Fixture Type: Friendly
Venue: Away
Match Date: Wed 01 Aug 2007
Attendance: 1505 Date:
Wed 01 Aug 2007.
Gary Haines reports from The Recreation Ground
Honours finished even at The Recreation Ground on Wednesday night as Charlton were held to a scoreless stalemate. The Blue Square Premier side provided lively opposition for the Addicks but only a late missed penalty prevented the visitors from returning to London with a win. Substitute Svetoslav Todorov steered his spot-kick wide of the right upright 15 minutes from time after being sent tumbling in the box by Rob Gier. Martin Christensen also went close in the second period, as did sub Jerome Thomas while the rearguard completed a sixth clean sheet in seven summer matches.
The Shots gave the backline plenty to think about, particularly in the opening half, and one fine save from youngster Rob Elliot prevented them taking an early lead. And with the starting personnel much-changed from Saturday's trip to Gillingham
Alan Pardew got another good look at some of his squad men as the Championship build-up gathers momentum. Less than 10 days remain until the big kick-off and the on-pitch fine-tuning will conclude at The Valley on Saturday.
Aldershot supplied the opposition on the night for the Paul Shrubb testimonial. A former Shots player and Addicks scout, Shrubb who turns 52 on the night of his game, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in early 2006. And Pardew brought his full first team squad to the scenic Recreation Ground to honour the occasion which also marked the penultimate stop on his pre-season programme.
Youngsters Elliot and James Walker got a chance to shine in goal and up front respectively and there were also starting berths for Jonathan Fortune, Amdy Faye and Matt Holland. Newcomers Yassin Moutaouakil, Paddy McCarthy, Dean Sinclair, Martin Christensen and Chris Iwelumo also started along with Chris Powell who spent time with the Shots when they were in the football league. The pace and crossing of Christensen from the right was an early feature of the game but it was Aldershot who fashioned the first significant chance after 12 minutes.
Striker Rob Elvins fastened on to a nudged pass from the right and jutted to the edge of the box before letting fly with a fierce dipping drive that was expertly tipped over by Elliot. It was a fine save from the youngster and he watched the pacy Kirk Hudson shoot wide on the run on 20 minutes as the well served train track at the side of the ground saw another train rumble by. Lewis Chalmers rifled a low free-kick inches wide from the left edge of the box three minutes later, after a foul from McCarthy.
The hosts were certainly giving the Addicks rearguard something to think about and towering centre-back Dave Winfield steered an effort narrowly wide at the far post shortly before the break after Elvins had headed a free-kick intelligently back across goal. A rapid fire break from the visitors right on half time saw Walker held up with Faye sprinting down the right and the whistle for the interval sounded seconds later.
The hosts went close two minutes after the interval as Chalmers released John Grant but his low shot was deflected wide of Elliot's left upright. The Addicks tested substitute keeper Mikhael Jainez-Ruiz on 50 minutes as Sinclair fed Christensen and the Dane's deflected effort bobbled into the arms of the custodian. The hosts had a goal disallowed two minutes later as Winfield stretched to turn the ball home at the far post but Elliot was fouled as the ball came n from the left and the effort was chalked off.
Christensen then scuffed a better opening for the Addicks straight at the keeper on 72 minutes after some forceful play on the right from Moutaouakil. The young full-back hurdled the challenge of Marlon Patterson and scuttled clear before driving a cross into the middle. Iwelumo cleverly nudged the ball back across the ball for the darting Christensen who could not make solid contact allowing Jainez-Ruiz to save. Todorov replaced Iwelumo with 18 minutes remaining and Ambrose came on for Christensen shortly afterwards and delivered a corner with his first touch that was headed over by McCarthy. The two substitutes then combined to give the Addicks a golden chance to open the scoring 15 minutes from time. Ambrose threaded a glorious through pass through the red-shirted rearguard and the newly-arrived Todorov was in on goal. The Bulgarian nipped away from the advancing keeper but was taken down in the box by the back-tracking Gier.
There was no question about the award of a penalty and unlike in the weekend's clash at Gillingham referee Paul Melin kept his notebook in his pocket. Todorov picked himself up and dusted himself down but couldn't take advantage from 12 yards, steering the ball wide of the right post.
Kirk Hudson hurtled forward to skew a shot wide moments later while Holland and Reid made way for Andy Reid and Thomas for the closing 12 minutes. Walker was denied by a fine block challenge as he shaped to shoot as his own clever dummy bounced back into his path while Moutaouakil lashed well wide from around 40 yards.
The Addicks stepped up a gear in the closing stages and Thomas cut inside before drilling narrowly wide but time was against the visitors as the final whistle sounded moments later. But the players did receive a present for their efforts at the end of the night, clambering up the steps for a presentation from the man of the night.
Charlton: Elliot; Moutaouakil (Bougherra 88), Powell, McCarthy, Fortune; Christensen (Ambrose 70, Holland (Thomas 78), Faye (Reid 78), Sinclair; Iwelumo (Todorov 72), Walker. Subs (not used): Weaver, Thatcher, Diawara.
Aldershot: Bull (Jainez-Ruiz 46); Gier, Starks (Patterson 46), Winfield, Charles; Soares (Hylton 83), Chalmers (Davies 73), Harding, Hudson; Grant, Elvins (Dixon 71). Subs: Smith, Milletti, Donnelly.
Referee: P Melin
Attendance: 1,505
The Shots gave the backline plenty to think about, particularly in the opening half, and one fine save from youngster Rob Elliot prevented them taking an early lead. And with the starting personnel much-changed from Saturday's trip to Gillingham
Alan Pardew got another good look at some of his squad men as the Championship build-up gathers momentum. Less than 10 days remain until the big kick-off and the on-pitch fine-tuning will conclude at The Valley on Saturday.
Aldershot supplied the opposition on the night for the Paul Shrubb testimonial. A former Shots player and Addicks scout, Shrubb who turns 52 on the night of his game, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in early 2006. And Pardew brought his full first team squad to the scenic Recreation Ground to honour the occasion which also marked the penultimate stop on his pre-season programme.
Youngsters Elliot and James Walker got a chance to shine in goal and up front respectively and there were also starting berths for Jonathan Fortune, Amdy Faye and Matt Holland. Newcomers Yassin Moutaouakil, Paddy McCarthy, Dean Sinclair, Martin Christensen and Chris Iwelumo also started along with Chris Powell who spent time with the Shots when they were in the football league. The pace and crossing of Christensen from the right was an early feature of the game but it was Aldershot who fashioned the first significant chance after 12 minutes.
Striker Rob Elvins fastened on to a nudged pass from the right and jutted to the edge of the box before letting fly with a fierce dipping drive that was expertly tipped over by Elliot. It was a fine save from the youngster and he watched the pacy Kirk Hudson shoot wide on the run on 20 minutes as the well served train track at the side of the ground saw another train rumble by. Lewis Chalmers rifled a low free-kick inches wide from the left edge of the box three minutes later, after a foul from McCarthy.
The hosts were certainly giving the Addicks rearguard something to think about and towering centre-back Dave Winfield steered an effort narrowly wide at the far post shortly before the break after Elvins had headed a free-kick intelligently back across goal. A rapid fire break from the visitors right on half time saw Walker held up with Faye sprinting down the right and the whistle for the interval sounded seconds later.
The hosts went close two minutes after the interval as Chalmers released John Grant but his low shot was deflected wide of Elliot's left upright. The Addicks tested substitute keeper Mikhael Jainez-Ruiz on 50 minutes as Sinclair fed Christensen and the Dane's deflected effort bobbled into the arms of the custodian. The hosts had a goal disallowed two minutes later as Winfield stretched to turn the ball home at the far post but Elliot was fouled as the ball came n from the left and the effort was chalked off.
Christensen then scuffed a better opening for the Addicks straight at the keeper on 72 minutes after some forceful play on the right from Moutaouakil. The young full-back hurdled the challenge of Marlon Patterson and scuttled clear before driving a cross into the middle. Iwelumo cleverly nudged the ball back across the ball for the darting Christensen who could not make solid contact allowing Jainez-Ruiz to save. Todorov replaced Iwelumo with 18 minutes remaining and Ambrose came on for Christensen shortly afterwards and delivered a corner with his first touch that was headed over by McCarthy. The two substitutes then combined to give the Addicks a golden chance to open the scoring 15 minutes from time. Ambrose threaded a glorious through pass through the red-shirted rearguard and the newly-arrived Todorov was in on goal. The Bulgarian nipped away from the advancing keeper but was taken down in the box by the back-tracking Gier.
There was no question about the award of a penalty and unlike in the weekend's clash at Gillingham referee Paul Melin kept his notebook in his pocket. Todorov picked himself up and dusted himself down but couldn't take advantage from 12 yards, steering the ball wide of the right post.
Kirk Hudson hurtled forward to skew a shot wide moments later while Holland and Reid made way for Andy Reid and Thomas for the closing 12 minutes. Walker was denied by a fine block challenge as he shaped to shoot as his own clever dummy bounced back into his path while Moutaouakil lashed well wide from around 40 yards.
The Addicks stepped up a gear in the closing stages and Thomas cut inside before drilling narrowly wide but time was against the visitors as the final whistle sounded moments later. But the players did receive a present for their efforts at the end of the night, clambering up the steps for a presentation from the man of the night.
Charlton: Elliot; Moutaouakil (Bougherra 88), Powell, McCarthy, Fortune; Christensen (Ambrose 70, Holland (Thomas 78), Faye (Reid 78), Sinclair; Iwelumo (Todorov 72), Walker. Subs (not used): Weaver, Thatcher, Diawara.
Aldershot: Bull (Jainez-Ruiz 46); Gier, Starks (Patterson 46), Winfield, Charles; Soares (Hylton 83), Chalmers (Davies 73), Harding, Hudson; Grant, Elvins (Dixon 71). Subs: Smith, Milletti, Donnelly.
Referee: P Melin
Attendance: 1,505