Written By Declan McCarthy
Aldershot secured a deserved point against 7th place Halifax. Antonio German scored but it was cancelled out by Richard Peniket’s headed goal on the hour mark as the teams finished all square in an entertaining contest at the ESS.
Aldershot went into the tie against Halifax in good form after getting a vital point away from home on Saturday against now 3rd place Macclesfield.
From the start Danny East nearly found the net after a well-worked corner, as Sam Hatton played the ball to East who curled the ball wide of the right hand post.
Halifax tried to take control in midfield but were constantly bombarded by winger Tristian Plummer. A player who really caused a lot of problems for the Halifax defence. From Plummers right side deliveries were nice and fluent. Jim Stevenson even came close as he headed towards goal only for it to strike the post and leave the Shots frustrated.
Halifax started to come into the game as they held some good possession in the Aldershot half, but didn’t have a final product. Aldershot however, they went up the other end of the field and won a corner which helped Aldershot grab their first goal of the game in Antonio German on the 27th minute mark. The ball was crossed in to the on loan Gillingham striker who controlled and stabbed the ball into the back of the Halifax net.
The visitors played some good football and created chances. One good chance was well blocked by Sean McGinty who blocked the shot. There was even some brilliance in-between the sticks as Brett Williams surely thought he had scored, especially during the drought the striker is currently going through (One goal in Eight games) He was denied by Halifax keeper Matt Glennon who dived early to save the powerful half-volley.
Every time Aldershot pressed into the final 3rd with the ball they were opening up the fragile Halifax, as Tristian Plummer once again ran rings around Scott McManus
The Shots were the better side as they went into the break and could have easily been two up. Neil Aspin made a change at the break to make a difference and it certainly did. Tristian Plummer, after having a great game, was subbed due to injury (Hamstring injury) the game changed from here.
Halifax winger Alan Smith curled in a cross to Peniket who beat his man and headed past Phil Smith into the bottom corner. The clubs first goal in five and a half hours in fact after failing to score in their last 3 games, After the goal Halifax improved, while the home team struggled to keep up with their opponents, the visitors pressed higher causing the Shots to be very vulnerable on the break.
The contest of the match certainly changed as Halifax gained more possession and became more clinical in their decision making. This helped Halifax as they frustrated Aldershot as they lacked to keep the ball. Instead it was a hopeless long ball, which gave the visitors another chance to simply “Have another go” at the Aldershot defence.
Mark Molesley entered to a huge roar from the home fans. After the substitution a lofted long ball was sent over the Aldershot defence to Peniket who got denied by a good save from Shots keeper Smith.
Shortly after, Aldershot had a chance when German broke up the field laying off to Molesley, who had his first influence in the game when he played the ball to Williams who shot well wide.
A point each on the night was the fairest result, with Aldershot starting to look legless in the later stages of the game as the visitors piled on more pressure. Halifax put hearts in Aldershot mouths as Marc Roberts crashed his header off the bar from a well worked corner.
Aldershot had a late surge, but it was too late as the referee blew his whistle. Aldershot had a great first half, while Halifax had the better in the 2nd half. Aldershot will be disappointed that they didn’t hold onto their slim lead. None the less the Hampshire based side held on, keeping themselves unbeaten in 6 games.
Their next game is against Southport with high hopes of making it seven unbeaten games in a row.
Aldershot: Smith, McGinty, Wilson, Barker, Hatton, Williams (Scott 85), Plummer (Richards 51), Roberts (Molesley 72), East, Stevenson, German. Subs not used: Lathrope, Thomas.
Scorer: German (27)
Halifax: Glennon, Bolton, M Roberts, Hutchison, McManus, Smith, Maynard, Pearson, Marshall, Peniket, Schofield (Jackson 46). Subs not used: Senior, K Roberts, Boden, Hatfield.
Scorer: Peniket (59)
Attendance: 1,167