THE pre-season games are coming thick and fast for Aldershot Town, with a trip to Maidenhead United tomorrow tonight (Tuesday) following hot on the heels of a 2-0 win at Staines Town on Saturday and Thursday evening’s 4-3 home defeat to Crystal Palace.

Manager Gary Waddock deliberately scheduled the three games in quick succession in the middle of his side’s pre-season’s preparations.

“I wanted three games close together as match fitness is so important,” said Waddock. “There is little better than matches at improving fitness and, with the guys training on the days in between too, it’s an important time in our preparations.”

Waddock did not field as powerful an XI against Ryman Premier League Staines as he had against Palace but it was still a strong side, with most of the first team squad featuring at some stage.

Goalkeeper Nikki Bull and Dean Howell were both missing with minor knocks, however. Central defenders Rhys Day and Dave Winfield were absent with ankle trouble and Jason Milletti is also out.

The 2-0 win was a very comfortable one for the Shots, thanks to second half goals from Marvin Morgan — his third in as many games — and Danny Hylton.

“I was very happy with the performance,” said Waddock. “We played well and the attitude of the players was really good.”
Waddock did, however, also use the game to assess a number of trialists, with the right back position continuing to cause problems.

The Shots have yet to sign a specialist right back since Dean Smith and Rob Gier were released at the end of last season.
Chris Kanu, younger brother of Portsmouth’s Nwankwo, started in the role at Staines, with Jomo Faal-Thomas and Lee Canoville featuring later in the game.

“Right back is obviously a priority,” said Waddock. “But we have to make sure we get the right player.”

Justin Miller, who had been training with the Shots throughout pre-season, is no longer an option. “He has left the club,” said Waddock.  Miller has now signed for Conference South side Chelmsford City, who finished top of Ryman Premier last season, one place above Staines, who lost in the play-offs to AFC Wimbledon.

“I will make a decision about Lee Canoville after Tuesday’s game at Maidenhead,” added Waddock. “We have other guys lined up to look at but they are unlikely to figure at Maidenhead.”

Kanu, 28, has won three caps for Nigeria, but none since 2002, and has just a handful of first team appearances in Dutch and English football to his name, despite being on the books of both Ajax Amsterdam and Inter Milan as a youngster.

Another trialist who started was Kieron Murphy, who played against the Shots for Crawley Town at centre-half last season, while on loan from MK Dons. With Day and Winfield struggling with injury, Waddock will be eyeing him as possible cover for Anthony Charles and Chris Blackburn.

There was little to alarm either goalkeeper in the first half (Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz started for Aldershot, with Bull injured), although Aldershot largely controlled the game, with Kirk Hudson and Murphy going close to opening the scoring.

Waddock introduced John Grant and Morgan after the break and the latter continued his goal-scoring form by pouncing on a ricochet and dinking the ball over Staines keeper James Courtnage, after a long kick by ex-Arsenal keeper Michael Jordan, who had replaced Jaimez-Ruiz at half-time.

The Shots should have extended their lead well before Danny Hylton added an excellent second in the 88th minute, racing on to Ben Harding’s raking pass, cutting in from the left and beating Courtnage low to his right.

Hylton had come on and played in an unfamiliar role on the left and Waddock was pleased with his contribution. “Danny did well there and got a good goal,” said Waddock. “Strakes [Anthony Straker] is another option there. It shows the versatility in the squad.”

Waddock still hopes to add to his squad, with the League Two opener against Accrington Stanley now only two-and-a-half weeks away. Rumours are strong that Scott Davies will return in midfield, on another season-long loan from Reading.

Waddock was typically coy when quizzed on Davies but the implication was that there will be news on Davies, possibly before tomorrow (Tuesday).

“People should know more about the Scott Davies situation on Monday or Tuesday,” said Waddock, speaking at the weekend. A midfield quartet of Davies, Harding, Lewis Chalmers and Scott Donnelly would offer Waddock a powerful engine, augmented by wide players such as Hudson and Louie Soares.

“But I’m happy with what we’ve got already,” added Waddock, should no other players join. Soares was, after all, accomplished filling in at right back last season.

Tomorrow Waddock’s men take on Johnson Hippolyte’s Maidenhead, at York Road. Hippolyte, the former Shots striker, has impressed as a manager at first Yeading and now Maidenhead, who eventually pulled clear of relegation trouble in Conference South last season.

Since then the Magpies have lost key players Manny Williams and Dwane Lee, to Woking and Kettering respectively. Ex-Shots in their squad include defender Dominic Sterling and Ty Smith.

“All games are difficult, and the likes of Staines and Maidenhead offer different tests to say Palace and Leyton Orient [who the Shots play this Saturday at the EBB Stadium],” said Waddock. “But all our pre-season opponents were chosen for a reason and by this stage we are getting closer to nailing down the first team and how we want the guys to play,” said Waddock.

Aldershot Town v Staines: Jaimez-Ruiz (Jordan 46), Kanu (Faal-Thomas), Straker, Murphy (Blackburn 59), Newman (Charles 46), Soares (Canoville 59), Chalmers (Kanu re-introduced 81), Donnelly (Harding 46), Hudson (Hylton 59), Mendes (Morgan 46), Elvins (Grant 46).

Kick-off tomorrow at York Road is at 7.45pm.