Pre-Season Friendly
Wednesday 22nd July 2009, 7.45pm
Recreation Ground, Aldershot, Hants.

ALDERSHOT TOWN 3 SPURS XI 1

ALDERSHOT(All Red) 4-4-2 - G. Waddock

Team:- Jaimez-Ruiz, Straker(Sandell 61), Blackburn(Winfield 61), Charles(Hinshelwood 61), Soares(Mekki 81), Chalmers, Grant(Hudson 61), Hylton(Connolly 81), Martin(Herd 61), Halls(Harding 61), Hall(Donnelly 61)

Scorers:- Hylton 3, Connolly 83, Hinshelwood 89

SPURS(White/Blue)4-4-2 - C. Allen

Team:- Gomes(Alnwick 46), Hutton(Naughton 46), Smith, Livermore(C), Butcher(Blackwood 61), Archibald-Henville(Carroll 77), Parrett(M'Poku 46), Bostock, Obika, Taarabt(Cox 46), Rose

Scorer:- Rose 73

Referee:- W. Atkins

Assistants:- N. Lugg, M. Webb

Fourth Official:- I. Kitchen

Attendance:- 1409

This was the first outing of the "Reserves" and as such it showed. There were a couple of first teamers included in the shape of Heurelho Gomes back from South America and Alan Hutton. Also back from Exeter was Troy Archibald-Henville. On the bench were new signings Anton Blackwood and Kyle Naughton playing under the pseudonym "Carl Morton".

Spurs lined up with Archibald-Henville and Butcher at the back with Hutton at right back and Smith on the left. Bostock and Livermore started in the centre of midfield with Parrett on the right and Rose on the left. Obika and Taarabt were up front.

Spurs defended the East end attacking down the slope in the first half. With both sides getting a feel of the ball, Spurs were caught out when the "Shots" attacked down the left and Hylton met the cross near the penalty spot to drive it past Gomes into the left corner.

Spurs' first chance came with a Rose cross that Obika failed to reach and was returned by Parrett for Bostock to fire over the bar. Grant was played in by Halls but he put his effort way over. Obika got his head to anther cross but could only head it down and it bounced safely into the keepers hands. Taarabt had dropped into the hole and was spreading the play. He had a dribbling run which ended with the ball being deflected to Bostock, who struck it high over the goal.

Gomes was alert to a ball over the top and came out to head clear. Livermore played the ball to Taarabt, who must have been thinking of the beaches of Malaga, as he did not see it until Hall had gone past him and collected it to advance and shoot wide. Parrett received the ball to the right of the area and curled a shot in that Jaimez-Ruiz pushed away at full stretch.

There was no real rhythm to either sides' play and after Hall had put a corner across the six yard box at a good height without anyone getting a touch, Hylton tried his luck from the edge of the area, driving wide. Taarabt had a free kick saved easily at the near post which was followed by a Rose effort wide. Soares had the last chance in added time but it went wide.

Spurs replaced Gomes and Hutton with Alnwick and Naughton and M'Poku came on for Parrett at the start of the second half. Four minutes in and a cross from Rose was tipped over the bar for the first of three corners in a minute. Obika headed one just wide of the far post.

Alnwick saved from Hall and after M'Poku put a chance wide a whole raft of substitutions were made. Aldershot made seven changes and Spurs took off Taarabt for Cox. Butcher was replaced by by Blackwood.

Chalmers went wide shortly before Spurs equalised. Naughton attacked down the right and put in a centre that Rose got his head to before the keeper. Blackwood the other new boy was not having such a good start as twice he lost his man. On the second occasion Archibald-Henville made a saving tackle while at full stretch, injuring himself in the process. He had to be replaced by young Tom Carroll. Carroll went to the left side so that Rose could move into the centre as Livermore dropped into the back four.

Bostock took up a more defensive role and without Taarabt to hold the ball the home side began to dominate. They made the last of their changes and one of them - Connolly - put them back in front. A deep ball from Donnelly reached Hudson who lifted the ball over Alnwick. As the ball dropped at the far post Connolly stuck out a foot to turn it back across the line despite Alnwick getting a hand to it. Connolly went wide minutes later before Bostock put his effort wide at the other end. In the last minute Aldershot won a free kick 25 yards out on the right. Donnelly put his kick into the area for Hinshelwood to head home from the penalty spot. There was just time for Rose to have a shot saved before the final whistle.

This was a poor team performance from the Spurs XI, which was not surprising as this was their first outing and there had been a number of changes to the squad which could not have helped. Smith did okay at left back having had to make room for Hutton and then Naughton. Naughton had only completed his move today and Blackwood looked lost. With some players going out on loan it was a surprise to see Troy on the team sheet. Their next game is in a week's time and I expect them to have improved. St. Neots Town will be our non-league opponents, which should help.

Ray

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