It turned out to be Groundhog day for the Shots at the Recreation Ground when - for the second season running they managed to squander a comfortable lead against an entertaining and quite impressive looking Morecambe side. This time however, unbelievably it was a three goal advantage that was let slip and although the lead flattered the Shots to lose it with some shambolic defending was nothing short of criminal.
To be honest, after their equaliser Morecambe were the side that looked more like scoring a winner. If people were unaware of Ray Warburton’s stature in the middle of the defence and how much his presence is missed, then this display proved it beyond doubt.
The action flowed throughout the match. Indeed straight from the kick-off Adam Miller went on a solo run and his well struck effort was deflected wide. Shortly after at the other end, a Terry McFlynn free kick went narrowly wide and then David Perkins had an effort that went wide. Morecambe were looking dangerous on the break with Michael Twiss making some good runs without reward and it was slightly against the run of play when the Shots took the lead on 17 minutes. Darren Barnard was found by a McAuley pass and he crossed perfectly for Jon Challinor, who had ghosted into the box unmarked and his flicked header beat Sollitt from 6 yards out.
The Shots thought they had increased their lead 5 minutes later when McLean did brilliantly to beat his marker by the corner flag and his cross was neatly finished by Giles but the Linesman’s flag was already raised for an offside. Soon after a Challinor effort from outside the box just went wide of the far post. The game then went a bit flat, but the second half drama was yet to unfold. The only other effort of the first half came in the 45th minute when a Darren Barnard free kick – inches from the corner flag was met by Giles, but his looping header landed on top of the net.
Early in the second half there was a long stoppage due to a Morecambe forward being stretchered off with a nasty looking leg injury. In the 51st minute the visitors came close to an equaliser, when Perkins dangerous cross into the 6 yard box caused panic in the Shots ranks before it was sliced behind for a corner.
The Shots then took control of the game in a three-minute spell. In the 52nd minute Barnard fired a cross field ball over from the Shots left which was met at pace by Nick Crittenden and after controlling it on the run his shot went through the keepers legs and found the corner of the net. Two minutes later the lead was increased from the penalty spot after McLean put through Miller who was brought down by a combination of defenders inside the box. Miller duly stepped up to send Sollitt the wrong way and it looked like game set and match for the Shots.
Jonny Dixon, who had an average sort of debut, did well to beat his defender and his cross was headed just wide of the target by McLean. In the 61st minute Morecambe got back into the game when a free kick on the edge of the Shots area was delivered into the danger zone where it was headed goal wards and after a scramble the ball ended up in the net, with Bentley credited with the final touch.
Twiss had a good opportunity to narrow the deficit minutes later when after a good build up he found himself in space in the box, but fired his shot into the side netting. Then Miller found Dixon and he did well to round the onrushing keeper, but when his cross from out wide came into the centre there wasn’t anyone in a red shirt in the box to get on the end of it - to tap it into an unguarded net.
In the 69th minute a break down the Shots left reduced the arrears further. Curtis, who looked suspiciously offside, ran on to a long ball and his cut back was hammered into the roof of the net on the half volley by Carlton. Then on 71 minutes Dixon’s deflected shot ballooned up and was caught under the bar by the keeper and the Wycombe loanee dragged another effort wide from 8 yards out shortly after.
At the other end a cross came over which Bully came to collect, but he was beaten to it by Twiss and his header flashed just wide of the far post. Tobi then replaced Miller, which seemed a strange decision unless of course there was an injury involved. Crittenden came agonisingly close to making the game safe for the Shots, when his well hit shot flew just wide.
Then in the 85th minute the come back was completed when the visitors were awarded a free kick in exactly the same spot as from where their first goal came – on the Shots left a yard outside the box. Walmsley fired a ball over right to the far post where Twiss was on hand to head home to the despair of the Shots fans. Darren Barnard fired a free kick from 25 yards just over the bar and with it went Shots hopes of repairing the damage that had been done.
Report: Tongham Shots
Attendance: 2392.
Aldershot: Bull, Nick Crittenden, Darren Barnard, Johnson, Antwi, Giles, McAuley, Miller (Jinadu 81), Challinor, Dixon (Adam Crittenden 90), McLean.
Subs Not Used: Lauder-Dyke, Warner, Smith.
Morecambe: Sollitt, Perkins, Bentley, Twiss, Thompson (Carlton 47), Swan, McFlynn (Curtis 45), Heard, Hunter, Walmsley, Blackburn.
Subs Not Used: Howard, Osborne, Robinson.
Match Verdict.
Shocking result after being 3-0 up.
5/10 – You can blame our defence or credit the Morecambe spirit...
Shots Mad Man of the Match.
Nick Crittenden.
Shots Mad Panda Pops Award.