Aldershot Town 2 - 2 Chelsea Reserves

Chris Blackburn: First match for The Shots.

In the end, the start of the 2008/09 season for Chelsea's Reserves finished in much the same manner as the 2007/08 season finished. Goals from Miroslav Stoch and Gael Kakuta and some heroics from goalkeeper Stuart Searle, including a penalty save, saw Chelsea earn a deserved draw in a match which reflected the fact it is very early in the pre-season, with both teams still having a long way to go before competition gets underway.

With a number of regular Reserve squad members unavailable due to loan, injury, and international duty, manager Brendan Rodgers used the first action of the season to give action to a few younger players, players who are likely to feature more for the Reserves throughout the season. It was a fairly experienced starting team, including captain Liam Bridcutt at centre-back and Miroslav Stoch on the wing, and a young attacking bench featuring Daniel Philliskirk, Gael Kakuta, Jacob Mellis, and new first-year scholar Jacopo Sala.

Aldershot featured new signings Chris Blackburn, Dean Howell, and Marvin Morgan, but were the second best team on the pitch for the first ten minutes, as the slow pace of the game in changeable conditions suited Chelsea's passing game, keeping the ball well but finding Nielsen offside often when trying to break into the final third. However, it was The Shots who had the first chances, as first Louie Soares smashed an effort high and wide when presented with time and space, then Scott Donnelly could have done better on the edge of the box.

For the rest of the match report, click on the link below:
http://chelseayouthandreserves.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/aldershot-2-2-chelsea-reserves/#more-313

For the official Shots match report, click on the link below:
http://www.theshots.co.uk/NewsPage.ink?nid=30033