Morgan celebrates the winner. Pic: Chris Whiteoak
advertisement
Football: Morgan pinches the points
By Charlie OliverNovember 26, 2009
Coca-Cola League
Aldershot Town 2 Northampton Town 1
PERHAPS this report ought to be in the news section because it is the story of an outrageous robbery in Aldershot.
Nearly 3,000 people witnessed it but Aldershot Town, the perpetrators, look to have got away with their prize — victory — scott free.
A Scott was to the fore, too, as he so often is for Aldershot: Scott Donnelly, who equalised for Aldershot thanks to a twice-taken penalty — Chris Dunn had saved Donnelly’s first effort — awarded in dubious circumstances for a foul on Anthony Charles.
Up until then, Aldershot had been poor, to put it kindly, and Northampton had deservedly led on the back of a dominant first half.
But, in injury-time, Marvin Morgan, whose radar has been so awry in recent matches, conjured a superb solo goal, cutting in from the touchline before burying the ball underneath Dunn.
For 80 minutes, the lack of goals under Kevin Dillon, who had started his tenure at Aldershot with two 0-0 draws, was beginning to become an issue. But, thanks to good fortune and Morgan’s first goal in seven games, optimism reigned again. Dramatic finishes at the Rec were obviously not just in the domain of Gary Waddock — Kevin Dillon can do it, too.
The win takes Aldershot up to eighth, just a point off a play-off place. Dillon deserves credit, as well. While his decision to revert to a 4-4-2 formation at half-time scarcely made Aldershot any more of a threat, the introduction of John Halls to the midfield did help Aldershot keep possession of the ball far better.
Later on, Ben Harding was added to the midfield, too, and Aldershot were able to wrestle control of the game in the dying minutes.
Overall, however, Dillon was the first to admit that his side had been fortunate.
“On the balance of play, I would have been happy with 2-2, even after Marvin scored,” said Dillon. “But I will take the win any day.”
The manager was critical not just of his side’s first half display but their whole pre-match routine, too.
“They were fiddling about, they didn’t go out as a team, some players were late. They went on the pitch and performed that way, too," he said.
“We didn’t play as a team. We had a spare man in midfield but we never got him on the ball — Northampton dominated it. Nor did our wide players get at their fullbacks. The service to Marvin wasn’t good.
“And, at the other end, their two front men dominated our two centre backs.”
Charles and Chris Blackburn had been excellent three days before in the 0-0 draw at Notts County but Northampton’s front two, the experienced Steve Guinan and the bulky Ade Akinfenwa, gave them a torrid time.
Defending high up the pitch, Aldershot could not cope with Akinfenwa in particular. The 27-year-old may be built like a nightclub bouncer but one thing the ball did not do is bounce off him. Instead he held the ball up superbly and exploited the space in behind Aldershot’s defence, for Luke Gutteridge to sprint into.
With one such dash, Gutteridge gave Northampton the lead, on 18 minutes, as Mikhael Jiamez-Ruiz was beaten for the first time in nearly seven hours. Later in the half, Jaimez-Ruiz made a brave save to prevent Gutteridge scoring from the exact same move, instigated by Akinfenwa.
Guinan, Andy Holt and Akinfenwa all went close to extending their side’s lead in the first half, as Aldershot scarcely mounted a chance, bar one for Morgan, which he ballooned over the bar.
Even Donnelly was guilty of poor passing, as Aldershot were out-fought and out-thought by Ian Sampson’s tidy side, who belied their poor away record.
By half-time, the only positive for Aldershot was that they only trailed 1-0. Dillon hauled off Anthony Straker and Lewis Chalmers — so often the fall-guy — at the break, introducing Halls and Grant, and pushing Louie Soares out wide.
For 15 minutes, little changed and neither Morgan nor Grant could make anything of the admittedly poor service they received; indeed, perhaps the most significant thing for Aldershot was the exit of Akinfenwa, who had come into the game half-fit and could not soldier on beyond 50 minutes.
Finally, on the hour, the Shots produced a good move, involving Halls, Grant and Kirk Hudson and a shot from Donnelly over the bar. A series of corners followed.
Soon afterwards, Halls made space with a neat shimmy and curled a wind-assisted shot towards the top corner, forcing a superb save from Dunn.
Halls was then joined by Harding in the middle, allowing Donnelly a little more freedom. “Halls and Harding can play at a higher level and they gave us a bit of steel,” said Dillon. “We can play with two in midfield with them, although neither is fully fit, yet.”
So, a little pressure was mounting - but Dillon’s first goal still looked unlikely.
If the manager was praying for divine intervention, referee Fred Graham obliged — perhaps his first name is actually Billy.
Charles’ shirt was certainly pulled by Paul Rodgers as Charles chased a long ball he had very little chance of reaching. But, while Charles fell in the area, the initial foul looked to have been committed outside it.
Dillon said afterwards that he is happy to let the players sort out who takes penalties. Morgan had been down to take them but, when push came to shove, Donnelly was more keen and he stepped up.
After a long delay Dunn easily saved Donnelly’s weak kick but referee Graham ordered, correctly, a re-take for encroachment by the Cobblers - something he had clearly warned them about as Donnelly waited to take the kick.
Donnelly insisted the second effort was his too, kept his head and, favouring the same side of the goal, sent Dunn the wrong way.
Northampton were furious but it got worse in injury-time: seconds after Holt had forced a good save from Jaimez-Ruiz, Morgan showed unexpected energy to chase down Chris McCready on the touchline, rampage inside, beat Patrick Kanyuka, and drill the ball under Dunn.
Granted, it was a goal fit to win any game but it was a kick in the teeth that the Cobblers did not deserve. Not that the majority of the Rec cared as Dillon was embraced into the weird and wonderful world that is football at Aldershot.
“To the players’ credit we created some pressure in the second half,” said Dillon. “The performance was totally different to the first half.
“But we were still fortunate to win — but it’s great to get that win, all the same.”
Aldershot Town: Jaimez-Ruiz, Herd, Straker (Grant 46), Blackburn, Charles, Soares, Chalmers (Halls 46), Morgan, Donnelly, Hudson (Harding 76), Sandell. Not used: Masters, Winfield, Hopkinson, Connolly.
Northampton Town: Dunn, Rodgers, McCready (Hinton 90+2), Gilbert, Kanyuka, Guttridge (Dyer 84), Walker, Holt, Gilligan, Guinan, Akinfenwa (Mulligan 50). Not used: Brown, Curtis, Jacobs, Mckay.
Browse Sections
