All yesterday’s action from the National Leagues
BULLISH Aldershot manager Danny Searle hopes this breathless draw earns his burgeoning side renewed respect after the Shots held their own against the high-flying Yorkshiremen.
“This team don’t get half the credit they deserve. Some of what is said is massively harsh,” said Searle after a game that may have gone either way.
Since October’s reverse fixture, Searle’s team have lost one fewer game than their high-flying opponents, and he continued: “We’re a young side with some very talented players, and going into the last five or six minutes we looked like we could go on and win the game – and Harrogate are second in the table. People are entitled to their opinions, but my opinion is that we’re making good progress.”
It was the visitors, however, who made the stronger start. Mitch Walker made smart early saves to deny the lively Brendan Kiernan and Jon Stead, and tip Lloyd Kerry’s swerving drive over the bar.
Robbie Tinkler pulled a cross-shot wide of goal as the hosts belatedly created their first opportunity, but Jack Muldoon was even more profligate in blazing a five-yard shot into Aldershot High Street after being teed-up by Kiernan.
The winger’s penalty appeals were waved away, after a tangle with Lewis Kinsella, and Aldershot Town took advantage. Craig Tanner cleverly fed Mohammed Bettamer on the left of the box and the striker’s cleverly disguised shot inside the near post stole the lead.
The introduction of Ryan Fallowfield, at rightback, and then George Thomson on the left, galvanised Harrogate and soon Muldoon had Walker making a block. William Smith’s header was cleared off the line by Tinkler.
Protecting their lead became even harder when the assured Alex Finney limped off, and Harrogate were level when Muldoon broke into the space vacated by Tinkler. He fed Kerry to fire a 22-yard drive into the net that Walker could have done better with.
Muldoon then went down under Tinkler’s challenge and Searle later admitted that Harrogate perhaps should have had two penalties. Yet both sides refused to settle for a point, and Bettamer had two late chances only for James Belshaw to stand strong.
“We weren’t quite at it first half but thoroughly deserved a draw,” asserted Harrogate boss Simon Weaver. “We had the lion’s share of chances and it could have been 8-4. Every point away from home should be useful but we want to aspire to top spot and we want to be winning every game.”