Match-winner Billy Kee shields the ball from Ben Herd.
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Football: Kee unlocks Aldershot
By Graham BrooklandJanuary 28, 2010
Coca-Cola League Two
Accrington Stanley 2 Aldershot Town 1
ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman hailed his teams victory against Aldershot Town as ‘the biggest win of the season against possibly the best team that has been seen here this season.’
In truth, however, this was not one of Aldershot’s more memorable evenings.
After being out fought in a dull first half Kevin Dillon’s side were gifted an opportunity to level matters soon after the break with a fortunate penalty kick award, only to sacrifice the lead and, indeed, at least a point towards the latter part of the match.
The Crown Ground has been the venue of some memorable encounters between the two sides over the years. The first ever visit to the tight but atmospheric stadium in 2003 is remembered for the touchline dispute between Coleman and then Aldershot boss Terry Brown. An epic 3-3 draw followed the following year while last season, of course, saw Shots make their Football League bow where they collected three points courtesy of a Scott Donnelly goal.
Boss Dillon decided that the flair qualities of Donnelly and Louie Soares would be affected by the heavy pitch and conditions, leaving the pair on the bench for the first time this season.
The decision gave Lewis Chalmers a recall to the centre of midfield against his former club.
Anthony Straker, buoyant after his late winner against AFC Bournemouth, started on the left side of a five-man midfield.
Clark Masters was included on the bench after the club were successful in appealing against his touch line dismissal at the weekend (see page 21).
This match was always going to be an occasion where it was all about who possessed the battling qualities sufficient to win the game.
There was no FA Cup hangover for the home side, who tested Premier League Fulham three days before, matching Roy Hodgson’s side all the way, before having defender Darren Kempson dismissed.
Coleman is a wily character and must be applauded for the way that he has mastered Stanley’s progression and stabilisation in the Football League at the smallest supported club in the competition. Indeed the 1,279 brave souls who conjured up a decent atmosphere was the lowest of the season.
After a bright opening Aldershot lost their way unable to fully utilise the flanks with any great effect. Stanley’s resilience started to show and they gave their opponents no time on the ball frustrating and penetrating throughout the first half.
Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz was certainly the busier of the two keepers. He made a fine double save when James Ryan swerved a 12 yard shot forcing the Venezualan to parry the ball away, leaping to his right before gathering John Miles’ follow up.
Ben Herd made a goal line clearance after a neat turn from Michael Symes on the edge of the six-yard box and you sensed that it was going to be an arduous evening for Dillon’s side.
Aldershot offered little going forward, perhaps too reliant on lone striker Marvin Morgan and they were unable to play through the midfield fluently.
Stanley deservedly took the lead on the half hour with Ryan again involved. He collected the ball midway inside the Aldershot half on the right hand side and split the defence open with a lobbed delivery over the top into the path of dominant captain Andrew Proctor. He steadied himself, before slotting the ball home low inside the near post.
Proctor should have extended the lead within a minute, when he headed too close to Ruiz.
Aldershot did give some indication of hope just before the interval when Marlon Jackson’s snapshot was just wide of the far post after a tidy build up involving Oliver Bozanic and Morgan.
Jackson and Bozanic have had their loan deals with Bristol City and Reading extended until the end of the season and you can see why as they both offer quality on the ball.
The deals are courtesy of the Players Transfer Fund administered by supporters.
Jackson was pushed forward to partner Morgan in the second half and he looked far more accomplished in this role. Aldershot started to dictate play and Bozanic sprinted through the centre to unleash a powerful drive which forced Dean Bouzanis to save low to his left.
Aldershot had a more competitive edge and they were rewarded, somewhat fortuitoulsy, just before the hour.
Referee Anthony Taylor penalised Stanley defender Phil Edwards, who appeared to stumble before falling onto the ball with his hand inside the penalty box. Andy Sandell powered the ball home into the bottom left hand corner from the resultant spot kick.
With a spring in their step at this stage it was not inconceivable that Dillon’s side could go on to win the match.
Jackson produced a moment of inspiration on 70 minutes when he guided the ball past his marker with his back to goal before turning on the inside to provide a dipping effort that Bouzanis did well to force away, low to his left.
But there is one certainty with the Stanley manager: his side fight all the way to the end.
He introduced striker Billy Kee in the 72nd minute substitute and within three minutes he had scored the winner, latching onto a through ball in the centre and forcing the ball past Jaimez-Ruiz, despite a gallant effort to stop him by captain Anthony Charles.
There was no way back for Aldershot, despite Dillon’s treble substitution, which saw Soares, Danny Hylton and Kirk Hudson all coming on. Indeed, only a fine tackle from Chris Blackburn prevented Proctor from adding a second late on.
Dillon was understandably disappointed afterwards but his side remain in the play-off spots, in seventh.
“The way that we conceded the second goal was such a disappointment,” said Dillon. “We were away from home and it was 1-1 on a horrible pitch and you have to use everything to your advantage — but we didn’t do that and it cost us.
“I made changes to the team because I knew that the state of the pitch would not be one for fluent football. The team selected was about ensuring that we had a fighting, battling quality, to close them down, win second balls and chase lost causes. This didn’t happen in the first half.
“It was much improved after the break. The penalty was fortunate but we won it because we closed down well. It was an opportunity to get back into the match but we didn’t take advantage and paid for it in the end. I expected to come here and get something out of the match.”
But, on this occasion, the Shots fell short of their manager’s great expectations.
Aldershot: Jaimez-Ruiz, Herd, Sandell, Blackburn, Charles, Chalmers, Harding, Bozanic (Hylton 79), Morgan, Jackson (Hudson 79), Straker (Soares 79). Not used: Masters, Donnelly, Winfield, Howell.
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