FOOTBALL League action returns to Aldershot on Saturday and a bumper crowd is expected to celebrate the home return to the Promised Land.

Visitors AFC Bournemouth — it’s almost a derby given the paucity of southern teams in League Two — have already sold out their allocation and, provided the message has got through to Aldershot fans that the match is all-ticket, the home support should come close to filling The EBB Stadium.

After last weekend’s opening day 1-0 victory away to Accrington Stanley, ‘The EBB Rec’ should be bubbling with anticipation.

Aldershot manager Gary Waddock only has one thing on his mind, however - the match itself

“Saturday is going to be a fantastic occasion,” said Waddock.

“It’s our first home game back and we’re expecting a big crowd and a great atmosphere.

“But we on the playing side are simply focusing on the performance and getting a result. That is the key for the players.”

Aldershot Town have been big news ever since they clinched promotion at Exeter in April and Waddock, while agreeing that all the media attention has been great for the club, is looking forward to it easing off after the Bournemouth game.

“The media attention has been incredible and has been great for Aldershot Town,” said Waddock.“But I think it might settle down after we’ve played the first home game and we’ll just be able to get on with our jobs.

“It’s all been great for the club and the players too, but we’ve got to be making sure that we are picking up results on the pitch.”

Bournemouth drew 1-1 at home to Gillingham in their first league game last Saturday, denied victory by a late equaliser.

With a 17-point deduction imposed on Kevin Bond’s team by the Football League for being in administration, that puts the visitors, who were relegated from League One last season, 19 points behind the Shots.

Bournemouth are, however, a talented and experienced team. They may have lost last season’s star player, Sam Vokes, to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer, but most of the squad remains that so very nearly escaped relegation last season on the back of a string of victories.

Darren Anderton, the former England international, now aged 36, controls their midfield and showed against Gillingham, with a superb goal, that he has lost little of the sublime touch he used to show for Tottenham Hotspur.

‘Sicknote’, unusually, is fully fit and his contest with Scott Donnelly and Ben Harding in the centre of midfield will be fascinating. Waddock also has the option of handing a start to Lewis Chalmers, whose combative style might unsettle Anderton.

Up front the Cherries boast the goals of Jo Kuffour and the experience of Lee Bradbury, the former Manchester City striker, although Ricky Sappleton, signed on loan from Leicester City, may also feature.

Sappleton came on in Tuesday’s night’s 2-1 defeat at home to Cardiff City in the Carling Cup, a match watched by Waddock.

“Bournemouth will be a hard game on Saturday,” said Waddock, who watched Kuffour pull a goal back for the Cherries after Cardiff had raced into a 2-0 lead.

“We have stepped up a level and opponents are going to reflect that. But as long as we keep working hard then we will do OK.”

One player back in contention tomorrow is Anthony Straker, who was suspended at Accrington and for Wednesday evening’s 3-1 Carling Cup defeat at Coventry City, after being sent off at the end of last season at Rushden & Diamonds.Dean Howell played at left back at Accrington and Coventry and did pretty well. He was, however, hobbling towards the end of the Coventry match.

Of the two, Straker latterly enjoyed the better pre-season, and Waddock is glad to welcome more healthy competition into this squad.

“Strakes had been pretty frustrated by his suspension but he was excellent for us in pre-season and had an extremely good campaign for us last season too.

“His availability gives us more options.”

Waddock has pretty much a full-strength squad to choose from. Centre back Dave Winfield, however, faces a lay-off after having an operation on his ankle on Tuesday. “Dave’s had his op,” said Waddock. “I would anticipate that we will be without him for a few months.”

Another player still recovering from an operation is Scott Davies. The midfielder, on loan from Reading for the season, was hoping to be fit by the middle of August after his heel operation but Waddock said he is not quite ready for a return.

“Scott has a couple of weeks to go yet,” said Waddock. “He’s back in training and is naturally fit but that’s not the same as match fitness. We will try and arrange a couple of games to help him towards full fitness.”

Kick-off on Saturday is at 3pm.