul Turnbull, Mansour Assoumani, James Vincent, Greg Tansey, Anthony Elding, Matthew Paterson, Adam Griffin, David Poole, Matty Mainwaring, James Wallace, Andy Halls, Daniel Rowe, Tom Fisher, Jordan Rose, Jake Simpson, Craig Roberts, Cameron Darkwah, Aaron Brown and Daniel Whitehead.
- You can visit the official Stockport County website here.
Taking Charge
Steve Rushton will be taking charge of the match and will be assisted by Colin Lymer and Paul Rees. Charles Breakspear is the fourth official.
Weather Forecast
The BBC weather forecast for the match given as sunny with highs of 9°C.
Ticket News
Tickets for the match are set at:
Adult seats: £19, terrace: £17.
Concession (Over 60s, Military and students (both on production of ID cards only) seats: £15, terrace: £13.
Under 16s seats: £8, terrace £6.
For information on Family and Disabled ticket prices, please click here.
The match is not all-ticket and supporters can pay on the turnstiles on the day.
Other News
- BBC Radio Surrey
Supporters unable to make the match can hear live coverage from the match on BBC Radio Surrey (on 104.6 fm) which is brought to you by the regular team of Gavin Denison and Aldershot Town Media Manager Steve Gibbs.
Supporters are reminded that there is no internet coverage of this match.