Ryan's Brace Fires Shots

Last updated : 04 April 2006 By Stray Shots Team

This latest success at rivals Gravesend was their first clean sheet for a month, and the first away from home since the Shots won at Cambridge back in November.

And with a tough trip tonight to Tamworth, battling for Conference survival (ko 7.45pm at The Lamb), Brown had every reason to be pleased.

“I'm obviously delighted with the performance, and thought we set about our business well. We would have been happy in the first half going in 0-0 but we scored at the right time, bang before half-time and bang again after which effectively settled the game.

“It was difficult conditions with a blustery wind and bobbly pitch, but once we get our noses in front we are very dangerous on the break,” said Brown.

This fixture fell rather nicely for the Shots with Gravesend boss Liam Daish suffering the effects of an injury-hit squad.

And the Shots took full advantage with their pace causing the home side trouble, as they cruised into a 3-0 lead.

The Shots too had injury worries to contend with, full-backs Darren Barnard (shoulder) and Lewis Hamilton were out injured, as Hassan Sulaiman and Matt Somner were recalled to first team action.

Also, the departure of Greg Heald after last week's defeat at home to Scarborough meant a first start for youngster Dave Winfield.

Brown added: “I'm certainly pleased with my two centre halves, we were without our two usual full backs and our best centre half of the season so to come away and keep a clean sheet is a bonus.

“Dave Winfield is a talented boy he is only just 18 but he is big, strong and brave and he's got masses of potential. A couple of saves from Nikki [Bull] late on kept the first clean sheet for yonks so may there be many more.”

While there is no chance of play-offs this season, this anti-climatic end of season run-in meant Brown named his most inexperienced bench ever as he looked to run the rule over potential signings for next season.

On the bench were new recruits Reading youngster Ryan Crockford, winger Mazin Ahmad, recently captured from Kingstonian, and Watford striker Kyle Matthews.

The boss went on: “I'm looking to next season so it means looking at every game in a critical way rather than enjoying the fact we're able to win.

“I didn't see enough of the new boys today to say whether they will be a massive influence on the future of this club.

“I need to know that they're not just capable of putting together four or five wins at the end of the season, but capable of going out there and mounting a challenge for the title next season.”

With Saturday's match meaning very little between two sides expected to finish in mid-table mediocrity, a lively opening was a welcome sight.

It was the Shots who registered the first attack, a neat move starting with Ryan Williams on the wing squaring to Kirk Hudson.

He in turn fed the perfect ball through to Gary Holloway, he tried to round the keeper but his low effort was gathered comfortably by his namesake, and fellow ex-Farnborough Town player Craig Holloway.

Another former Farnborough man, Leroy Griffiths also went close for the Shots, doing well to beat off markers James Smith and Scott Gooding, only to see his cross headed over by Gravesend's Ross Smith.

A foot lower and the diving header would have made a superb own goal.

At the other end, Jay Saunders had his header cleared by Matt Somner, while Danny Slatter's free kick from 40 yards was blasted well over the bar.

On 17 minutes though the home side were dealt a major blow when former Aldershot target Mark Rawle — currently on loan from Woking — had to be stretchered off with a hamstring pull after taking a tumble in the box under pressure from Ian Simpemba.

The Shots took full advantage and might have netted soon after when Gary Holloway put Griffiths through, only for Craig Holloway to gather.

But with half-time just seconds away, the Shots finally broke the deadlock, and in unusual circumstances — a header from tiny tearaway Ryan Williams!

Steve Watson's delivery caused havoc in the Gravesend area, keeper Holloway and defender Smith bizarrely went to ground to challenge the diminutive winger but the ball bounced up nicely for him to nod home.

Then, just 35 seconds into the second half, the Shots made it two with the same Watson/Williams combination involved.

Picking up Watson's pass, Williams cut inside and from the edge of the box he unleashed a shot that flew into the top corner.

Victory was sealed ten minutes later when Griffiths fed strike partner Kirk Hudson with the perfect ball and he showed superb composure to draw the keeper out before slotting home his second Aldershot goal.

The hosts tried in vain to hit back with substitute Bradley Johnson proving the biggest threat. He though, blasted his two opportunities wide.

Ashley Fuller had a shot that flashed across the face of goal from a tight angle but Bull was little troubled.

Indeed, he was only really called on in injury time as he first thwarted Slatter, then parried away from Robert Watkins' header, to deservedly record a clean sheet as the Shots claimed a 3-0 victory at Stonebridge Road for the second season running.

With Barnard and Hamilton unlikely to return for this evening's trip to Mark Cooper's Tamworth, an unchanged side is likely to be named, although Tobi Jinadu should also be back in contention after injury.

Brown added: “Tamworth are scrapping for their lives, they'll be direct and going for every ball so we can expect a battle.”

With thanks to the Aldershot News