Aldershot Town 1 Accrington Stanley 1

Last updated : 26 March 2011 By Shotsweb's Rob Worrall

An improved second half performance saw Shots fight back in the second half against a lively Accrington side, who could and perhaps should have been out of sight by the break.

With Shots looking to extend their four match winning sequence, Shots manager Dean Holdsworth made just one change to his starting line-up, with Damien Spencer coming in for Adam Mekki. Accrington were without their key player this season, Terry Gornell and brought in Rory Boulding up front in a 4-2-3-1 formation, similar to Shots.

The game was rather scrappy for the opening 15 minutes, with both sides giving the ball away far too easily. Then Accy's work rate, endeavour and sheer desire to win began to outshine that of the Shots team....in every department.

On 17 minutes, quick thinking and quick feet saw Boulding set away inside the penalty area, right side and he calmly slotted the ball inside Young from 12 yards. The visitors were on top and it stayed that way throughout the first half, in which Shots failed to register a single effort on goal, be it on target or otherwise. Accy could and should have been two up by the break, Jimmy Ryan hitting the post from 25 yards and then almost catching Young off his line with a quickly taken free kick.

Luke Guttridge was perhaps lucky to stay on, after appearing to deliberately scrape his studs down Jimmy Ryans leg. Ryan retaliated, but amazingly, neither were booked. Other than that, there was not much to say about what was another poor first half performance by Shots.

Whatever Holdsworth said at half time, it certainly brought Shots to life. Within seven minutes, Shots were level, Darren Jones heading home his first goal for the club, from a Straker free kick. Moments later Guttridge fired a free kick over. With adrenalin still clearly flowing through his veins, Jones gave the ball away in a dangerous position, but Ben Herd came to his rescue, blocking the shot that then followed.

The game then entered a bit of an ugly period, with both teams now battling hard for their cause, neither able to gain the initiative. Several players were booked, including Vincenti for Shots, who finished the game in the ascendancy, but on this occasion, could not find a late winner. 

Shots: Young 6 Herd 7 Jones 7 Charles 6 Straker 6 Rodman 5 (McGlashan 7) Guttridge 6 Halls 5 (Harding) Hylton 6 Vincenti 6 Spencer 6 (Small) Att: 2555 (99 away fans)