Soon after it was United who began to take control and when the rain began to ease after the twenty minute mark, the Cumbrians grabbed hold of the game by the scruff of the neck and it was men against boys from then on.
On 28 minutes United won a free kick and Chris Lumsdon hit the ball towards the Aldershot net. Nikki Bull slipped on the wet pitch and failed to connect with the goal bound ball and it sailed in to the back of the net making it 1-0 to the visitors. By this time, United were already in control but four minutes later there was a thread of hope as Tim Sills managed to put in a header – only to see it clip the cross-bar and then sail out of play.
The half time whistle came on the back of a period of nail biting United pressure which saw the Shots defence constantly trying to scramble the ball away from the Aldershot goal-mouth and looking second best in every department on the field. It was obvious that the Shots were playing too deep in midfield and the defence were struggling to cope with the best forwards in the Conference.
It was going to take some big words from Terry Brown at half time and the response had to be immediate if the players were going to take anything away from this match but as the players kicked off the second half the Shots players seemed to have eaten too many half-time orange’s and on 46 minutes, Vieira fired home a superb shot in to the bottom corner of the Shots net making it 2-0. United by this time were running rings around the Shots and it was going to take a massive effort to keep the score-line down to 0-2 but the Shots didn’t have that effort and Terry Brown was only able to look on as the 100% home record flowed away in front of him.
The team managed to hold on until the 65th minute when Chris Billy volleyed past Nikki Bull and then just three minutes later Vieira got his second making it 4-0. The fifth - and luckily the last of the Cumbrians goals was another stunner from Vieira on 78 minutes this time using his head to place the ball past Nikki Bull and in to the back of the Aldershot net. United had won an easy victory and decided to make some substitutions and the match was all but over.
Match Verdict.
Overall – very disappointing to see that we couldn’t compete with another of this seasons top teams – but that said, United are the best side I’ve seen at the Rec in a long time. If they can play with that ease against the other “promotion hopeful” teams then they will run away with this league and good luck to them, they were entertaining to watch too.
United continually used the right side of our defence in their attacks and nothing was done to counter this. We really have to do better from here on if we’re to finish in a play-off spot.
Four points out of the last twelve isn't the statistic we wanted to read but at least we can hold the alarm bells... for now.
4/10 – Must try harder.
Shots Mad Man of the Match.
It was a close run thing between Aaron McLean and Ty Smith. Although Ty was only on the pitch for 4 minutes, I did actually see him pass the ball back to Nikki Bull after it had gone out for a goal kick and no United player managed to intercept it – making it the only Shots pass in the second half that actually went to another Shots player. After much thought though, we’ll have to go with Aaron for his tireless effort once again.
Shots Mad Panda Pops Award.
This matches winner goes to all the United fans who sat at the rear of the Family Stand. It’s been awarded for their constant loud swearing - even after they were told that they were in the family stand. Top effort lads, a case of slightly warm and over fizzy lemonade is on it’s way as I type.