Shots ‘back up off the canvas’
TOWN RECOVER FROM HEAVY LOSS TO BEAT ALTRINCHAM
TOMMY WIDDRINGTON praised “one of the most complete performances” Aldershot Town have had this season, after they bounced back from a heavy defeat against AFC Fylde to beat Altrincham on Saturday.
Against Fylde last Tuesday night, Widdrington admitted his side got their “nose bloodied” – losing 5-0 at the EBB Stadium.
However, the Shots boss was pleased with the way his team “got themselves back up off the canvas” to beat Altrincham in a late kick off on Saturday.
Tyler Frost and Lorent Tolaj both scored in the minutes before halftime to give the Shots a 2-0 win over an Altrincham side also hopeful of finishing in this season’s National League play-offs.
“I think credit goes all to the players to be fair to them, to a man, the lads who started, the lads who came on, and even the lads who weren’t involved in the game,” Widdrington said.
“We responded brilliantly. We did
have our nose bloodied on Tuesday night, we all know that. A lot of it was my decisions and a lot of it wasn’t. It wasn’t about the performance I don’t feel because for 20 minutes on Tuesday we were right at it, we could’ve been 2-0.
“But when we have had our nose punched this season, which has happened a couple of times, as a group themselves, self-driven, have got themselves back up off the canvas and come out fighting and that was probably one of the most complete performances we’ve had. If I’m being picky we could have scored a few more goals.”
And Widdrington had trouble singling out anyone as man of the match, but reiterated that the performance was now a ‘bench mark’ for the Shots as they look to secure a place in the top seven.
“I think it would have been difficult to give it to any one person,” the manager said. “It was a team effort; the energy on and off the ball, the quality at times on the ball, was what as a coach and a manager you work all the time to get glimpses of that.
“I know, and everyone talks about us an attacking threat, but those lads worked their socks off.
“James Daly went on at about 65 minutes and I bet you he’s covered the same amount of ground as some lads who started the game, his effort and his work rate is outstanding.
“Kwame [Thomas] when he comes on is battling away like he does.
“And young Maxi [Maxwell Mullins], he’s not played minutes for the first team for a while and I thought he came on and had a really tough six minutes, because they were on the front foot at that stage.
“It’s a collective win as we always do and it’s a collective loss when we lose, so I’m delighted for the Shots fans who stayed with us on Tuesday night, nobody likes getting beat at home, me more than most, certainly don’t like getting our nose busted like we did on Tuesday. I hope that pays a little bit, and listen that’s not it, we’ve got another whatever, six or seven games yet, and I want that kind of performance – it’s a benchmark.”
Aldershot, who were due to host Barnet on Tuesday night after the News & Mail had gone to press, are away to Southend United on Saturday.