Aldershot Town FC

Holdsworth refuses to lay blame for Shots' latest loss

By Jon Couch
November 13, 2012

DEAN HOLDSWORTH refused to heap blame on defender Sonny Bradley for his costly first-half mistake, but admitted it did play a part in ultimately condemning Aldershot Town to another home defeat.

Bradley's uncharacteristic slip-up gave Bradford wide man Nahki Wells free reign to fire the Bantams into a 28th-minute lead against the run of play.

And when Wells nipped in again to slot home a second from close-range - again following more defensive uncertainty - it all but subjected the Shots to a seventh defeat on home soil this season.

Just as worrying for boss Holdsworth, the Shots, despite unveiling new strike loan pair of Dani Lopez and Alberto Seidi, from Stevenage and Southampton respectively, showed very little in the way of goal threat and have still only netted twice at the EBB Stadium in nine league games this season.

Despite the goal drought, Holdsworth insisted it was Bradley’s error which proved to be the turning point in the match.

“Up until the individual error I thought we were well in the game," he said. "We looked sharp and the crowd were getting behind us. But the whole game changed when the goal went in and put us on the back foot."

Holdsworth, though, rallied round the Hull loanee, adding later: “It was an honest, unfortunate mistake and I thought Sonny handled it really well.”

Holdsworth's Shots got off to a lively start without really testing Matt Duke in the Bradford goal early on.

And they were made to pay when Bradley slipped when attempting to roll the ball back to keeper Jamie Young, Wells nipping in and coolly slotted the ball past the advancing keeper.

The Shots, however, came within inches of an equaliser with their only real clear-cut opportunity when Duke spilled Josh Payne's corner. Danny Hylton pounced but his swivelled shot was somehow scrambled off the line by Stephen Darby.

But just when they looked like turning the corner, a long ball over the top to target man James Hanson caused all manner of problems in the Shots defence.

After slipping inside Troy Brown, Hanson's shot was well saved by Young but Wells was on hand to rifle the ball home from close range.

Although Aldershot showed similar endeavour after the break they still posed very little goal threat, even though Holdsworth had four strikers on the pitch at one stage.

But if anything it was the visitors who looked the most likely, Hanson forcing a diving save from Young with an 18-yard drive, while Wells' mis-hit overhead kick from close range rebounded off the inside of the post to safety.

ALDERSHOT: Young, Herd, A Morris, Brown, Bradley, Payne, Donnelly (Seidi 61), Rose, Vincenti (Rankine 69), Cadogan (Lopez 69), Hylton. Subs: Branston, Cooksley, Munns, G Morris.

Ref: Oliver Langford. Att: 2,143 (274).

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