Aldershot Town Preview

[Match Reports]

_________________ Aldershot vs York City
_________________-___The Recreation Ground, Aldershot
__________________Saturday 24th September 2005, 3.00pm
_______________________-_


City and Aldershot meet with the two sides having contrasting starts to the season and needing the points for very different reasons.

For York City, manager McEwan will be hoping his side can bounce back from letting in an equalising goal in the 94th minute in the home match against Dagenham and Redbridge on Tuesday. The result means that they sit fourth in the table, however, if they had held on to their lead given to them by Andy Bishop in the first half they would have been joint first with Exeter City. After a series of good performances the City boss will make very few changes to the side for the visit south to Hampshire. It seems that City left back Peat will not be available for selection again, with him having a scan on a calf injury, so once more last season's Player of the Year Dave Merris will deputise. Skipper Hotte is available again but sat on the bench against D&R, with James Dudgeon set to continue.

For Aldershot Town, a 3-2 defeat against Accrington helped them climb the table, now they aren't bottom of the league following Burton's thumping 4-0 home defeat by Morecambe, the southern team's goal difference helping them out. However, that will matter little with a side that has reached the play offs two seasons in a row following their promotion to the Conference struggling this season. Many home fans point to the departure of several key players in the summer, with midfielder Challinor joining Exeter, and other key players such as Antwi leaving. However, at the same time, their team was formed barely 13 years ago after the old club Aldershot FC went bust, so many fans are remaining patient despite their poor start. The crisis isn't helped by injuries - D'Sane, their key striker, has been injured for a substantial length of time as has former Wales full back Barnard. Having said that, Aldershot do have a number of good players - keeper Bull was England's XI first choice keeper last season, and their striker Sills has been watched by many league clubs and had a spell on trial with Grimsby - last season he scored at the KKC game between the two sides. Perhaps the fans' most rated player at the minute is on loan ex - Hull City winger Williams, who has been very impressive with his trickery and skill since making the loan switch from Bristol Rovers. The City full backs will have to be very wary and on their guard. Of course, one familiar sight to the City side will be centre - back Greg Heald, who signed for the Minstermen before changing his mind, and since July has had brief spells at both Burton and Ashton, barely playing a game for them. However, the lack of pace of the former League player could be an issue against the likes of Bishop and Donaldson.

Last Season

Aldershot 2-0 City

Two defensive errors from Chris Clarke gifted Aldershot a 2-0 victory. The goalscorers were Challinor and Watson, with Pearson sent off for City.

How the Teams Line-Up

York City (Possible Team): Porter; Price, Dudgeon, McGurk, Merris; Convery, Panther, Dunning; Bishop, O'Neill, Donaldson.
Substitutes: Afandiyev, Hotte, Yalcin, Stewart, Palmer.

Aldershot (Possible Team): Bull; Sulaimani, Heald, Guyett, Reed; Crittenden, Boucard, Somner, Williams; Sills, McPhee.
Substitutes: Weait, Deen, Scott, Holloway, Hamilton.

Form Guide

York City - LWWWD - Halifax (A), Cambridge (H), Forest G (A), Altrincham (H), Dagenham (H)

Aldershot Town - LWLDL - Grays (A), Crawley (H), Morecambe (A), Stevenage (H), Accrington (A)

Away Travel Information

By Road:

> From M25, Junction 10
>Take A3 towards Guildford
>After Guildford, turn off onto the A31 (Hog's Back) leading to Farnham
(the exit is on the crest of a hill just past BP garage)
>Exit the A31 Hog's Back for the A331 signed Camberley and Aldershot
>Exit the A331 at Aldershot South (the first exit off the A331)
>Take the first exit at the roundabout towards Town Centre
>Stay in the right hand lane and go straight on at the Traffic lights
>You will pass Manor Park (on your left)
>Continue under the railway bridge
>The Recreation Ground is just past the bridge on the right
(Straight over next roundabout and 3rd exit at second roundabout for multistorey car park)
>Turn right at the next roundabout into Ordnance Road
>Take the first right for the Parsons Barracks car park.

By Train:

The nearest train station is ALDERSHOT. The station is less than 10 minutes slow walk from the ground. It is served by mainline train on the London Waterloo to Alton line. This line includes Clapham Junction and Woking mainline stations on all services to Aldershot - Directions to the Ground.

Related Links

Need a Lift to Aldershot on Saturday?? Try Here
Travel Information for Aldershot (Last Seasons)

YorkCityFC.com Prediction League

Official Aldershot Town FC Website
Aldershot 1926-1992
ATFC Message Board

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