At Clarence Park for the Match of the Day. Aldershot Town. 7 points clear at the top of the league, they are unbeaten in eight games and have conceded only 1 goal in the last 6. The championship is never won at Christmas but if they open a 10 point gap today, they will be very difficult to catch. The 'Shots re-signed Stafford Browne from The Saints two weeks ago and also among their ranks are former Saints, Gareth Howells and Richard Hurst.
We can no longer speak of The Dynamic Duo, City having parted company with Joint Manager Gary Roberts earlier this week. The reins are now in the hands of Steve Cook alone. Good luck to him from me.
For today, Cookie selected Wilmot in goal, 4 at the back: Gledhill, Brown (C), Campbell, and Naylor; 4 in the middle: Oakes, Challinor, Castle and Kean; and up front: Crawshaw and Martin. On the bench: Mackail-Smith, De Souza, Moran, Hollenbach and Greg Deacon.
This was a cracker. City pressed from the start and there was action in the visitors goalmouth within moments. The City midfield worked well as a unit today, as they did in the opening 10 games of the season, and the strikers were causing panic in the box. Aldershot were strangely nervous in view of their League position and recent form. Half way through the half, The Saints opened the scoring when a Naylor free-kick from the left was helped on by Brown for Campbell to hit home from a couple of yards. 1-0. Moments later, more panic by the Shot's keeper who brought down Gledhill in the area. Martin stepped up but hit a poor spot-kick to be saved by Bull.
City were dominant and moments later, it was 2, one of the best worked goals of the season. Kean, who had a fine game today, outsmarted his marker just inside the box, passed to Crawshaw, kept running to the bye-line for the return, took it and crossed to the penalty spot for Castle to volley home. 2-0. Aldershot began to compete but Wilmot and the Saints defence were untroubled for the rest of the half. H.T. 2-0.
The visitors were in the game for the second half and it was the City back 4 who showed that they, too, have a new lease of life. Aldershot were restricted to one shot on target, well blocked by Wilmot who was kept busy today, but rarely in danger of conceding a goal. Gledhill was replaced by Moran, who combined well with the midfield and the attack from the right back position. Hollenbach came on for Oakes and De Souza for Martin. Position and possession were broadly even for the second half but City were the more threatening and the more likely to add to the scoreboard. Just befor ethe end, The visitors No. 4 and captain, I think, Langston, was dismissed following a dreadful tackle on Oakes and two punches at Moran. There were several bookings in the last few minutes but it was too misty to work out the offences. F.T. 2-0.
A very very good performance by The Saints today, a fine win and, perhaps, a very significant result. We saw work-rate and committment, the various units of the team playing very good football, together. Everyone played their part and their were fine individual performances throughout the side. MotM for me today was Brown, closely followed by Wilmot, Kean, Oakes and Crawshaw. Aldershot were disappointing but they can only play as well as tthey are allowed to play.
A big crowd of 1538, with some 800 or so up from Hampshire on a foul day to see a fine City performance today.
Entertainment: 9/10. Atmosphere 9/10. Technical Merit 9/10. Referee 6/10.
Next up. Peace on Earth, goodwill to all men. Then, on Boxing Day, a 1.00 kick-off at Hendon, another big game and next Saturday, back at Clarence Park for the visit of Maidenhead.
Report By Homer |
