Coca-Cola League Two

Accrington Stanley 0 Aldershot Town 1

A TRIP to rain-lashed Lancashire was hardly the most glamorous of welcomes back into the Football League.

But no one from Aldershot was complaining after Scott Donnelly’s fabulous free-kick against Accrington Stanley ensured that the long journey for the long-awaited return was worthwhile.

By the end the Shots’ fans were singing in the rain. Singing: “Aldershot are back, Aldershot are back!”

Only time will tell just how good a victory this was. Accrington were woeful at home last season and were hardly impressive in this match either. That said, with better finishing and without the excellence of Nikki Bull, Accrington would have probably won.

So, there is plenty of hard work ahead for the Shots and almost certainly a host of tougher opponents too.

But an opening-day victory, away from home, still represents the perfect start for Gary Waddock’s team. Last year’s Blue Square Premier title triumph was built on his side’s ability to win tight games and they have not lost the happy habit.

That Waddock’s new-look defence kept a clean sheet made the win even sweeter for the manager. Debutant Chris Blackburn was composed, committed and authoritative throughout, while Dean Howell and Ben Starosta, also making their first starts for Aldershot, may have endured the odd nervy moment but stuck to their task well.

“I’m very pleased,” said Waddock. “It’s a difficult place to come to and we’ve kept a clean sheet. They’ve put us under a lot of pressure at the back but we’ve withstood it and won the game with a fantastic goal.

“I really don’t think we’ve played at all well today, apart from a few patches. We didn’t play the free-flowing football we can do,” continued Waddock. “I think some of the guys were a bit nervous, in that they were making League debuts and what with the club’s return to the League too.

“But we worked hard and stuck to our guns and you simply can’t argue with 1-0 away from home on the first day of the season. This result will increase our belief. We can build on this.”

Waddock fielded his expected starting XI, with Bull passed fit to captain the team. Injuries and suspensions meant that Waddock’s only genuine selection poser was whether or not to stiffen his midfield with some local Lancastrian bite, in the form of Lewis Chalmers. Waddock, as his pre-season selections indicated, chose to leave Chalmers chomping at the bit on the bench, allowing starts out wide for both Louie Soares and Kirk Hudson.

Just after 3pm the match kicked off; the phoenix had finally risen, even if it looked like a canary in Aldershot’s bright yellow away kit.

But it was Accrington who started the stronger, with left winger Robert Grant especially prominent. His pace caused Starosta early problems but, fortunately for Aldershot, Grant’s woeful delivery was a feature throughout the contest.

At the other end Marvin Morgan was comfortably the Shots’ most potent attacking threat and his skill, pace and power on debut gave an Accrington debutant, Colin Murdock, the Northern Ireland international, a very difficult afternoon.

“I was extremely pleased with Marvin,” said Waddock afterwards. “He is a handful and he’s a big asset for us. As the season progresses he’s going to get goals too.”

Morgan played a key role in Aldershot’s best moment of the first half an hour when he ran on to Dean Howell’s pass and muscled Murdock off the ball. Morgan’s low centre was almost turned home by John Grant but Accrington captain Peter Cavanagh slid in bravely.

But Bull was far busier than his opposite number Kenny Arthur. First Paul Mullin inadvertently deflected wide Chris King’s goalbound shot, before Bull made a smart save at his near post from Andrew Proctor’s header.

On the half hour Bull made an even better stop, with a characteristic one-on-one victory. Mullin was the victim on this occasion, put through by Ian Craney after an error from the otherwise outstanding Anthony Charles.

But Bull was quickly off his line and Mullin lacked the composure to dink the ball past the Aldershot captain. Other strikers in this division will not be so generous.

Slowly, Aldershot began to assert themselves. Murdock was booked for a late lunge on Morgan and Ben Harding headed a Donnelly corner wide.

Five minutes later Donnelly’s clever twist on the left edge of the penalty area drew a foul from Craney and a free-kick.
 
Shots fans who had seen Donnelly hit the woodwork from an identical position away to Crawley in the Setanta Shield last season knew this was a chance. And Donnelly did not disappoint, dipping his shot in off the crossbar and sparking delirious celebrations behind the goal. “I practise a few in training and it’s nice when it happens in a match,” said Donnelly afterwards.

Donnelly’s only other league goal for Aldershot — this was just his third league start — was, of course, the equaliser at Exeter in April that sealed the return to the Promised Land. Now that Donnelly and the Shots are there, he has scored Aldershot first goal back where they belong.

“Exeter was great but this was just as special,” said Donnelly. “The Aldershot fans are brilliant and it was lovely to score in front of them.” 

For much of the second half the Shots were on the back foot, surrendering territory and conceding a number of corners and free-kicks in dangerous positions. But for all Accrington’s huff and puff, Aldershot were the more incisive side and their danger on the counterattack augurs well for the season.

Morgan’s finishing was wayward but twice he burst through into dangerous positions. On another occasion Soares’ run and cross nearly set up Grant.

Accrington dominated much of the last ten minutes and Aldershot were thankful for the energy and tackling of substitute Chalmers. But chances came for the home side. Mullin scuffed a shot from Cavanagh’s cross and then giant substitute Fola Onibuje twice finished embarrassingly, first slicing over Mullin’s flick and then heading wide.

Just before those two Onibuje chances Grant, released by Soares’s superb break, hit the inside of a post. He thought he had scored a goal on his 27th birthday — and eased the pressure too.

Instead, Accrington came again but the Shots stood firm and were soon celebrating a Football League victory.
Now that does make good reading.

Accrington Stanley: Arthur, Cavanagh, King, Richardon, (Onibjue 80), Murdock, Proctor (Ryan 63), Craney, Edwards, Mullin, Clarke (Williams 68), Robert Grant. Not used: Dunbavin, Miles. Booked: Murdock (35).

Aldershot Town: Bull, Starosta, Howell, Blackburn, Charles, Harding, Soares, Donnelly (Newman 90), John Grant, Morgan, Hudson (Chalmers 79). Not used: Jaimez-Ruiz, Elvins, Hylton. Booked: Howell (74).