21/4/2008

Sport

Stalemate at The Shay

THERE may have been no goals during Aldershot Town’s visit to the Shay, but there was plenty of end-to-end action and goalmouth thrills during this encounter with Halifax Town that could just as easily have seen the two sides sharing eight goals.

Just one note of criticism was that a particularly bumpy pitch did not make things easy for either side to get the ball down and play, but that makes it even more praiseworthy that an entertaining game was put on for spectators by both teams.

Gary Waddock picked a team that included long-term absentees Ryan Williams and Ryan Scott, who have both endured a nightmare time through serious injury, while the manager also handed a league debut to goalkeeper Mikhail Jaimez-Ruiz. It was the first time since April 2004 that Nikki Bull has not been in an Aldershot Town league line-up, which is the small matter of 178 matches.

The newly-crowned Blue Square Premier champions were taking on a Halifax side fighting against the threat of relegation, although Halifax have only been plunged into that situation by a ten-point deduction for going into administration. Having shown their respects to the Shots when they formed a guard of honour for the visitors as they came on to the field of play, Halifax forgot all about reputations during the game as they came out of the traps like a fast-starting Wimbledon track specialist.

Mind you, for all the possession Halifax enjoyed during the first 20 minutes there were not many clear-cut chances on goal other than three or four long-range efforts that never looked likely to trouble Jaimez-Ruiz.

In those opening exchanges the Shots looked a little disjointed, although Williams was always lively and went close with a 20-yard free-kick, while Ben Harding ghosted in (a la Martin Peters for those of a certain vintage) on 30 minutes to glance a header just wide of the upright (from a Scott Donnelly delivery) as a trademark Shots break caught the home defence during a momentary lapse of concentration.

The home side continued their almost gungho approach and in the final ten minutes of the opening half almost laid siege to the Aldershot goal.

Twice Jaimez-Ruiz pulled off cracking saves, from a close-range effort by Jon Shaw (when it looked long odds-on that he would score) and a sharp shot by Tom Kearney. It was not just Jaimez-Ruiz who was playing his part in the defensive display, though, and the back four were all putting in determined performances.

None more so than right back Rob Gier who was tackling, intercepting and closing down as if his life depended on it. In addition, midfielder Donnelly tracked back with a responsibility that belied his tender years.

Even during that spell of Halifax pressure the Shots managed a couple of chances of their own: Rob Elvins forced a fine stop from Adam Legzdins in the Halifax goal, while he also saved Anthony Charles’ header from the resultant corner from Ricky Newman’s flick.

The home side were just ahead on points as the half-time whistle was blown, but their lack of composure in front of goal is probably symptomatic of a side that had won just one of their previous nine league matches.

The second half began pretty much like the first 45 had begun, with Halifax in the driving seat and Shaw and Lewis Killeen (who has always seemed to raise his game against the Shots) making themselves a real nuisance but they were unable to find a way to outwit the inspired Jaimez-Ruiz. When Shaw did manage to place a 52nd minute header beyond the reach of the keeper, Newman was in the right place at the right time to make a goal-line clearance.

Waddock decided to make a bold switch on 56 minutes, taking off Scott and Williams and introducing Kirk Hudson and Joel Grant. And within a matter of minutes both of these attacking-orientated substitutes could have made Halifax pay for their profligacy in front of goal.

Joel Grant found himself denied by Legzdins (on loan from Birmingham City) when unleashing a side-footed volley from five yards, while Hudson lost out to the keeper when shooting a few minutes later. The Shots were now showing glimpses of the pace, power and precision that has made this such a successful campaign.

However, Halifax still had the resolve to do anything but roll over and let the champions swamp them. The Shaymen came forward again as the game switched ends regularly as the tempo was cranked up.

During the final half-hour, Halifax saw a Darryn Stamp header hooked off the line by Donnelly, a Killeen shot blocked by Anthony Straker and a Daryl Taylor shot from distance pushed away by that man Jaimez-Ruiz.

At the other end there were decent opportunities for John Grant (against his old club) and Elvins but it was as if fate had already decreed that no matter what either side created, there would be no goals on this bitterly cold afternoon. The Elvins effort was a real piledriver and the keeper (who was nominated the home side’s man of the match) did well to tip over the left-footed shot from the edge of the box.

It is also a fact that winning at the Shay has not been a regular habit for either Aldershot Town or the old Aldershot, with just five wins at the Yorkshire ground in 27 games there.

Boss Waddock said: “It was a decent game for a 0-0. We are just pleased for the week that we have had to come up here and pick up a point.

“I was so pleased for the two Ryans and also Mikhael. I wanted to give the lads a run out in the first team and they can feel a part of what has happened this season. It was good for everybody and the 56 minutes for Willo and Scotty is invaluable for them.

“This was a big game for Halifax, as well as the other teams at the bottom. We wanted to get something out of this game, and we have managed to achieve that.”

Chris Wilder, the Halifax manager, said: “What a good game that was. Both sides have had chances to win the game. They could have put us to bed and we could have done the same to them.

“I think it speaks volumes about Aldershot and what they are about. It has done my head in, people saying that they would not turn up today. They’ve put a side in with a couple in there to give them a game but they haven’t laid down for us.”

Aldershot Town: Jaimez-Ruiz 8, Gier 8, Straker 7, Newman 7, Charles 7, Donnelly 8, Harding 6, Scott 6 (Joel Grant 6, 56), Williams 6 (Hudson 6, 56), John Grant 6, Rob Elvins 6 (Hylton 6, 83). Unused subs: Bull, Milletti.

First printed in: Aldershot News and Mail