York
There was no doubting that this defeat against Billy McEwan's side produced a major dent in any hopes that Shots have for a top five finish.
It was a familiar scenario at the Rec. A lively opening, plenty of possession, spurned opportunities and then the visitors showing their killer instinct on the break.
York were also able to stifle their opponents after the break slowing the game down at every given oppportunity.
Kirk Hudson made a rare start in place of Karl Beckford and Terry Brown's side started brightly. Within five minutes Mark Molesley opened up just outside the 18 yard box and fed the ball to Hudson who stepped past his marker well down the left hand channel. His centre into the box was met by Jonny Dixon who side footed goalbounds from six yards only to see keeper Tom Evans gather.
With a good tempo to their game it was an entertaining opening. Ricky Newman played a delightful central ball into the path of Hudson. The former AFC Bournemouth striker's first touch took the ball just too far in front of him but he still managed a dangerous left footed shot that curled just wide of the far post. Newman played in Dixon on nine minutes but Evans was out well to foil the striker who attempted to lob the ball over the advancing keeper.
As so often this season at the Rec Shots didn't take advantage of their possession and it proved costly.
York, perhaps, should have scored on 22 minutes when Craig Farrell was put through with just Nikki Bull to beat. He was denied by the pace and timing of Anthony Charles who was back well to deny a shooting opportunity with a perfect tackle.
There was no such luck on 27 minutes though. Farrell was put through afetr a long ball was not dealt with by Rhys day and this time coolly slotted past the diving Bull. York were in the lead. Mark Convery nearly added to that lead a minute later when he was spare on the right hand channel inside the penalty box. His shot possessed plenty of pace but he was superbly denied by the fingertips of the alert Bull.
With York stretching the home side at every opportunity the disappointing Clayton Donaldson should have done better with a header at the far post from Emmanuel Panther's delivery.
There was never any doubting the home side's effort and they came back into the game well. A powerful Mark Molesley run just past the half hour saw a low shot creep just past the post. Jonny Dixon executed a volley over the bar and John Grant was just unable to direct a Kirk Hudson centre goal bound as he slid in on goal.
York , though, possess a resillience required for a successful team. It was always going to be a big ask to change matters after the break. Aldershot needed to return to the tempo they had in the early stages of the match. However, they struggled to get started. Molesley's 20 yard strike sprang up at Evans but he recovered the ball with no striker pressurising him for the rebound. Bull saved well from Farrell on 65 minutes after neat build up play involving Nathan Peat and Donaldson.
A couple of substitutions gave the home side some impetus and, to their credit, they kept going but lacked the required quality to break down their opponents. The closest they came to scoring came from the boot of Darren Barnard when, on 80 minutes the former Welsh international delivered a free kick that was flicked on by Rhys Day but Molesley, on the volley, struck wide. Barnard then set up Day with another centre. His Welsh colleague headed on goal but saw his effort creep agonisingly wide. Then a curling 25 yard free kick from Barnard was scrambled clear by the diving Evans.
With time running out the home side continued to threaten. On 86 minutes fine work from Molesley saw his centre to the far post met by Day. His header looked as though it was goal bound but substitute Mark Pritchard's effort to force the ball over the line only seemed to divert it over. You knew then that it was not to be.
In the second minute of injury time with the home side pushing forward City managed to score a second. Ricky Newman appeared to be fouled as Shots were forcing the issue on the edge of the 18 yard box. Terry Brown's version was that the York player "took Newman's head off". Referee East waived play on and with three players on one Farrell was fed the ball wide on the right. His shot went past keeper Bull and was already heading over the line before captain Panther made certain. For the home supporters it was all immaterial by then as the Shots had succumbed to a side who seemed to show more fight and application than they could muster.
"It wasn't a vintage display by any means, but it was a great battling performance and a good three points," McEwan insisted after the 2-0 win.
"We could have been two goals down in the first 15 minutes, but we defended stoutly and scored two class goals.
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