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Ben Starosta is fighting for his Aldershot future
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A heavyweight bout with the Bantams

By Charlie Oliver
August 28, 2008

BANTAMWIEGHT is one of boxing’s lightest classes. But the Bantams of Bradford City are the heavyweights of League Two.

It is little more than seven years since Bradford were in the Premiership and while the club has suffered a spectacular fall from grace since the days of Benito Carbone and Stan Collymore, they are still one of the favourites for promotion this season, backed by the biggest crowds in the division.

Stuart McCall’s side have reflected their pre-season promise too, with three league wins out of three ahead of their match on Saturday at the EBB Stadium.

So, after losing out 1-0 to one of the most-fancied teams in the league last week — Shrewsbury — Gary Waddock’s Shots face another stiff test immediately afterwards.

Shrews striker Grant Holt saw them off last week; now the Shots face another of the division’s most vaunted strikers, veteran Peter Thorne, who has scored five goals in Bradford’s three league wins. Those were 2-1 at home to Notts County on the opening day, followed by a 2-0 victory at Macclesfield and another home success, 2-0 in the cross-Pennines clash with Rochdale.

But Aldershot manager Gary Waddock is excited, rather than fearful of a clash with Bradford.

“We’re in this league to play against clubs like Bradford,” said Waddock.

“It’s not so long ago that Bradford were in the Premiership. They are a big club who are going well. But that is the draw of this league. That is what it is all about.”

Waddock was very disappointed that his side allowed Shrewsbury to punish a couple of sloppy moments last weekend in what was otherwise an encouraging performance. Now, after a few days of reflection, Waddock can see the positives.

“Sometimes games go for you, sometimes they don’t,” said Waddock.

“Saturday highlighted that we need to be clinical at both ends of the pitch and we were punished. But you can’t pull your hair out about a defeat. It is impossible to win every game, absolutely impossible.

“Shrewsbury are favourites for a reason and you have to be realistic about these things. We pushed them in their own back yard and gave a very good account of ourselves.”

Waddock will no doubt be contemplating the odd change to his line-up, however, with a number of players pushing hard for their first start of the season.

Chief among those are Danny Hylton, up front, and Lewis Chalmers in midfield. Chalmers scored the winner in Tuesday’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Oxford United, in which fellow midfielder Scott Davies made a comeback from injury.

Davies played 70 minutes, with Rhys Day and Junior Mendes also continuing their rehabilitation after pre-season niggles. “It was a very useful game,” said Waddock. “Scotty Davies came through well. He’s a naturally very fit young man but he needs more games.

“We don’t have another reserve game until September 8 but there is the Swindon Johnstone’s Paints game next Tuesday.”

Day and Mendes are closer to first-team returns but Waddock urged caution over them too.

“Rhys still needs more games. I need to weigh him up and see how he is. But it’s good to have some intense competition at centre half. Junior is in a similar position. They are both very eager to play but I can’t just throw them in to matches, I need to be mindful of their fitness.

“The likes of Danny Hylton and Lewis Chalmers are ready and itching to get in. But the guys who have been starting [Waddock has used just 12 starters across four matches] have been doing reasonably well. The lads who haven’t been playing need to stake a claim and show me that they would make things different.”

One player possibly playing for his Aldershot future tomorrow is Ben Starosta — if picked by Waddock at right back. Starosta’s loan from Sheffield United finishes on Sunday and Waddock must decide whether to extend the deal.

Starosta has yet to reach the heights he showed in pre-season against Leyton Orient and Waddock implied that Starosta needs to improve against Bradford, whom he played 15 games for on loan last season, if he is to remain.

“Bradford is an important game for the club and especially for Ben, given that he played for them last season.

“But that is not our issue. I need to make a decision about Ben and at the end of the day I have to judge him on how he is performing now, not what I’ve seen of him in the past.”

While Starosta is expected to start tomorrow, Waddock does have the option of moving Louie Soares back to right back, which would enable Chalmers to come in and Scott Donnelly move to the right of midfield.

Waddock also has potential right backs Junior Osborne and Jomo Faal-Thomas training at the club. Both featured against Oxford.

Bradford are expected to be unchanged, provided midfielder Paul McLaren, who signed from Tranmere Rovers in the summer, shakes off a knock.

Veteran Thorne, 35, should be partnered up front by Michael Boulding, who joined from Mansfield Town in the summer.

Kick-off is at 3pm.

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