REPORT | ALDERSHOT TOWN 3-1 WEALDSTONE

Wealdstone exit the FA Trophy after defeat in tough weather conditions at the EBB Stadium.

Josh Barrett gave Aldershot Town the lead just after the break.

Kallum Cesay levelled with a calm finish, five minutes later, before Aaron Jones put the hosts back ahead after 66 minutes when he fired low into the corner from range,

Maxwell Mullins sealed the deal in the last minute after a loose back pass set him through on goal.

With it being a third successive cup game, Matt Taylor made a host of changes to the starting lineup from Tuesday nights National League Cup game against Derby County U21s. He handed a first start to Portsmouth loanee goalkeeper Toby Steward.

The Shots started the game brightly, and were almost ahead after just three minutes when James Henry was found in the area with just the goal to aim at, but hit his effort way over the bar.

Despite early pressure, the Stones grew into the match, and found themselves in some strong positions. Alex Reid came close to opening the scoring with a low driven effort after 24 minutes.

Dan Ellison almost found the back of the net with a header from a free-kick in the 34th minute, before Henry Sandat tested the resolve of Van Stappershoef with a well hit effort in the 40th minute.

The hosts came flying out in the second-half, almost taking the lead when Jack Abraham raced through on goal, forcing a strong save out of Steward.

But the pressure continued to mount and eventually broke the Stones resolve, in the 50th minute, when Barrett smashed home to put his side ahead.

But the lead didn’t last long. Some beautiful football from the Stones saw Elliot Thorpe played down the right hand side, who drove into the area to set up the in-form Cesay, who finished calmly to level proceedings.

Aldershot rallied themselves once again, putting the pressure back on the Stones goal. A short corner had the Stones back-tracking, and as the ball fell to Jokes on the edge of the area, he had time to pick his spot and fire the Shots back ahead.

The home side continued to put the pressure on the Stones goal, creating a number of chances in the final proceedings.

With the game in its dying embers, a loose back pass from Jack Cook popped up straight in front of Mullins, who steamed forward and picked his spot to seal the game and knock the Stones out of the FA Trophy.

Taylor’s side have a chance to instantly bounce back when they face Altrincham at Grosvenor Vale on Tuesday night.

WEALDSTONE: Steward, Boldewijn (Woodman 61’) Cook, Mundle-Smith, Thorpe, Wells-Morrison, Grant (Kretzschmar 63’), Cesay, Georgiou, Sandat (Obiero 71’), Reid (Ashford 46').