There were a handful of changes going into the match, with Callum Smart returning between the sticks, Trialist D starting at right-back and Ethan Gee, who was originally named on the bench, coming in to replace Tom Cain who pulled out injured during the warm-up. Adam Thompson was also named in the squad.
In what was a very well-matched opening 15 minutes, our visitor’s had a few early chances, one coming from a defensive error only for the Moneys defence to recover and were lucky to only concede a corner. Toby Nelson also came close firing wide of the goal in the early minutes of the game.
Moneys had a few half chances, much like Aldershot had, with Trialist A and Trialist B causing some issues for the Shots’ defence, with centre-half’s Kaden Hughes and Malakai Gamblin Green keeping the Moneyfields attackers at bay. The best chance fell to Lawrence Cooper, whose effort went a whisker over the bar, failing to force opposition ‘keeper, Louis Knight, into action.
Rudi Blankson tried to channel his inner David Beckham on the 22-minute mark, as he spotted Knight off his line and attempted an audacious lob from inside the Moneyfields half, with his shot going narrowly wide of the right-hand post.
A header from Yumo Wan called the man between the Aldershot sticks into action, that unfortunately for Moneys lacked enough power to beat him down to his right.
Following from this, Moneys were awarded a corner for the first time due to a goalkeeper holding onto the ball for longer than eight seconds, but nothing materialised despite numerous blocked attempts on goal from the Moneys attackers.
Moments before the break Jordan Pile, who had gone down injured just a few minutes after receiving a booking, was replaced by youngster Josh O’Reilly.
In the dying embers of the first 45, Toby Nelson again went close for the visitors, as did Trialist B, while Moneyfields Trialist A went close after getting on the end of a cross from Cooper.
Half-Time: Moneyfields 0-0 Aldershot Town XI
At the break, Louis Gates and Kaleem Haitham entered the field of play in replacement of Trialist A, and Rudi Blankson.
Only four minutes into the second-half Moneys took the lead. After great work from Cooper down the right-hand side, his pass found Trialist B whose touch took him away from the defender and set him up to lob the Shots’ second-half ‘keeper, Keanu Black, from close range.
Aldershot nearly got themselves on level terms approaching the hour mark, when Trialist B found himself with an open goal, only for Louis Gates to produce some heroic defending, clearing the ball off the line in what looked like a certain goal for the visitors.
Going into the final third of the match, the game was becoming very physical and much like a competitive fixture. Moneyfields were starting to take control of the game, amongst the physicality of the half and the several changes from both sides.
The final three changes for Moneys were made on 67 minutes, as Adam Thompson, Dexter West and Ollie Nash came on to replace, Yumo Wan, Lawrence Cooper and Trialist D.
Dexter West nearly made an instant impact, as the youngster fought well for the ball and set Trialist C who curled his effort over from the edge of the 18-yard box.
With only a matter of minutes to play, Moneys were looking for a 2nd goal and came inches away with substitute West hitting the side netting, in what was one of several attacking contributions the young forward provided since coming on.
On the 89th minute Aldershot nearly pulled themselves level via their Captain Toby Nelson, fortunately his strike from the left-hand side of the box was just off target.
The final kick of an entertaining and competitive friendly fell to Kaleem Haitham, who pounced on a defensive error to place the ball into the Aldershot Town net, doubling Moneys lead.
Full-Time: Moneyfields 2-0 Aldershot Town XI
Moneys XI: Smart, Wan, Pile, Jeffes, Trialist A, Cooper, Trialist B, Trialist C, Blankson, Gee, Trialist D
Subs (all used): Gates, Haitham, Nash, O’Reilly, West, Thompson
