What a week! And it’s only Tuesday.
Yesterday, Fleet ownership took the difficult decision to part company with Danny Searle. Few of us have had time to fully process what that might mean for the club. But the National League waits for no man, and another important fixture rolled around.
With England on the TV, Wright in the dugout, and change afoot – it is fair to say the atmosphere in Stonebridge Road was a strange one. Reduced, subdued, but perhaps there was some optimism creeping in. Your reporter here fancied a point, at the very least.
A reasonable opening 4 minutes ticked by, before Edser steered a golden chance over the bar. Maybe we were going to be okay! Aldershot shot back, with Cousins making a smart save to keep it level. Maybe we were in for a classic!
Aldershot seemed to establish themselves over the next ten minutes, but Fleet retained composure. The midfield looked a little easy to play through, but there was a visible improvement retaining possession as we moved up the pitch.
A stunning set piece effort from Kellerman drew an equally high quality save, and the resulting corner led to another good chance for the home side. Threat. At last.
Some good quality patterns of Fleet play littered the next 15 minutes, without a serious effort landing on goal. Rain continued to fall as Cousins tipped an effort over the bar once more.
Another super move sent Poleon through on goal, weaving his way past his last man, he dragged his effort low and left. The best chance of the game, falling to the team playing the better football.
The halftime whistle blew, and a strange feeling struck your reporter. It was disappointment; far from the relief I had come to need after 45 mins of football this season. We’d truly had the better of that period.
Fleet started the second period in equally strong form, building a smart move before forcing Aldershot into a cheap corner.
The wind seemed in our sails – pushing Aldershot back. Bingham gave an audacious dummy 1-2 a go, really lighting the pitch up. Domi gave the goal a scare shortly after.
The 70th minute brought a loud penalty claim, but your reporter couldn’t see much in it from his vantage point. At this point, the prospect of losing 0-1 suddenly felt sickening but very possible.
Randall’s deflected effort came oh so close to breaking the deadlock on 81 mins, but the defenders did well to smother the shot.
In the 94th minute Poleon made a smart run to break the lines and came within inches of sealing three points for the Fleet – but the ball bobbled wide.
Fleet are still yet to lead at any point in any game this fixture, but this was one of the more entertaining 0-0’s you’ll see, and we can be happy to double our points tally for the season.
Onwards, upwards!
