BOSS BEN GETS DOSE OF REALITY
ALDERSHOT Town came from behind to claim a historic, formbook-shredding victory in the Hampshire derby at the Silverlake Stadium.
Roared on by around 600 travelling fans, the Shots ended a run of 13 away league games without a win – stretching back to February 10 – with their first ever league victory over their county rivals.
Eastleigh had won five and drawn three of the previous eight National League meetings between the clubs, and looked set for more success when Paul McCallum gave them a fourth minute lead in Ben Strevens’ first game as caretaker boss following the departure of Andy Hessenthaler.
But the Shots, who had only picked up one point from their previous seven away games this season, hit back with two goals in the space of three firsthalf minutes to claim a deserved victory against a Spitfires side who had won their previous four league matches and were unbeaten in six.
Strevens was given an ideal start when Eastleigh scored from their first attack on four minutes. Gabriel Osho badly misjudged a bouncing Mark Yeates through ball and was then out-muscled by ex-Shots loanee McCallum, who fired past Jake Cole from ten yards out.
The impressive Lewis Kinsella set up the equaliser on 36 minutes, winning the ball off Joey Jones and setting up Adam McDonnell. He threaded an impressive through ball to Matt McClure on the left, whose shot was deflected onto a post by Max Stryjek – the ball rebounding across the face of goal and in off Reda Johnson.
Less than a minute later, McDonnell found himself clean through with only the keeper to beat, but Stryjek saved with his feet at the expense of a corner.
From the resulting corner, Adam May flicked on and Scott Rendell’s shot crossed the line before being hacked clear – the linesman confirming the goal to the delight of the large, and noisy, travelling support.
Eastleigh rarely threatened a second half leveller, with Cole making just one save – a close range effort from Cav Miley – while the visitors rarely looked like adding a third.
Despite defeat, Strevens, 38, remains hopeful of landing his first permanent managerial role.
“I still maintain I am the best person to manage this club,” he remarked. “I know people might talk about my age, but everyone starts somewhere. All the best managers started out by someone giving them a chance.”
Applications for Eastleigh's sixth manager since the start of 2016-17 close on Friday, and Strevens added: “It’s a big appointment for the club. There’s been one or two that haven’t worked in recent years. That’s why I wasn’t expecting them to give me the job straightaway.”
Aldershot boss Gary Waddock said: “I’m delighted. The performance was very good, and our travelling support was magnificent.”