Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

DROYLSDEN 2 – 2 ALDERSHOT TOWN

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER – Thursday 27 March 2008

Report by Gary Owen

The Bloods twice held the lead, only to be twice pegged-back by champions-elect Aldershot Town in a very entertaining game at the Butcher's Arms on Thursday night.

Droylsden made all of the early running, with Chris Denham going close on two occasions before Dave Pace's men took a deserved lead on 17 minutes. Shots defender Ricky Newman missed his kick allowing Terry Fearns a clear run at goal and he drew Nikki Bull before clipping the ball over his diving body.

Ben Harding and Kirk Hudson then both saw a number of chances go begging for the visitors, before Denham again threatened the Shots' goal, but this time his curled effort went over apex of bar and post.

Just before the break, Steve Daly earned the first of his two yellows for an off-the-ball incident which only the referee's assistant seemed to notice.

Ashely Burbeary then failed to clear his lines presenting Lewis Chalmers with a shot, but Paul Phillips saved with some ease.

After the break, Harding curled another effort off target, but the Aldershot did strike level. Steve Halford was booked for hauling back Danny Hylton, and from the resultant free kick Joel Grant had a shot blocked. However, the ball fell to Junior Mendes, whose shot beat Phillips low to his right, although it may have taken a slight deflection en route.

Gary Waddock's side were on level terms for less than ten minutes, though, as The Bloods restored their lead on 61 minutes when possession was won in the centre circle, and Steve Daly galloped away down the inside left channel. His low cross was met first time by Fearns, who steered the ball away from Bull and into the far corner.

Aldershot responded immediately, and Kirk Hudson beat Sean Newton to stand the ball up nicely for Mendes in a central position, but he headed over.

A wayward strike by Chalmers was then headed over the bar by Rhys Day, before the visitors were reduced to ten men when Scott Davies saw red for a high challenge on Jamie McGuire. Most will have viewed that as a rather harsh decision, but the referee must have been sure that the challenge was dangerous enough to warrant instant dismissal.

It, therefore, seemed that Mr. Brown was intent on evening matters-up when he dismissed Daly for his second bookable offence just five minutes later for an aerial challenge on Chalmers.

With ten versus ten, it was Aldershot who struck level with nine minutes remaining in rather fortuitous fashion. Louise Soares made inroads down the right flank and crossed low into the Droylsden box. The ball ran across the face of goal and Halford failed to clear at the far post, but just behind him was the unsighted Lee Roche. The ball struck his shin and flew into the net.

The Bloods' substitutions signalled a holding game, and so it was, as they held on to secure a well-earned point against a side likely to be plying their trade in League Two next term.

TEAMS:

Droylsden Phillips, Roche, Newton, Halford, Cryan, Mackin, McGuire (Murphy, 88'), Burbeary, Denham, Fearns (Lynch, 84'), Daly.

Subs. not used Talbot, Munroe, Dugdale.

Aldershot Town: Bull, Soares, Straker (Day, 46'), Newman, Charles, Davies, Hudson, Chalmers, Harding (Joel Grant, 55'), Hylton (John Grant, 66'), Mendes.

Subs. not used: Donnelly, Jamiez-Ruiz

REFEREE: Mr. Mark Brown (Kingston-upon-Hull)

ATTENDANCE: 733