Aldershot Town FC

Dean Holdsworth
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Holdsworth turns to tried and tested Rose

By Jon Couch
October 11, 2012

LONG-SUFFERING Shots boss Dean Holdsworth has been handed a much-needed pick-me-up after finally landing former captain Danny Rose.

Holdsworth has been trying to sign the 24-year-old midfield ace all summer long, but finally struck a deal with league newcomers Fleetwood Town on Wednesday to take the former Manchester United reserve team skipper on loan until January.

Rose, the former England C captain, teams up with Holdsworth for a second time after being an integral part of Newport County’s Blue Square South title-winning side of 2009/10, alongside Craig Reid.

Left-footer Rose then joined Fleetwood during the latter stages last season and helped the Cod Army gain promotion to the Football League for the first time in the club’s history.

“He’s a player I know very well and a very good player too,” Holdsworth told the News & Mail. “He’s a great character, a total professional and will a lot of quality to our squad.”

The signing of Rose completed a busy day of transfer activity for Holdsworth, who also secured the services of promising young defender Doug Bergqvist on a year-long contract extension, while striker Guy Madjo was allowed to extend his loan spell at Plymouth for a further 60 days.

Rose goes straight into the squad for the daunting trip to Gillingham on Saturday, looking to help his boss defy his critics and stop the rot of five straight defeats following the 2-1 reverse at Plymouth Argyle in the Johnstone Paint Trophy on Tuesday night.

And his arrival also helps ease the pressure from a lengthy queue for the treatment room with Alex Rodman (shoulder), Josh Payne (ankle) and Michael Rankine (illness) only rated at 50/50 for the Gills’ game, while Myles Anderson and Kieren Cadogan, who both limped off at Home Park on Tuesday night, are also undergoing tests.

High-flying Gills have lost only one of their opening 11 matches so far this season and although Holdsworth recognises the task that faces his side, he remains confident the Shots can overturn the formbook.

“It’s a massive game for us but we showed last year that we can come to places like this and grind out results and if we can show big hearts and plenty of character then we can go there and get a result.”

One thing’s for sure, the Shots boss will need a lot more luck than he got down in Devon on Tuesday night if they are to become the League Two poolsbusters on Saturday.

Holdsworth was looking for an immediate response after Chesterfield, but must've wanted the ground to open up and swallow him as his side went behind inside 38 seconds.

Joe Lennox attacked the space down the right and crossed low into the box for former Woking striker and one-time Shots' trialist Paris Cowan Hall to slot home at the far post.

To their credit though heads didn’t go down and the Shots were soon back on level terms. Peter Vincenti, back from a three-match ban, volleyed a loose ball goalbound from a full 30 yards, the shot was deflected towards poacher Reid, who fired powerfully home for his seventh goal of the se.

Resurgent Shots twice came within a whisker of going in front when Troy Brown looped a header onto the crossbar before Reid fired the rebound against the post.

But they were made to pay when Argentinian Andres Gurrieri fired a shot from a full 25 yards past the out-stretched Glenn Morris and into the bottom corner on the half hour.

Gurrieri then struck the post with a low shot before Morris saved well to deny Argyle captain Nick Chadwick.

Danny Hylton, making his 200th appearance for the Shots, came closest to setting up extra time with a shot into the side-netted, but, in truth, the visitors rarely tested Rene Gilmartin.

“We could have easily won the game,” Holdsworth said. “We showed we still have the character to do the right things, we're just getting punished for every little mistake right now.”

SHOTS: G Morris, Herd, Anderson (Tonkin 33), Brown, Branston, A Morris, Donnelly (Lancashire 86), Vincenti, Cadogan (Mekki 56), Hylton, Reid. Not used: Bradley, Young.

Att: 2,590 (78 Shots).

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