Aldershot vs Bournemourth

A Ricky Sappleton piledriver ten minutes from time ensured honours ended even in Aldershot ‘s first home game in the Football League for 16 years.

Aldershot marched into history when they took the field in front of a delirious home crowd at the EBB Stadium.

They started like they had never left league football, passing the ball smoothly between the midfield and defence.

On five minutes nearly got off to a dream start when Louie Soares combined with John Grant down the right flank, Grant volleyed on from 13 yards, narrowly missing the top left corner.

Conducted by former England international Darren Anderton, Bournemouth put aside their off the field problems and eased up a gear.

On 11 minutes Nikki Bull produced a Gordon Banks-like save to deny Brett Pitman’s header. Four minutes later Joel Ward forced another great save from Bull again from a header.

Bull kept Aldershot in the game, allowing them to find their feet. On 25 minutes, Kirk Hudson fired over and in the closing moments of the first half the youngster fed Marvin Morgan, whose deflected strike hit the post.

In injury time, Pitman again headed goalbound, only to see Bull produce another fine save.

Bournemouth started the second half poorly and should have fallen behind on 48 minutes when Morgan failed to connect from two yards with Soares’ cross.

Five minutes later Jo Kuffour forced another smart block from Bull after brushing aside Chris Blackburn.

On the hour mark Soares brought down the house, Morgan broke free down the right side and fed Soares, the winger finished beautifully sweeping the ball past the onrushing Shwan Jalal.

On 76 minutes, substitute Sappleton drove wide from the edge of the area, with time and space.

Aldershot didn’t heed the warning and were punished with nine minutes left. Blackburn cleared Shaun Cooper’s initial header off the line, but could do nothing about Sappleton’s brutal 15-yard drive from the rebound.