Plenty of familiar faces were on view as Chelsea visited the EEB Stadium at the Recreation Ground on Saturday, but all of them were wearing the red and blue of Aldershot Town as they took on a young side from Stamford Bridge.

At this time of year friendly matches are all about fitness and getting used to playing again, so given the nature of the game it was a pleasant surprise to see an entertaining game played with a bit of zip between two sides boasting both pace and skill. Four goals and a missed penalty added to the afternoon’s spectacle.

Aldershot boss Gary Waddock had maintained in the build up to the game that it was “purely a fitness excersise” and after the game he said he was pleased to give everybody a run-out.

“The most important thing from the game is that we have some match time under our belts,” he said. “I thought everyone looked good and we got that match practice which is what it is all about at this stage.

“It was a fitness excersise and although Chelsea brought a young side, they were fit and kept the ball well, so it was a decent test.

“It was nice for the players to get back into a match situation and now we will continue to build up the fitness ahead of the game with Crystal Palace on Thursday.”

For Shots’ fans it was a first opportunity to see new signings Chris Blackburn, Dean Howell and Marvin Morgan in action. There was also a chance to assess two potential new right-backs in Justin Miller and Lee Canoville.

Blackburn, who signed from Swindon and played for 53 minutes, slotted into the left side of central defence alongside Rhys Day and played with a calm authority, which saw him make several telling challenges at important times.

In addition, he seemed a natural organiser, letting those around him know there they should be and what they should be doing. On this  limited evidence, Blackburn looks a good acquisition and a potential leader.

Howell, who played so well against the Shots for Rushden & Diamonds last season, spent 82 minutes on the pitch, playing on the left side of midfield during the first half, and switching to left-back after half-time.He showed plenty of athletisicm, good pace, a  willingness to go forward and an ability to cross a dangerous ball.

Former Woking man Morgan entered the fray for the second half, playing up front. He showed plenty of physical presence that made him a real handful for defenders to deal with, and how adept he is at setting up chances for others with his neat footwork.

The big forward was also on hand to tap home from close range after a Danny Hylton header came his way late on.

So at first look, Waddock’s  trio of new faces seem to fit straight into the side, and the two trialists certainly did themselves no harm either, with some decent displays.

South African-born Miller is 27 and has made more than 160 Football League appearances, listing Port Vale, Ipswich and Leyton Orient as his previous clubs.

Miller is tall and during his first-half performance on Saturday looked a defensive right-back with excellent ability in the air and good positional sense.

Canoville, who is also 27, spent four years at Arsenal before moving on to Northampton, Torquay, Boston, Shrewsbury and Notts County.

With 204 Football League games under his belt, it was no surprise to see Canoville look the part. His second half display showed him to have pace, composure, an inclination to get forward, an eye for a pass and the ability to make a tackle.

Saturday’s match saw both sides looking to keep the ball on the floor on the slick EBB Stadium turf, but it was Chelsea who took the lead on 33 minutes when their Slovakian U21 international Miroslav Stoch provided a measured finish after running on to a defence-splitting pass from Sergio Tejera Rodriques.

Rodrigues nearly scored himself just before the break but, after showing some skilful touches a last-gasp intervention from Blackburn snuffed out the chance.

In the second-half, Aldershot took just six minutes to level the scoreline. Substitute Danny Hilton did well to pull the ball back from the byline to find Kirk Hudson, who slotted home via the post and a defender’s leg.

The Shots continued to press forward, with Morgan and Hylton proving an awkward pair for defenders to deal with. Indeed, it was Hylton who was fouled on 79 minutes when trying to secure a shooting chance, but the resulting Ben Harding penalty was saved superbly by former Shots’ keeper Stuart Searle.

That near miss spurred Chelsea into action and they were in front again on 83 minutes when former academy player Gael Kakuta did well to squeeze the ball past Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz at his near post.

However, as they demonstrated so many time last season, the Shots kept going and on 87 minutes Hylton got his head to a Scott Donnelly corner and Morgan was on hand to apply the finish from close range.

Shots: Nikki Bull (Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz 46), Justin Miller (Lee Canoville 46), Anthony Straker (Ben Harding 46), Rhys Day (Ricky Newman 53), Chris Blackburn (Anthony Charles 53), Louis Soares (Kirk Hudson 46), Lewis Chalmers, Scott Donnelly, Dean Howell (Jason Milletti 84), John Grant (Danny Hylton 46), Rob Elvins (Marvin Morgan 46).

For more reaction from Waddock, and his thoughts on the Crystal Palace clash, pick up a copy of Tuesday's Mail.