For large parts of this trip to the Rec there was precious little to choose between two sides expected to challenge at the business end of the league. But the final outcome swung on a 30 second passage of play 12 minutes from time which saw City miss a great chance to take the lead, only to see Aldershot sweep to the other end of the pitch and take the lead. Three minutes later it was 2-0 and the game beyond City's reach.
City started with the same line up as Woking the previous Tuesday meaning a 4-5-1 formation; Marriott, Tully, Edwards, Friend, Moxey, Stansfield, Cozic, Richardson, Gill, Elam, Mackie. There was a return to the bench for Steve Basham following his injury sustained at Farsley and he was joined there by Jones, Logan, Carlisle and Artus.
The opening period settled into a pattern of play where neither side wanted to give up, or seemingly take, the initiative. City were content to keep their shape to stifle anything Aldershot tried to build while using the pace of Mackie and the wide out men in Stansfield and Elam to move the ball forward. Aldershot for their part didn't look particularly fluent and sought to bypass City's 5 man midfield with long balls to their forwards as they found it hard to create many chances.
In fact it was almost 20 minutes in that either keper was forced into any kind of action, Marriott diving to his right to cover a deflected shot that went away for an Aldershot corner. Up to this point both sides had cancelled each other out but as the half wore on City started to find their stride. Cozic was clattered after collecting a Mackie flick on 30 yards out, the perpertrator lucky not to find himself booked. Cozic himself was crowded out in the area as the resulting free kick fell to him. On the half hour an Elam cross was cleared and a minute later City fashioned their best chance of the half. Quick incisive passing on halfway saw Tully release Mackie who gathered the ball and ran towards goal from the inside right channel. As Cozic and Elam both looked well placed for a pass Mackie took it on but could only shoot straight at Bull from 15 yards.
More good work soon after, again from Tully and Mackie gave Stansfield a shooting opportunity but a good block saw his effort deflected over. City won 3 corners in quick succession as Cozic, Moxey and Stansfield all won good possession. The pressure ended when Richardson headed the third set piece wide under pressure.
Aldershot came into the game more as the final few minutes of the half approached and were unlucky not to take the lead as Gill cleared off the line after a corner was met at the far post and also had a snap volley fly wide from 20 yards after City only partly cleared across. In between these some good possession from City had given Stansfield half a chance but his toe poke effort under pressure was easy for Bull. As the whistle blew City could be pleased with their efforts at containg the division's second hgighest scorers while threatening enough to give promise for the second half.
From the restart it appeared that both sides wanted to press more to create the elusive opening. Within 5 minutes Richardson had flicked another Gill dead ball delivery wide and, after Cozic's cushioned header had sent Stansfield scampering away, Mackie was unable to keep his effort from the resulting cross on target. On 51 minutes Aldershot had the best chance so far to take the lead. Elvins found himself beyond the defence 30 yards out. He cut inside as Tully covered but as he rolled his shot to Marriott's right it also rolled the wrong side of the post.
This momentary lapse at the back semed to upset City and give Aldershot new hope. Patient passing resulted in a sliced shot wide from John Grant and on 56 minutes they came closer to scoring still. Soares found himself centrally placed 18 yards out after the ball ricocheted to him. He placed the ball to the left of the quickly advancing Marriott but saw it strike the post and rebound into the keeper's grateful grasp. For the next 20 minutes their was very little in terms of goalmouth action. Aldershot threatened only briefly from the odd set piece and City's best efforts were being created by Elam. First his near post cross just evaded Stansfield's darting run, then a visionary first time looping pass over his shoulder found Mackie scurrying down the middle but he didn't really test Bull with a weak left foot effort. In between times Cozic was booked seemingly harshly for a foul and both sides made their first substitutions. Aldershot brought on Joel Grant for Scott Davies, while for City Logan replaced Cozic as they switched to a more conventional 4-4-2.
Logan caused immediate concern for Aldershot finding Mackie with a neat flick on and chasing a long ball from Stansfield through to the keeper. He was then instrumental at the beginning of the passage of play that would see City fall behind. On 77 minutes his beautifully weighted ball sent Elam free from half way. He outpaced the defence and as Bull approached to narrow the angle shaped to shoot. It looked fro all the world as if he would give City the lead but the ball was just too close to the keeper who pulled off a fine save diving to his left. As Aldershot picked up the rebound the ball found it's way to Soares on half way on the Aldershot right, the exact position that Elam had vacated as he ran through moments earlier. Soares, seeing the space in front of him carried the ball forward then turned inside across the face of the penalty area. The City defence didn't get near enought o challenge him and he was able to twist and fire a left foot shot that took a deflection before flying past Marriott's despairing dive.
The next action saw Aldershot increase their lead. On 81 minutes, as City waited to make their final substitutions, the ball was fed to Joel Grant on the Aldershot left. Like Soares a few moments earlier he cut inside and was able to let fly. A superb shot curled into the far corner giving Marriott no chance, and Aldershot a comfortable cushion.
City immediately swapped Moxey and Mackie for Basham and Carlisle but in the remaining 10 minutes could not fashion any chances, save for Stansfield hooking over after a long throw fell to him in a crowded penalty area. As the final whistle blew after 3 additional minutes the noisy Aldershot support celebrated their win. As for City this defeat ended a six match unbeaten run stretching back to early September and drops them a place to 12th on goal difference.
For the vast majority of this encounter the sides were evenly matched. Marriott had no real save of note to make and had no chance with either goal. The back four looked solid giving a platform for Tully and Moxey to get forward when necessary. Friend and Edwards had a comfortable and controlled game together. Richardson added presence in midfield, Cozic was buzzing around constantly and this gave Gill more time to spread play and attempt to build possession. Stansfield and Elam both worked their flanks well with the greater quality coming from Elam and he will be rueing the great opportunity he had to give City the lead. Mackie continued to run until he was subbed and the subs themselves didn't really have a chance to impose themselves on the game before it was out of reach.
Two home games now follow. First up is Grays on Saturday and City really need to get a result. City's controlled football tonight deserved more than they got but ultimately they need to convert their best chances.
