Although they’ve entered record-breaking territory, Aldershot Town will continue to go in search for that elusive three points on Tuesday evening when another of the promotion chasing sides provide the opposition.
With a club record equalling nine games without a win and a new club record of fifteen draws in a season being notched up at Adams Park at the weekend, The Shots have certainly shown they are more than a match for the top sides in the league this season, but have continually failed to demonstrate that they are any better – and the league table reflects that very fact.
Both former manager Kevin Dillon and new boss Dean Holdsworth continue to believe that their sides are close to dishing out a thrashing, but with the season moving in to the final straights, time is running out for that to become a reality and avoiding being drawn into the League Two relegation dog-fight will be the overriding objective as Holdsworth looks to add the names of players that he wants to appear on his squad list for the 2010-11 campaign – when he can truly stamp his own authority onto the clubs future.
Aldershot enter the match in 18th place with 39 points from 34 games while Torquay just outside of the play off places in 8th, with 48 points having played a game less.
Shots Team News
There’ll be another tough task ahead for The Shots as they take to the field against the Gulls, but it will be one that the side are relishing as they look to iron out the little mistakes that are the difference between three points and one.
Those errors are becoming fewer and further between, but there will be little comfort for the players until they eradicate them all from their game under the direction of Holdsworth, who continues to instil his own ideas on the side, following the previous regime.
Speaking to the Premium Shots ahead of the match Holdsworth said: ”The fans know we’re going in the right direction and you can’t fool the fans. We could talk and try to paper over the cracks sometimes, but you can’t fool fans.
”They know what we’re trying to do, I think they can see it and I think they’re enjoying it and we know what we do get a win, it will be for them.”
Jack Randall remains out for the rest of the season [broken leg] and Alex Rodman [calf] both remain on the sidelines while Jamie Vincent looks to have played his last match for the club as his release continues to be negotiated by all parties. Damian Spencer [Eastbourne Borough] and Reece Connolly [Dorchester Town] both remain out on loan.
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, Albert Jarrett and Tim Sills.
The Opposition
Paul Buckle believes that his side can make a serious bid for the play off places this season, but only if his team can continue to produce the kind of performance that helped them see off Stevenage at the weekend and he is looking for a repeat performance against The Shots on Tuesday evening.
Speaking to the media after the victory he said: ”We have to maintain this performance.
”We will have to get a result like this [2-0 vs Stevenage] every week to get to the play-off’s”
With four wins and just one defeat in their last seven games, it’s the sort of run that The Shots have been dreaming off all season and it will certainly stand the Gulls in good stead if they can continue their run at the EBB Stadium.
Buckle will wait to make a decision on Billy Kee following an ankle problem which saw him only last 27-minutes of his sides match at the weekend. There’s also no news on whether or not Buckle will have managed to secure the loan signing that he is hoping to bring in this week.
Torquay United from: Scott Bevan, Danny Potter, Lathanial Rowe-Turner, Kevin Nicholson, Mark Ellis, Chris Robertson, Craig Stanley, Lee Mansell, Billy Kee, Jake Robinson, Eunan O’Kane, Ryan Gilligan, Lloyd Macklin, Wayne Carlisle, Saul Halpin, Joe Oastler, Danny Stevens, Damian Lathrope, Guy Branston, Ashley Yeoman, Ed Palmer, Chris Zebroski, Ashley Hemmings and Ben Pringle.
- You can visit the official Torquay website here.
Taking Charge
Carl Berry will be taking charge of the match and will be assisted by David Rock and Mark Russell. Ian Crouch is the fourth official.
Weather Forecast
The BBC weather forecast for the match is given as clear sky with highs of 5°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.