Shots go West with a first FA Cup third round appearance
TOWN FACE CHAMPIONSHIP SIDE WBA
ALDERSHOT Town are into the FA Cup’s third round for the first time in 13 years after beating Stockport County last Wednesday night.
The Shots will play West Brom away on Sunday, January 7 after Olly Scott’s late goal sank Stockport in a midweek FA Cup replay, the sides having drawn 2-2 at the EBB Stadium on Sunday, December 3.
Going into Edgeley Park, the Shots XI was unchanged from the side which forced Stockport to a replay last weekend, with the only change coming on the bench as Aaron Jones missed out on the squad in place of a returning Hady Ghandour on the bench.
Jordi Van Stappershoef made a handful of important saves at 2-2 at the EBB Stadium last time out, and Callum Camp forced him into his first real save of the night from range.
Jack Barham was the first recipient of a chance in blue and white on the night, as Josh Stokes did some fantastic work to get the wrong side of Macauley Southam-Hales and burst into the box. The scorer of both goals last time out looked to turn provider as he squared to Jack Barham, however Barham’s effort was straight at Ben Hinchliffe in the Stockport goal.
A lackluster first half for opportunities looked as though it had an opening goal with just over five minutes to go to half time as Isaac Olaofe had the ball in the back of the net, however after converting a Southam-Hales cross Olaofe was met by the linesman’s flag, with the striker a good yard behind Coby Rowe when he connected with the cross.
It was Barham again who was on the end of an Aldershot move, and again he was denied by Hinchliffe early into the second half. Ryan Glover cut in and delivered a good ball right footed towards the head of Barham who, despite his small frame, won his flick on but was unable to trouble the Stockport net.
Twenty-nine places seperated the two sides ahead of kick off, but with an hour played nothing could separate the teams on the scoreboard.
The Shots and the Hatters had both made half chances, but the importance of the first goal found both sides locked in deadlock, and Josh Stokes had the best chance to open the scoring.
Cian Harries won the ball in a good area and found Tolaj, who slid in Stokes, and under pressure in the box Josh Stokes drilled his effort off the foot of Hinchliffe in the Stockport goal.
Tyler Frost was the first to get the call from the dugout and saw his number held up on the fourth official’s board. He made way for Kwame Thomas in an attacking switch for the Shots with just over 70 minutes gone. Thomas went into attack with Barham and Tolaj, and Josh Stokes went deeper into the midfield. Some back and forth wouldn’t warrant any chances of note before Widdrington’s next change, Scott being the next man to join the play in place of Tommy Willard, Glover going centrally alongside Stokes in midfield with Scott assuming his role down the left hand side.
A cagey affair finally had its opening goal in the 88th minute and it fell the way of Aldershot Town. The ball was worked up the line through a mix of throws by Coby Rowe, and it was Haji Mnoga who delivered the throw near the corner flag, and after a lot of bouncing around in the area between Thomas, Barham and Scott it was Barham who got a flick on the ball just before Hinchliffe into the path of Scott, who from close range made no mistake as he fired the Shots ahead.
Stokes was the third change made by boss Tommy Widdrington, no doubt looking to tick the clock down to full time, bringing on the returning experienced legs of club captain Stuart O’Keefe in the second minute of injury time.
The Shots were able to cling on to the lead in six minutes of additional time, and sent themselves through to the third round of the FA Cup, setting up a tie at the Hawthorns against Championship side West Brom.