MATCH PREVIEW: ALDERSHOT TOWN (A)

Aldershot Town vs Boreham Wood
Saturday, 13th April 2024, 5:30 pm
EBB Stadium, Vanarama National League

PREVIEW

The Wood return to action in front of the TNT Sports cameras tomorrow afternoon as Luke Garrard’s men make the hour long trip to Aldershot. Our last meeting with the Shots came back in September at Meadow Park with the Shots being the side to come away with the 3 points after a narrow 2-1 win. It took 40 minutes for the deadlock to be broken in this game, Aldershot taking a 1-0 lead through winger, Josh Stokes. The Shots extended their lead on 55 minutes through full-back, Haji Mnoga and, despite Angelo Balanta pulling one back for the Wood, Luke Garrard’s side were ultimately unable to find the equaliser. Tommy Widdrington’s side, despite their recent dip in form, remain in the hunt for a playoff place this season, occupying 8th in the league after 19 wins, 8 draws and 16 defeats. The Wood must be on top of their game tomorrow afternoon in another huge game in our push for survival, the lads need all of the support they can get!

FORM GUIDE

Aldershot Town – L-D-L-D-L

The Shots, rather unreflective of their league position, sit 19th in the form guide, just 3 places above the Wood. The Shots have only taken 5 points from the last possible 18 points, their last win coming this time last month as they put 4 past Ebbsfleet United. Ebbsfleet would take an early lead in the game, Toby Edser giving them the advantage before the 5 minutes mark. However, the Shots’ Lorent Tolaj would both equalise for the Shots and give his side the lead before the half-time break. After Tolaj’s brace, Aldershot’s James Daly and Ryan Glover would seal the win with 2 further goals, a day to forget for Ebbsfleet as the match finished 4-1. This would be where Tommy Widdrington’s side’s form would take a turn for the worse, however. The Shots made the Northbound journey to relegation, rivals of the Wood, York City and suffered a shock 1-0 defeat, Lenell John-Lewis sealing the victory for the Minstermen. After leaving Yorkshire empty-handed, the Shots returned to Hampshire where they hosted Solihull Moors. After a goalless 71 minutes had been played, the deadlock in this game would finally be broken with the Moors taking a 1-0 lead through Tahvon Campbell. The dying minutes would be rather dramatic, however. Lorent Tolaj ran through toward the Moors’ net and was pulled down by Richard Stearman, the Solihull defender being shown red. This resulted in an 89th minute penalty for the Shots, a penalty converted by Cian Harries, levelling the score.

The Shots ended their March with a trip to Berkshire where they faced Maidenhead United, but it was a day to forget for the Shots this time as it would be their turn to concede 4. Maidenhead won the tie 4-0 thanks to 2 braces, one for defender, Remy Clerima and the other for midfielder, Charlee Adams. The Shots would fail to respond to the heavy defeat in Berkshire with a win as Tommy Widdrington’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by Marc White’s Dorking Wanderers. The Shots came out flying in the game, Josh Barrett giving them the lead inside 2 minutes and, as it looked like they would return to winning ways, Dorking’s Alfie Rutherford fired home to level the score in the 72nd minute, extending the Shots’ winless run. Finally, Aldershot would hit the road again, this time to Hartlepool but would come away from Teesside empty handed as they suffered a 2-0 defeat. The last 3 occasions where Aldershot have picked up points have come at home. The Wood will, therefore, need to be clinical tomorrow afternoon.

ONES TO WATCH

Josh Stokes:

19-year-old attacking midfielder, Josh Stokes, who joined the Shots in Jun 2023 and currently starring for Tommy Widdrington’s on loan from Bristol City, has bagged an impressive 15 goals this campaign. Stokes is the Shots’ second higher scorer in their 2023/24 campaign, his last goal coming away at Oxford City. The young midfielder netted against the Wood earlier this season, slotting the ball calmly past Nathan Ashmore, and will likely be a main factor considered by Luke Garrard in the final preparations for tomorrow.

PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW