Millwall loanee Aiden O’Brien’s superb volley in the 92nd minute has given the Shots another opportunity on Tuesday night to progress into the F.A. Trophy second round.
In truth it was another lacklustre performance from the home side, and Andy Scott must wonder why his team struggle so much against lower league opposition.
The Shots made one enforced change from Tuesday night’s victory over Braintree with Jake Goodman replacing the suspended Jordan Roberts. This meant Dan Butler reverting to left back, and Goodman slotting in alongside Webster.
In the 2nd minute, after good work down the Shots right, Young delivered a cross to the far post, but Mekki at full stretch fired over.
Shortly after Mekki put in an excellent cross from the other wing, but O’Brien couldn’t direct it goalwards.
Weston Super Mare’s first attempt at goal came in the 11th minute.
Chas Hemmings sidestepped his defender and fired in a low effort which Henly kept out well at his near post.
The Shots were struggling to get into any rhythm at this stage, and their tempo was far too slow.
The visitors came close to taking the lead in the 31st minute.
Hemmings twisted and turned on the edge of the box, and when he eventually got his shot away it was well saved by Henly.
Aiden O’Brien then did well to get to the bye-line and his cross into the 6 yard box was cleared, in the nick of time, by a defender as Williams was waiting to pounce.
In the dying embers of the first period Young’s measured centre was headed wide by O’Brien when he should have hit the target.
Half time: Aldershot Town 0 WSM 0
O’Brien went on a solo run in the opening moments of the second half, but he was dispossessed just before he could get his shot away.
Then a well struck Hemmings free kick from a central position was spilled by Henly, who managed to smother the ball at the second attempt.
In the 52nd minute Adam Mekki went on a storming run from the halfway line, and his subsequent effort hit the side netting.
Five minutes later Mekki was in the thick of the action again.
After a good move down the Shots left, the winger’s cross from the bye-line just evaded Williams at the far post.
Just before the hour mark Paterson and Rowlands replaced Young and Oyeleke respectively.
Brett Wlliams was pushed out to the right wing and his excellent centre was acrobatically cleared by Jordan Walker.
Weston took the lead in the 76th minute. Plummer, who caused the Shots defence problems throughout, cut inside Butler before firing an effort which went in off the near post.
The Shots continued to huff and puff, but they didn’t create any clear cut chances.
They were being frustrated by the visitors continued attempts to time waste at every given opportunity, and they didn’t help themselves with numerous aimless balls out of defence.
It didn’t look like an equaliser was coming, but with only about a minute of the three added remaining, the ball fell to O’Brien in the box, and his sweetly struck volley flew into the back of the net.
Hopefully the Shots will put in an improved performance on Tuesday night in the replay.
TS RATINGS: Henly 6, Gibbs 5.5, Butler 5, Stanley 5, Goodman 5, Webster 6, Mekki 6, Oyeleke 4.5 (Rowlands), Williams 5, O’Brien 6, Young 4 (Paterson).