Aldershot Town FC

Shots draw; Boro into play-offs

April 25, 2009

Aldershot proved that they are still a difficult team to beat - at home at least - by drawing with Chester City, who needed a victory more than any other team in the Football League.

In the event, the 2-2 draw means that Chester are down into the Conference, given that Grimsby Town, three points ahead with just a game to play, have a vastly superior goal difference.

With Gary Waddock forced to field a number of players out of position, due to injuries, The Shots made an awful start. Centre forward Rob Elvins, playing centre back, made a hash of an attempted backpass and Ricky Newman fouled Lloyd Ellams in the area in the chaos that followed. The game was just 25 seconds young.

Nikki Bull superbly saved Ryan Lowe's penalty but the striker tucked in the rebound, to the delight of the travelling support.

While Chester continued to have chances, so did The Shots, and Kirk Hudson equalised on 14 minutes, calmly lifting the ball home after good work by John Grant and Scott Davies.

After the break, on 56 minutes, Hudson smashed home a trademark finish from the inside right channel, after a lovely pass from Davies.

But Chester did not go down without a fight. Ellams equalised in another chaotic Shots penalty area on 63 minutes - Bull was stretchered off after colliding with a post - and Ritchie Partridge missed a wonderful injury-time headed chance, which would have taken the fight for survival to the last day.

But it wasn't to be; Chester are down and The Shots' home campaign in League Two is over for the season. In all, they lost just four times but ten of the other 19 games were, like this one, a draw.

Farnborough are heading into a BGB Southern Premier play-off semi-final against Hemel Hempstead Town at Cherrywood Road on Tuesday night.

Boro cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win against Stourbridge on the final day of the league programme, but they always needed a favour from Banbury United against leaders Corby Town to take the title.

And, despite Boro briefly topping the table when Michael Charles tapped them in front after four minutes from Marcus Richardson's scuffed shot, Corby took the lead against Banbury on the stroke of half time. The Steelmen then smashed in four second half goals to secure a 5-0 win, and the championship to boot.

Boro also swept home after the break, with Mark Gamble soon netting their second goal, and David Ray heading home Mo Harkin's chip in injury time to seal the 3-0 victory.

Hemel secured their place in the play-offs with a 2-1 win against Gloucester City, who will contest the other semi-final against Cambridge City on Tuesday night.

Goals from Paul Harkness and Nathan Smart helped Fleet Town to a 2-1 win at Dulwich Hamlet in Ryman One South; they have finished third and will be at home to Met Police in the play-offs on Tuesday night.

| Submit Comments