Robinson goal earns Shots a point

Thursday, 02 April 2009

Aldershot striker John Grant shows strength on the ball as Chesterfield’s Gregor Robertson comes perilously close to conceding a penalty. PICTURE: IAN MORSEMAN)

ALDERSHOT TN 1, CHESTERFIELD 1

ALDERSHOT failed to get back on the winning road, but this was a cracking contest at the EBB Stadium on Tuesday night, with promotion outsiders Chesterfield more than playing their part in a game of constant attack and counter attack.
Jack Lester, the Chesterfield captain and much-travelled striker, earned the home fans’ ire for a sly trick or two during his absorbing, match-long duel with Anthony Charles.
But there was no doubting the quality of the former Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United player who gave his side the lead after just seven minutes.
Lester controlled Peter Till’s pass skilfully and followed up with a sublime left-foot chip past the advancing Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz.
It took Aldershot 50 minutes to draw level and, by then, Chesterfield had fashioned enough chances, mainly from lightning fast breakaways, to put the game to bed.
But Jake Robinson’s equaliser revitalised Aldershot and it was their turn to create some excellent openings. Indeed, they could have won it deep into injury time when Marvin Morgan, beautifully set up by fellow substitute Simon Donnelly, squeezed his shot past the advancing Tommy Lee, only to see the ball slide agonisingly wide of the far post.
Lester and Drew Talbot posed all sorts of problems for Aldershot’s defence in the first half. After Lester’s goal, Scott Davies, going for a quick equaliser, saw a well-directed shot tipped over by Lee, but Chesterfield could easily have scored twice more in the first half-hour.
Jaimez-Ruiz made an important block from Talbot’s fierce shot after another swift break from the back.
Talbot followed up with two dangerous crosses into the six-yard box. Ruiz again proved his worth by saving at Jamie Lowry’s feet, but was then relieved to see Lester put a stooping header wide of the target.
At the other end, Aldershot were struggling to win any high balls against Danny Hall and Aaron Downes, two formidable central defenders.
It was a different story when the nimble Aldershot attackers kept the ball on the ground, as John Grant showed when, with skill and strength, he plotted a course around a packed area before screwing back a cross that Lee spilled in front of goal. The hovering Kirk Hudson looked certain to score, but could only knock the rebound back into the keeper’s chest.
It was much better from Aldershot and although the Chesterfield strikers still looked a real threat, Grant and Robinson were beginning to fire as well.
Hudson's cross found Robinson who, after a deft first touch, thumped a cross-shot inches wide. More persistence from Grant set up Robinson with another opening and his blistering shot was only kept out by Hall’s miraculous clearance on the goal-line.
Predictably, it was the on-loan Brighton striker who equalised on 52 minutes. Davies swung in a right-wing corner, Charles headed goalwards and Robinson, Aldershot’s version of Michael Owen, darted in to deflect the ball past Lee.
Soon, Chesterfield were almost caught napping at another corner. It was a leaf out of Teddy Sheringham’s book as Davies struck the ball straight to Hudson, lurking on the edge of the box, and the youngster’s sweetly timed volley was only kept out by a lucky deflection in the goalmouth.
Derek Niven showed equally good technique at the other end when his volley from Jared Wilson’s cross clipped the post. Robinson responded with a snap shot from the right – well parried by Lee – before limping off injured to be replaced by Morgan, always the late comer it seems, who came so close to scoring a last-gasp winner.
“Possibly a fair result, but we were looking for the second goal,” said Gary Waddock. “In the first half, we had a lot of possession without really hurting them. The goal got us back into it and I have to give credit to the players who gave a good account of themselves and kept going when they had to adjust. And by the way, Chesterfield are a good side.”
The Shots boss was forced to change things when right-back Louie Soares limped off after 34 minutes. Andy Sandell came on and the midfield showed its versatility as Scott Davies moved back into the centre and Lewis Chalmers switched to full-back. “Lewis was excellent tonight – I was really pleased with the way he went about his business,” said Waddock.
Aldershot: Jaimez-Ruiz, Soares (Sandell 34), Blackburn, Charles, Straker, Hudson, Chalmers, Davies, Cochrane (Donnelly 85), Grant, Robinson (Morgan 85). Subs (not used): Hylton, Newman. Booked: Charles.
Chesterfield: Lee, Wilson, Downes, Hall, Robertson, Niven, Montrose (Kerry 53), Lowry, Till (Boden 46), Lester (Currie 89), Talbot. Subs (not used): Austin, Gray. Booked: Talbot, Lester.
Attendance: 2,482.
Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire).