Match Report Saturday 19th September
Sherborne Town FC 1 - 2 AFC Aldermaston
Wessex League Cup
Sherborne Town 1 AFC Aldermaston 2
For the second season on the trot the Zebras bowed out of the Wessex League Cup at the hands of a lower-level club. Last year it was Cove that won through on penalties, and another shoot-out looked on the cards here against First Division Aldermaston until Jehmiel McNeil popped up with a winner right at the death.
Such a shame. A Tuesday night trip to Petersfield in the next round was so appealing.
On a miserable dank afternoon, Zebras, playing towards the Castle End, attacked furiously from the outset. When, in the third minute, Aaron White latched on to Dec Cornish's free-kick launched into the penalty area, the ball dropped nicely for Alex Murphy to larrup into the roof of the net. Home celebrations were cut short, however, thwarted by a lineman's flag.
Alders retreated, then retreated again. Murphy cut back from the right-wing byline but Joe Crisp's shot was pushed behind for a corner by Nkenge Durham. On seven minutes Ant Herrin appeared to be tripped just inside the area only for penalty appeals to be waved away.
It was all Zebras. Liam Nardiello found space on the right but couldn't quite find Herrin with his centre. Murphy's cross was then too close to Durham.
When Jake Graziano won a 15th-minute corner, Alders No10 Matt Butler bellowed out to his colleagues "the quality has been shite." It didn't improve seconds later with the shabby way his team defended the corner. Herrin's delivery was allowed to float over the six-yard box to beyond the back post where Charlie Watson was lurking. The ball was hooked back across the goal-mouth and Nardiello nodded into the net from close range. On the bench for National League Yeovil the previous night, it was Nardiello's second Wessex League goal on only his second start.
As Zebras pressed again, Archie Bryce saw a dig from the edge of the 18-yard box deflected behind for a corner, although the referee awarded a goal-kick.
From being dominant the hosts then lapsed into sloppiness. On 28 minutes following a moment of indecision, two defenders went for the same ball. Neither laid claim on it and McNeil nearly cashed in, his curling shot bouncing back off the cross-bar.
Zebras failed to heed the warning and three minutes later the scores were level. After Bryce had committed a foul, the free-kick was chipped into the penalty area. The home defence had a chance to clear but failed to deal with it and McNeil swept home from close range.
While the goal gave the visitors a big lift, the Zebras lost all momentum. Murphy was repeatedly caught offside and the only threats came from dead-ball situations. One Cornish free-kick nearly resulted in an own goal, a header off an Alders defender narrowly going over the top. Crisp's swirling cross then almost deceived Durham as it landed on the cross-bar.
On 41 minutes a short-corner routine nearly worked as a wicked Cornish cross found Watson unmarked at the back stick but the full-back miscued his volley.
Half-time 1-1.
Graziano didn't last for long after the break and made way for Billy Mullins. Bryce shifted from midfield to right-back. After a scrappy restart, White speared a long pass down the right channel for Nardiello to chase. His dink into the middle was only half-cleared to Cornish whose low shot was smothered by Durham.
On 55 minutes, Herrin, whose shirt number had mysteriously changed from 11 to 19, knocked on for Cornish inside the penalty area. As Cornish glided across the goal-mouth, evading tackle after tackle, he found space for a shot on the turn but Durham got down well to save.
Frustration set in and there followed long periods of Alders possession. The visitors grew in confidence. They used to be known as The Atom Men, but now were striking fear into the opposition with a tree for a nickname. A dangerous free-kick required a timely intervention from Josh Williams, then Anthony Bossman blazed a shot over the bar on 70 minutes.
The men from Berkshire then squandered an even better opportunity after White had been knocked off the ball. The home goal was under siege and Rob Hollard was forced to punch a free-kick to safety, before being called upon to save low down.
Another effort flew over the bar. An Aldermaston upset was shifting from possible to believable.
With 10 minutes remaining Hollard took a knock and was replaced by Jack Marshall, who by this stage was no doubt priming himself for a penalty shoot-out. It never came to that.
Zebras had their chances during an end-to-end finale. A quick throw from Marshall released Tommy Gaylard down the right. The substitute, who had starred with a four-goal haul for the U-18s five days earlier, whipped in a dangerous cross but Ollie Hebbard couldn't quite bring the ball down under control.
Durham, under pressure from Murphy, then fumbled a lofted centre but the keeper recovered sufficiently to dive on Ollie Crisp's follow-up effort. Man-of-the-match Durham has an interesting background, the Bermudian having previously played for Miami Dutch Lions in the States!
Back to the action, and following a rare passage of slick play, Gaylard crossed into the box but Hebbard, lunging forward, was unable to keep his volley down and the ball soared over the bar.
Just as spectators wondered which players would be up for the penalties, Zebras panicked at the back and in the 91st minute McNeil kept his cool to fire past Marshall, before celebrating with some impressive gymnastics.
Credit to Aldermaston, and thanks. Petersfield on a Saturday afternoon in April will do for me..
Team: Hollard (Marshall 81), Graziano (Mullins 47), Watson (Gaylard 81), White, Williams, Bryce, Cornish (O Crisp 72), J Crisp, Murphy, Nardiello (Hebbard 65), Herrin.
Goal: Nardiello (15).
Attendance: not published.