For the first thirty minutes we were excellent. Town consistently pinned Aldershot in their own half and we looked dangerous on the break when they did venture forward. LJL forced a save with a low shot from a tight angle, we hit the inside of the post after a McLoughlin set piece and Pittman really should have put us ahead after being played clean through. Unfortunately he tried to take it around the keeper who stood his ground and forced him wide which allowed their defender to get back and block his shot.

Moments afterwards the game turned. LJL, already cautioned for what looked like dissent, hauled down a breaking Aldershot player. The ref pulled out a second yellow and off he went. Might have been very slightly harsh but Lenny really only has himself to blame - if the same foul had been committed on one of our players I'd have expected a caution to be given. For the rest of the first half we camped out in our own half and rarely threatened. Pittman looked lost up front on his own.

After half time we continued playing 4-4-1 and Aldershot made us pay. Toto failed to deal with a ball down the channel, their winger cut it back to Williams who ran in and slammed it past McKeown. Soon after they were 2-0 up as Pearson misjudged a routine long ball and let it go over his head. Williams latched on and showed Pittman how to coolly finish a 1 on 1.

At that point we swapped McLoughlin and Pittman for Hannah and Mackreth and looked much more threatening. I wish Hurst had been more adventurous and made this switch earlier. From then on we started running at the Aldershot defence and Nielson looked especially threatening. Our goal came through him as Aldershot failed to clear their lines and Neilson expertly volleyed a headed clearance into the net with their keeper out of position - it was an excellent bit of technique.

Unfortunately we couldn't find an equaliser as Mackreth and Clay both put efforts wide.

Special mention for the ref who was diabolically excrement and biased. I thought LJL's sending off was justified but the ref was disgustingly insistent and allowed Aldershot to get away with everything. They committed fouls which went unpunished when similar offences resulted in cautions for our players. Brett Williams got away unpunished for a disgraceful dive in our penalty area. Just a totally horrendous performance. I really think town only have themselves to blame for the loss though. Lenny's dismissal was stupid and we'd looked rampant before then.

Not too worried since Aldershot were nothing special (Sam Hatton was atrocious and hauled off at half time) and I think we'd have won comfortably if we'd kept eleven men on the pitch.

Hurst needs to get the players to show some discipline.  Bookings already building up - we are arguably lost promotion last season due to Pearson's suspension and Hatton's sending off.  We are good enough to beat teams without getting booked and sent off.

Am actually back now and Agee pretty much with first post. Can't really blame a poor referee and Lenny cost us today but we should have been at least 2 up by then

I knew it was going to be a bad day when I got in the ground at 2.50 and they had no Bovril. A football ground with no Bovril for gods sake.
Town were so on top in the first half, we should have been well ahead before the sending off. Strange thing is that they were playing for time to get in at half time and reorganise. The sending off changed the game and we seemed a little unsure of how to approach the game. Aldershot were still very average in the second half even with the extra man but Williams was the difference - three chances and two goals. After Neilsons goal they just tried to play out time.
Couple of negatives. The bookings for dissent are just so pointless, I think we had three today and they have to keep their mouths shut. Also thought one or two Town players must have read the publicity in midweek and were strutting a bit. You don't win anything without hard work.
Overall I came away disappointed but positive. This was my first game of the season and we are so much better than last season. If we can keep our mouths shut and keep 11 men on the pitch there aren't many teams in this league we won't beat

Quality in depth report there Chrisblor ! Thanks for posting.
Sounded like that on the radio too.
Faacking ref. (wallbash2)

the first post sums it up perfectly. better team for the first half hour. aldershot didn't have a sniff. we created chances without controlling the game and Pittman really needed to do better with the one on one before the sending off. that obviously changed the game.

thought Neilson was fantastic today. offers a real threat and took his goal magnificently. absolutely love Scott Brown (did anyone else hear him shouting "common then" at their player as he tried to dribble past him?). the only negative was Jack Mackreth who looked weak when he came on and had chances to run. not the end of the season and no need to panic.

Agree with the original poster. Had LJL stayed on we'd have won, simple as that because they were dogshite and didn't look like getting near the goal let alone scoring with 11 v 11. The ref though, oh my goodness, I have never seen such an inept, inconsistent and frankly bias display as that. A Sunday league ref would be ashamed of that performance.

Think it showed we need another attacker today as there wasn't all that much we could change going forward. Was disappointed with Mackreth when he came on.

Very unprofessional of LJL to get sent off. He had a long talking to from the ref for arguing about an offside decision then 5 minutes later gave the ref a chance to book him. He should have stayed squeaky clean from this point, no need to make tackles because he's a forward or open his mouth. The daft thing is the challenge was on the touchline near the dugout, about as far from danger as it's possible to be in your own half. The ref was obviously itching to get rid of him but he gave him the reason to do so.

We were much the better side and look to have improved a lot since last season. Nsiala at RB doesn't offer the runs of Aswad but I though Town played well with all 11 on the pitch then went into themselves a bit. Attack! Make it our motto

We need to take our frustration out on Welling next Saturday.

If we had won today we would have been 8 places higher in the division.

UTM

Quoted from GrimRob

Very unprofessional of LJL to get sent off. He had a long talking to from the ref for arguing about an offside decision then 5 minutes later gave the ref a chance to book him. He should have stayed squeaky clean from this point, no need to make tackles because he's a forward or open his mouth. The daft thing is the challenge was on the touchline near the dugout, about as far from danger as it's possible to be in your own half. The ref was obviously itching to get rid of him but he gave him the reason to do so.

Too true. There have been too many unnecessary bookings this season already.

In his interview, Hurst seems to think that LJL's second yellow wasn't even a foul. Just a shoulder charge which the referee wrongly penalised. It will be interesting to see highlights if possible to see how accurate an assessment this is (hopefully Aldershot will stick some up on YouTube!).

"Sending-Off was a complete joke & ruined the game as far as a contest was concerned.
First yellow was soft (maybe for a bit of verbal....ffs get over it ref), but the second was never a yellow card in a million years.
It was right in front of me in the North Bank, he just muscled Fitchett off the ball..thats all, there was nothing malicious about it, he didn't take out someone who was through on goal..It was just a foul, the kind you see day-in and day-out and no way did it deserve to be a yellow card."

From an Aldershot fan!

Quoted from mariner91

"Sending-Off was a complete joke & ruined the game as far as a contest was concerned.
First yellow was soft (maybe for a bit of verbal....ffs get over it ref), but the second was never a yellow card in a million years.
It was right in front of me in the North Bank, he just muscled Fitchett off the ball..thats all, there was nothing malicious about it, he didn't take out someone who was through on goal..It was just a foul, the kind you see day-in and day-out and no way did it deserve to be a yellow card."

From an Aldershot fan!

The Aldershot commentators seemed to think it was very harsh too. The first booking was for dissent, so that's Lenny's fault, but they said the free kick he was complaining about was never a foul and he was extremely unlucky.

Think it has all been said really.  I fear for Aldershot as apart from Williams taking his chances they were very poor indeed.  We should of been comfortably ahead before LJL got sent off but didn't quite get the breaks/finish that we have been getting for the 2 previous games.  

Certainly think the ref was very poor and the Aldershot players got away with as much as LJL got his 2 yellows for without even fouls.  But I do think we were silly in giving the ref the chance to get his cards out.  LJL didn't need to make a challenge at all so why on a yellow give the ref a chance?  And I appreciate the passion Pearson shows but why did he kick the ball away? It was so pointless and led to another inevitable yellow.  We need to be more disciplined and show aggression in the right areas.  

Do have to sing the praises of Scott Brown once more though, works so hard and uses the ball so well.  I am surprised he didn't get a yellow today as he is very aggressive but unlike others in the right areas.

Overall I am not as down as I might have been after a defeat as we looked like we wanted to carry on the positive intent of the past few games and as long as we play like that we will do well IMO.  

Quoted from mariner91

"Sending-Off was a complete joke & ruined the game as far as a contest was concerned.
First yellow was soft (maybe for a bit of verbal....ffs get over it ref), but the second was never a yellow card in a million years.
It was right in front of me in the North Bank, he just muscled Fitchett off the ball..thats all, there was nothing malicious about it, he didn't take out someone who was through on goal..It was just a foul, the kind you see day-in and day-out and no way did it deserve to be a yellow card."

From an Aldershot fan!

Maybe I am being overly harsh on LJL then, from where I was it looked a foul and a very harsh yellow but I just felt he had allowed the ref to pull his cards out when there was no danger.  But we were very much the other side of the pitch.

Good balanced post from Caesar. We will see what Aldershot do when Williams is injured. Damn him, he has illustrated a point that many of us have been making for a long time - a striker who takes chances is a very valuable asset indeed and wins you lots of points that perhaps you don't really deserve. I wish we'd signed him.

1st game in since FGR away last season and I am pretty impressed with the back 4 and midfield 4. Especially Nielsen and Brown, thought individually these both where brilliant. I feel we had nothing upfront, with and without LJL on the pitch they always seemed to me a yard or 2 off the pace. Aldershot where poor all game, passed it sideways and backwards well when we was down to 10 men but only had 3 decent shots (2 of which they scored). Not to disheartened and think we have a good backbone of a squad, could do with a striker or giving Nielsen a chance upfront, hes quality once the ball is at his feet running at players.

My first game of the season and though disappointing to lose, there are still lots of grounds for optimism and it was great to get a proper look at the team.

As has been said, we controlled the first half hour and the sending off changed the game.  The team already looks settled and they kept going to the end, and by playing proper football too- working opportunities by pressing up the pitch and getting Neilson, Brown and Paddy to make runs and bring in others, with Pittman and LJL receiving the ball much higher up the pitch and into feet.  Neilson was the stand-out man on the pitch, but take him away and Scott Brown would still be head and shoulders above the rest.  Keep these blokes together and we can look forward to some good times.

Agree with all of the above.

LJL was being pulled up for being muscular but fair in their penalty area, complained to the referee and that was what got him the first booking, then for some reason (knowing that the referee was going overboard on this) he seemed to barge one of their players in a nothing area near the halfway line and that was that.

You could see it coming when he got the first yellow and that would have been a moment to switch him for Hannah.

Apart from that it was an impressive display from the rest of the team. Nielsen needs to be prepared to pass the ball a bit more but scored a great goal, Boyce was magnificent, McKeown made a couple of terrific saves and Scott Brown was a real dynamo in the middle.

The referee, as everyone has said was utterly inconsistent and the linesman on our side of the pitch simply looked at what the referee had decided and put his flag up to confirm it.

Quoted from mariner91

Agree with the original poster. Had LJL stayed on we'd have won, simple as that because they were dogshite and didn't look like getting near the goal let alone scoring with 11 v 11. The ref though, oh my goodness, I have never seen such an inept, inconsistent and frankly bias display as that. A Sunday league ref would be ashamed of that performance.

Think it showed we need another attacker today as there wasn't all that much we could change going forward. Was disappointed with Mackreth when he came on.

The standard of refereeing in this sh1t league is junk so we have to put up with it and hope it evens out over the season.  
As for Mackreth I cant talk about today but what I've seen of him he seems very weak and easily pushed off the ball, very predictable because he just runs in straight lines with his head down and isnt very good at crossing the ball apart from that hes ace  :)

One of the worst away journeys ever, M25 traffic a farcical.

Pleased with the performance and efforts with the team today, should have easily been 2-0 up in the first half but didn't take our chances well, after that it seemed to be the referee show, very weak and inconsistant.

Looks like Hannah in for John Lewis against welling?

Quoted from Maringer

In his interview, Hurst seems to think that LJL's second yellow wasn't even a foul. Just a shoulder charge which the referee wrongly penalised. It will be interesting to see highlights if possible to see how accurate an assessment this is (hopefully Aldershot will stick some up on YouTube!).

I didnt think the incident which earnt LJL his first yellow was a foul and neither did anyone else in the press area. Lots of comments about Lenny getting this first yellow for 'gobbing off'. That isnt true, the referee said afterwards it was persistent infringements.

The 2nd incident was just in front of me and immediately in front of the Aldershot dug out. LJL and the shots player were running side my side and Lennys strength looked like he eased the shots player out the way. Foul? If so very harsh but never ever a yellow card. I have read some make out that LJL made a rash challenge. He didnt really challenge at all.

Not mentioned elsewhere but Man of the match for me was Craig Clay.

Honourable mention to Carl Magnay for his "we're going up" positivity at the final whistle and coming towards the fans.  John Still said his Luton promotion team were made of strong, positive characters and I think that people like Magnay and Brown certainly ooze that type of grit.  Stick together guys, you'll be up there.

Quite please with Town today. Positives were Brown, again, the way we kept our shape after Shop was sent off, and Neilson's goal of course. A few idiots calling for us to get into em which is the last thing you need in those circumstances - Aldershot looked to be posing no threat and they scored when we allowed ourselves to get pulled out of shape. Second was due to a mistake by Pearson.

Negatives - indiscipline (as mentioned above) and lack of width on the right in the first half. I guess that was due to having a CB at RB, but we would have battered them if we'd used the space on Aldershot's left. Neilson had a tendency to hold onto the ball and take too many players on.

But there's no accounting for officials as biased as that.

Anyone who doubts what LJL brings to the side had a perfect example today . Without him , daft pair of yellows , we are in big trouble  . I
Pitman looks like he's got sore legs , macreth doesn't look he knows what do for most the time . A like for like with colbeck so far what I've seen of him

10 men, 2 goals down but they seemed to have the attitude of "lets flipping have it". Pulled one back and could have nicked something.
That will do for me, GTFC giving a damn. It eases the pain a lot.
For me a great day out. Early train, top drinking town and quality time with mates from the area. Aldershot might be a bit of a tip but it is a proper good old fashioned footy ground.

To play for 60 minutes with ten men, only lose 2-1 and all the home support, from what I've read, saying the've beaten a very good team, says to me we are a good team and will rise up this league. But we've got to sort out this indiscipline. Getting silly yellows will cost us. The players have got to channel this passion in the right direction.

"Do have to sing the praises of Scott Brown once more though, works so hard and uses the ball so well.  I am surprised he didn't get a yellow today as he is very aggressive but unlike others in the right areas."

Definitely echo that. He was quality especially when we were down to 10.

Quoted from GYinScuntland

10 men, 2 goals down but they seemed to have the attitude of "lets flipping have it". Pulled one back and could have nicked something.
That will do for me, GTFC giving a damn. It eases the pain a lot.
For me a great day out. Early train, top drinking town and quality time with mates from the area. Aldershot might be a bit of a tip but it is a proper good old fashioned footy ground.

Evidently the pitch is the old Stamford Bridge playing surface and was recently transfered or whatever you do to pitches. It looked  immaculate.

Aldershot is unbelievably run down. Even the M&S in the town centre was an M&S Outlet. Makes Freeman St look prosperous.

Thanks folks, I am heartened to read your positive comments after a defeat, when did that last happen? Cheered me up.

Encouraging to hear that it was a decent performance, but I'm slightly concerned that we've not managed to pick up a few more points already this season. Ideally, if we're going to be trying to compete for the title, we need to turn these narrow losses into draws and one or two of the draws from the earlier games into victories.

Good teams find a way to get a result regardless and we're not quite there just yet.

Hopefully, Hurst will be able to make the couple of signings over the next couple of weeks to give us that little bit extra to win these important points.

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

Anyone who doubts what LJL brings to the side had a perfect example today . Without him , daft pair of yellows , we are in big trouble  . I
Pitman looks like he's got sore legs , macreth doesn't look he knows what do for most the time . A like for like with colbeck so far what I've seen of him

This:- Up until his sending off he had a hand in everything positive we did going forward. Pittman tried to carry out the role but doesn't have the height or upper body strength.

MacReth looks like a few of Mrs Miggins pies wouldn't do him any harm at all. Knocked off the ball far too easily.

Quoted from BIGChris

I didnt think the incident which earnt LJL his first yellow was a foul and neither did anyone else in the press area. Lots of comments about Lenny getting this first yellow for 'gobbing off'. That isnt true, the referee said afterwards it was persistent infringements.

The 2nd incident was just in front of me and immediately in front of the Aldershot dug out. LJL and the shots player were running side my side and Lennys strength looked like he eased the shots player out the way. Foul? If so very harsh but never ever a yellow card. I have read some make out that LJL made a rash challenge. He didnt really challenge at all.

Not mentioned elsewhere but Man of the match for me was Craig Clay.

Sounds like he was unlucky. But we are still picking up too many bookings and they could come back to haunt us later. I may be wrong but I think we have out-yellowed just about every side we have played so far. Everyone knows the standard of refereeing in this league is pretty well crap so we need to make allowances and avoid cards wherever possible. They are not an occupational hazard. I'm sure we can be hard to beat without doing damage to our long term chances like that.

Interesting reading the comments on their forum. Mixed views on the sending off but all agreed that in the end we got what we deserved due to the teams lack of discipline and as one poster put it, John-Lewis being a "mouthy-excrement"

Hopefully Hurst will look at this as we don't want suspensions to affect us towards the end of the season like they did last time around.

Thankyou for run down of game
Couldnt make yesterday due to work
Game and result sound  frustrating but not fatal
Come on town put it right next game

very drunk off with the result yesterday but for me the sending off was the worst two decisions I have witnessed in this league.
The first was a foul by Hatton on JL which the ref decided to give the free kick to Hatton, JL complained and got booked, The second which was just in front of me was a 50/50 coming together where JL muscled a player off the ball then got sent off for it.
MC booking was for complaining after one of our players was mugged right in front of him allowing the ball to go out for a corner, ref gave the corner instead of the free kick.
The game seemed to go from one poor decision to another always in Aldershot's favour, Linesman in front of us did not have a clue what was going on and looked at the ref every time before putting his flag up,  

I thought up to the sending off it was only a matter of time before we scored and went on to win.
I did think we could have nicked a draw by the end but Aldershot went in to time wasting mode very successfully and just ran the clock down,
Still think we have the best team I have seen for many a year,

Quoted from Maringer

Encouraging to hear that it was a decent performance, but I'm slightly concerned that we've not managed to pick up a few more points already this season. Ideally, if we're going to be trying to compete for the title, we need to turn these narrow losses into draws and one or two of the draws from the earlier games into victories.

Good teams find a way to get a result regardless and we're not quite there just yet.

Hopefully, Hurst will be able to make the couple of signings over the next couple of weeks to give us that little bit extra to win these important points.

Have you forgotten that we had 7-9 players missing for those first 3 games. I'd call that mitigation.

I'm confident we'd have won 3 on the bounce if we'd had 11 men for the entirety of yesterday's game.

Nope, I'd not forgotten about the injured players in the first 3 games.

My point was that we had chances to win all 3 of those games and therefore really ought to have won at least one of them. Similarly, we missed chances yesterday before the red card which would have left us in a better position.

The teams who have gone up as champions in recent seasons, Luton, Mansfield and Fleetwood, for example, have all ground out the results when things weren't quite going their way. We need to get into a similar groove and start getting the points by hook or by crook. Last season, we often weren't great but managed to narrowly win a number of games. With an apparently improved squad this season, we need to start doing this again if we're not playing that well but we ought to have the quality to win more of them.

Quoted from cleethorpes_mariner

very drunk off with the result yesterday but for me the sending off was the worst two decisions I have witnessed in this league.
The first was a foul by Hatton on JL which the ref decided to give the free kick to Hatton, JL complained and got booked, The second which was just in front of me was a 50/50 coming together where JL muscled a player off the ball then got sent off for it.
MC booking was for complaining after one of our players was mugged right in front of him allowing the ball to go out for a corner, ref gave the corner instead of the free kick.
The game seemed to go from one poor decision to another always in Aldershot's favour, Linesman in front of us did not have a clue what was going on and looked at the ref every time before putting his flag up,  

I thought up to the sending off it was only a matter of time before we scored and went on to win.
I did think we could have nicked a draw by the end but Aldershot went in to time wasting mode very successfully and just ran the clock down,
Still think we have the best team I have seen for many a year,

Indeed. He was miles off the pace. Never in line to judge what was offside, missed just about every foul by Aldershot, and took and age to point his flag. I won't get on to his odd shape and weird stance (he can't help that).

I'm a bit puzzled by all the accusations levelled at the referee. I don't think he had any worse a game than most other officials in this league (admittedly, not terribly high in standard). LJL deserved to go. Maybe the second yellow was slightly harsh, but it looked like one of those rash challenges a player makes after being hacked down a minute earlier; a revenge challenge. He was super hyped up yesterday and I think he would've gone eventually even if the ref had been lenient for that tackle. He had already been mouthing off to the ref twice before and had had a warning before the first booking. So I can't see how anyone can really complain too much about the decision, even though it undoubtedly cost us the match.

Hurst really needs to get a lid on this dissent that seems to course through this team like the Cleethorpes in a stick of rock. Yesterday, there was McKeown and, of course, Pearson, who can't keep his trap shut. In all the years of watching football I've never once seen a referee reverse a decision based on players mouthing off, so I have no idea what any of them think they're achieving. The other thing it does is destabilise the team and the rhythm of the play.

That sense of injustice they felt on occasion yesterday needs to be channeled as it was in the Gateshead game, where it was clear they played as though still aggrieved at the play off match at the end of last season. THAT'S how you use that anger.

We lost yesterday mainly because of our indiscipline but also the fact they had a striker who knows how to shoot straight (and, it's worth noting, their own fans were calling for him to be dropped until yesterday!).

From where i was stood, the fact that LJL went in for the tackle with him already being on a yellow was barmy. Gives Hannah a chance in the team though, so potentially every cloud and all that lark. Shaun Pearson made his first major mistake in a town shirt (from my memory?) so can't really grumble about that one and i was having píss and missed the first goal so can't comment on that one ... Yes, i traveled 400 odd miles and missed a goal  ;D
I think we'll comfortably make play offs this year, we certainly have enough about us to do that. From there, anything can happen. Any higher? I have fingers/toes/any other body part crossed but if i'm being realistic - i dont think so. UTM

BIGChris seems to think that the referee didn't book LJL for dissent for the first one. Just a direct booking for 'persistent fouling'.

Quoted from Maringer

The teams who have gone up as champions in recent seasons, Luton, Mansfield and Fleetwood, for example, have all ground out the results when things weren't quite going their way. We need to get into a similar groove and start getting the points by hook or by crook. Last season, we often weren't great but managed to narrowly win a number of games. With an apparently improved squad this season, we need to start doing this again if we're not playing that well but we ought to have the quality to win more of them.

They also had much larger budgets and 25-30+ man squads.

And Luton had a woeful start last year...

Didn't like how some of the town fans were getting on the officials back from minute 1, before they had even made a wrong decision. The ref looked over and had a sly grin with acknowledgment. I'm not saying he's now going to go out of his way to make us lose the game but it certainly doesn't help matters. Look at it from the refs point of view if you're getting abuse from a team you're not exactly going to help them out in 50/50 situations.

Quoted from aldi_01

And Luton had a woeful start last year...

champions;
2013 - 14 season luton, after 6 games W2 D3 L1 Goals for 5 against 2 points 9
2012 - 13 season mansfield after 6 games W3 D0 L3 goals for 12 against 15 points 9
2011 - 12 season fleetwood after 6 games W2 D2 L2 goals for 3 against 6 points 8

So will Hannah be in for LJL v Welling? And LJL back for the Lincoln show??

Quoted from Mariner Timsky

So will Hannah be in for LJL v Welling? And LJL back for the Lincoln show??

If Hannah and Pitman score four between them on Saturday No!

Hannah is a fringe player at best .

Pittman looked ineffective after LJL was sent off and I cannot understand why Hurst waited so long to change it.

Quoted from UpTheMariners

Didn't like how some of the town fans were getting on the officials back from minute 1, before they had even made a wrong decision. The ref looked over and had a sly grin with acknowledgment. I'm not saying he's now going to go out of his way to make us lose the game but it certainly doesn't help matters. Look at it from the refs point of view if you're getting abuse from a team you're not exactly going to help them out in 50/50 situations.

Strewth can you imagine what the linesman in front of the Town fans thought then!

only seen Pittman once but he seemed well off the pace even with LJL on the pitch, I thought Hannah looked a bit better prospect. I'd like to see Nielsen upfront with or behind LJL when he's back from suspension

Quoted from lukeo

only seen Pittman once but he seemed well off the pace even with LJL on the pitch, I thought Hannah looked a bit better prospect. I'd like to see Nielsen upfront with or behind LJL when he's back from suspension

A good player for this level