For a fifth tier local derby, good luck in finding any reports about it online. BBC Sport carries a few lines and the Aldershot Town official website has absolutely nothing about last night. A night when 940+ Shots fans travelled the 15 miles to Kingfield, these days known as a stadium under the moniker Laithwaite.
Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong struck the winner as Aldershot won 1-0 away at Woking. The midfielder netted the winner in the 23rd minute, slotting home from Dean Rance’s lofted pass. The Shots, who lost 2-1 to Fylde on Saturday, almost doubled their advantage at the death. Harry Panayiotou came off the bench to replace Berkeley-Agyepong and was unfortunate not to score, hitting the post when clean through.
It was the first win for new Shots boss Danny Searle, coming in front of 925 noisy and jubilant visiting supporters.
Berkeley-Agyepong was one of the three changes Searle made to the side that lost 2-1 to AFC Fylde on the opening day, with George Fowler and Ethan Chislett also coming in with Ollie O’Dwyer, Harrison Panayiotou and Alefe Santos all missing out. Shots Academy defender Simba Kudyiwa made the bench.
And it was Guildford-resident Chislett who had the first chance of the game on eight minutes after he was fed in by Berkeley-Agyepong but his strike went straight at Craig Ross in the Woking goal.
The Cardinals, playing their first home game since promotion from the National League South, looked strong in the first half. Former Shots youth player Josh Casey beat three defenders and worked his way into the box only to see his effort take a crucial block from Lewis Kinsella.
Dave Tarpey then repeated Casey’s skills, turning Fowler on the edge of the box but his effort produced a fantastic stop from Mitch Walker on 17 minutes.
The only goal of the game came soon after. Kinsella’s cross was headed clear by Manny Parry to Shots captain Dean Rance, he brought it down and delicately lofted a ball over the Woking defence into Berkeley-Agyepong who calmly knocked it past Ross and create pandemonium in the away end.
The hosts then enjoyed a spell of significant pressure before half time. They did have the ball in the net through Max Kretzschmar, prompting home fans to let off a flare, but their celebrations were premature as the goal was ruled out for a clear offside.
They should’ve equalised right before half time when Ben Gerring found himself unmarked at the far post from a corner but he headed over the bar from close range.
The second half was much more muted with few chances, Walker in the Shots goal faced no significant chances for the entire half.
Shamir Mullings and Connor Shields both had half chances inside the hour mark and the Shots defence held firm throughout the entire half.
Berkeley-Agyepong had a great chance to double his tally on 78 minutes. He dispossessed Jack Cook on the halfway line, forcing a devastating counter-attack with Shields, the Scottish forward played Berkeley-Agyepong through on goal but he slipped at the vital moment, rolling the ball straight into the path of Ross.
That was to be the scorer’s last action as he hobbled off for Panayiotou. And it was his replacement who struck the woodwork in injury time. The St Kitts and Nevis international latched onto a long clearance, raced through on goal, smashed it past Ross but only to see his effort crash off the post and out.
The Shots effectively managed the game in the second half and saw off every Woking threat to give Searle and his new management team their first win at the club and a precious victory over local rivals.
Aldershot
- 1 Walker
- 2 Tinkler
- 15 Finney
- 8 Rowe (Booked at 38mins)
- 3 Kinsella
- 16 Fowler (Booked at 21mins)
- 4 Rance
- 20 Chislett (Substituted forWhittinghamat 90+2′minutes)
- 21 Berkeley-Agyepong (Substituted forPanayiotouat 79′minutes)
- 10 Shields
- 9 Mullings (Booked at 85mins)
ELSEWHERE LAST NIGHT IN THE VANARAMA
Yeovil Town were quickest out of the blocks – Courtney Duffus’ goal in the second minute giving them their first win of the season against Eastleigh.
Frustration for Wrexham. After taking a two-goal lead at Meadow Park, goals from Keiran Murtagh and Justin Shaibu saw Boreham Wood snatch their first point of the new campaign.
Solihull Moors netted three without reply against Torquay United.
A brace from Jamey Osborne, either side of a Terry Hawkridge penalty was enough for Tim Flowers’ men.
Alfie Pavey’s third goal of the season wasn’t enough for Dover Athletic who slipped to a 2-1 reverse to Dagenham & Redbridge.
Barnet striker Simeon Akinola celebrated his birthday in style with a goal against Sutton United.
But the Bees could only scrape a point in South London.
Billy Bingham’s 30-yard screamer was the pick of the goals as Bromley left Ebbsfleet without a win in their opening two games.
Halifax are the only team in the division with a 100% record.
Second-half goals from Josh Staunton and Tobi Sho-Silva edged them past Hartlepool United who are still looking for their first points.
AFC Fylde and Chorley played out a goalless draw at Mill Farm while Aldershot Town needed a first-half goal from Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong to defeat Woking.
Chesterfield are still searching for their first win but fought back late on to share the spoils with Maidenhead.
A goal in each half from Will Smith helped Harrogate Town on their way to a comprehensive 3-0 victory in Cumbria.
Connor Hall rounded things off against Barrow.
Notts County threw away their lead to draw with Stockport County.
Hatters midfielder Elliot Osborne’s strike cancelled out Jim O’Brien’s emphatic opener.
Tuesday’s National League full-time scores
AFC Fylde 0 – 0 Chorley
Barrow 0 – 3 Harrogate Town
Boreham Wood 2 – 2 Wrexham
Bromley 3 – 1 Ebbsfleet United
Dover 1 – 2 Dagenham & Redbridge
Halifax 2 – 0 Hartlepool United
Maidenhead 1 – 1 Chesterfield
Notts County 1 – 1 Stockport County
Solihull Moors 3 – 0 Torquay United
Sutton United 1 – 1 Barnet
Woking 0 – 1 Aldershot Town
Yeovil Town 1 – 0 Eastleigh
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