The Shots dominated the entire 90 minutes but, as with Tuesday’s win at Almondsbury, it was only in the second half that they truly asserted their quality, with Danny Hylton grabbing the ‘perfect hat-trick’ of right foot, left foot and headed goals.
Most of the players who had spent the week at the Club’s Millfield training camp were retained, with Glenn Little and Luke Guttridge watching from the stands, and added only centre-half Clayton Fortune – who played against The Shots in midweek – to his squad.
From kick off, The Shots were neat and tidy in possession but failed to turn their dominance into goals. Marvin Morgan was the fulcrum of some composed passing, causing plenty of problems with his skill and movement, but, despite several half-chances for McLeod and Morgan himself, goalkeeper Bucknor had only two notable saves in the entire first half.
Morgan sent Andrew Stephenson bursting through on goal only to see his shot blocked by the advancing Bucknor; and then, on 41 minutes, Morgan turned sharply against his marker and saw an eight-yard drive well parried. Following in, Stephenson could only bundle the rebound wide.
Despite five half-time substitutions robbing Aldershot of much of their shape and impetus, the deadlock was finally and deservedly broken on 53 minutes, as Reece Connolly pounced on a loose pass across defence from Josias Carbon, skipped past two players and calmly slotted the ball past Bucknor.
Didcot didn’t manage a meaningful effort until the 68th minute, and by then Aldershot had been temporarily reduced to ten men in farcical circumstances. Referee Mr Scott refused to let Anthony Charles return to the field after himself being replaced at half-time, so eventually, after playing for eight minutes one man short, goalkeeper Jordan Clement took up position on the right of midfield.
Soon, though, it was 2-0, as Aaron Brown sprung a rather wonky offside trap down the left and was able to play a simple pass into the centre for Danny Hylton to tap in. Then, within five minutes, Hylton’s clever touch and spin bought him half a yard of space to lash an angled, left-footed drive high into the net; and, with the last touch of the game, his far-post header from McLeod’s corner completed the scoring.
Finally the scoreline reflected Aldershot’s superiority and they were happy to reflect upon another positive workout. Forthcoming friendlies against Basingstoke Town Bristol City and Colchester United will provide increasingly stern tests of Kevin Dillon’s team, but, with ten goals in two games, it’s so far so good.
ATFC (1st half): Young; Herd, Fortune, Charles, Vincent; Stewart, Straker; McLeod, Stephenson, Brown; Morgan.
ATFC (2nd half): Young; Herd, Fortune (Clement), Jones, Straker; Harding, Panther; Connolly, McLeod, Brown; Hylton.