Shots See Off Stafford

Last updated : 31 August 2006 By Stray Shots Team

Terry Brown's men now sit in sixth place in the Conference — just three points off the league summit — going into a month that could define the rest of their season, with some major hurdles to clear coming up fast.

Speaking before the weekend's fixtures, the manager admitted that four points was the absolute minimum he would accept and while Brown will be relieved to have hit that target, on the face of it Aldershot really should have claimed all six.

In Saturday's match with Dagenham & Redbridge, the Shots seemed to tail off after a strong first half showing and put in a lifeless, drab display in the second 45 and were lucky to escape with a draw after the visitors took the lead with just six minutes remaining.

However, it was a job well done at Stafford two days later, and despite a shaky first half performance, the Shots returned from the interval with a confident swagger, and perhaps a flea in their ears, to deliver one of their most convincing displays of the season thus far.

Speaking after Monday's match, the boss said: “I wasn't in the best of moods coming to Stafford today because I feel we've let too many points slip this season.

“I viewed this as a very difficult fixture as they're a decent side but I couldn't be more delighted with the performance and to have kept a clean sheet.

“We need to keep more clean sheets. It's not about playing brilliant football, it's about winning games and you only do that by being solid and not conceding.

“We needed to give a more composed performance at the back after a slow start and Andy Edwards came in again today and made a massive difference. It was the extra heart and extra strength that we needed.

“I thought long and hard about changing the system to compensate for Stafford's aerial strength but I said that if we were going to play wide players they'd have to graft their socks off and they did that.”

Stafford have made a good start to life in the Conference and their confidence in front of the Marston Road faithful was clear to see as they controlled much of the opening exchanges.

The visitors got a warning shot across their boughs after 11 minutes when Robin Gibson flashed a left footed shot over the bar and had Nikki Bull to thank 13 minutes later when the lively Guy Madjo nearly broke the deadlock.

With the midfield scrapping for possession, the ball suddenly looped up to Dean Smith on the edge of the area, but the young right back let it run past him, allowing Madjo in on the left.

The striker, who has been linked with the Shots on numerous occasions, cut back on to his right foot before smashing a low drive towards the corner, but Bull got down to make an instinctive save and keep the scores level.

Right on the half hour mark though, Marcus Gayle showed Madjo how it should be done when he tucked away the Shots' first clearcut chance.

John Grant picked the ball up in his own half and burst forward at pace, holding off two defenders, before releasing Ryan Williams on the left of the area.

The diminutive winger took one touch, before delivering an inch perfect cross to Gayle eight yards out at the far post, who held off Liam Murray to head past Dean Williams in the Stafford goal to make it 1-0.

Just seven minutes later though, Madjo pounced on a Rhys Day mistake at the back and flashed a shot inches wide of the right post. Then with 40 minutes gone, the striker got behind the defence once more, only to send another effort wide of the left post when he should have done better.

Ged Murphy then spurned a gilt-edged chance before the break when he volleyed over from eight yards but it was Aldershot who took the initiative as soon as the second half started, with Grant and Ryan Scott going close before the second goal came.

On 67 minutes, Louie Soares blocked a tackle in his own area and then flew down the right touchline. Riding two challenges, he used his searing pace to move into space before delivering a cross right into the feet of Grant.

The striker turned his man beautifully and poked the ball high into the roof of the net from close range to double the Shots' lead.

That goal effectively signified the end of the contest and the visiting defence easily contained any threat from Stafford, before Ryan Williams sealed the win just before the full-time whistle.

With the home fans streaming out the doors, Wayne Daniel failed to deal with a long ball from the back, heading it straight to the onrushing Scott.

Despite a heavy touch from the midfielder, Daniel slipped, allowing Scott all the time in the world to roll the ball into space to Williams on the left of the box, and he made no mistake, placing the ball into the bottom right hand corner from 18 yards.

While the result was convincing, it was made all the more important after Saturday's drab 1-1 draw at home to Dagenham.

The hosts were the better side for much of the opening period and carved out the best chance of the match after 21 minutes when Soares pounced on a ball just outside his area and set off on one of his trademark runs down the right.

After running the length of the pitch and cutting inside, the winger played a delightful ball into the feet of Marcus Gayle on his right, but the former Wimbledon striker's left footed effort in the box was brilliantly turned over the bar by Tony Roberts.

That attempt was one of the only bright moments in an otherwise poor game, which only sprang to life when Dagenham substitute Paul Benson headed his side into the lead in the 84th minute, after a corner from the right.

The goal jolted Aldershot out of their malaise and just 60 seconds later they were level.

After a quick throw from the back by Bull, Kirk Hudson burst away on the left, driving into the visitors' half and laying the ball off to Soares. The former Barnet player moved the ball on to his right foot and struck an unstoppable drive into the bottom right corner to the relief of the Rec fans.

Despite the late equaliser, manager Brown was disappointed with the display, saying: “It was two points lost today. It was a fair result but we created enough chances to have sewn the game up but didn't take them.

“Dagenham worked their socks off and deserved a point. I'm bitterly disappointed we didn't defend their goal better. We were punished by a near post header, and it was very similar to the one we conceded against Weymouth.”

Going into tomorrow's home match with Halifax (ko 1pm), former Shayman John Grant has told the News he is hopeful of continuing his recent run of form against his old club.

“I'm really looking forward to the game,” he said. “It's always nice to play against your old teammates and I've done well in the past against my old clubs.

“I've nearly always scored and seem to be on the winning team almost every time, so hopefully I can keep that up on Saturday. I'm always confident in my ability to score but the most important thing is that the team win.

“It's been brilliant to play up front with Marcus Gayle, he's obviously played at the highest level and still has a lot more to offer.”

With thanks to the Aldershot News.