Shots Rising

Braintree Town 1-2 Aldershot Town (National League)

I’m back on the road again today, heading south-east, the only way is Essex, but before my match night in Braintree, I’m going to cut the grass, as we’ve had two days of sunshine after three months of rain and it’s finally now firm enough to take the weight of my mower.

The Iron are struggling, five points below safety they sit fourth bottom of the National League and since watching them beat Eastleigh here last month, they have picked up just two points from three games plus a postponement at Gateshead.

Aldershot have been going a little better, my last viewing of them was during John Coleman’s early days in charge, they were thumped 5-1 at York in November and were facing crisis point dropping desperately down the division, changes made to personnel, they have since resurged up the league, unbeaten in six, one defeat in eleven, 26 points from 33.

I was actually here for the same tie last season, a 2-1 win for Braintree but that day the Shots were dominant, before second half sub Kyrell Lisbie snatched the game away from the visitors who were winning for large parts one-nil, to turn things around with a late brace. This season's encounter at the EBB in September, ending 1-1.

I’m out the door for 3pm, it’s a good couple of hours and more to Cressing Road and I’m expecting traffic along the way, which I hit on the A1 near Stamford, before parity is restored, I actually arrive for around 6pm so plenty of time to sit in my car, and check my emails, ahead of a quick walk over to Co-Op where I fill up my laptop bag with goodies.

Ginsters pies, Peperami’s, Hoola Hoops, a can of Monster, chocolate, sweats, I’ve not eaten all day so am stocking up for the game and for my journey back home, with an hour to go until kick off I head through the housing estate that surrounds the stadium and towards the turnstiles of this hidden little ground, am I on the guest list? I wonder? "Am I eck."

The Venue

“Can’t see your name on here” says the lady on the gate, who then huffs and scratches her head with her pen, before saying, “go on”.

It seems to be a regular occurrence these days, something I’m getting used to, and getting used to getting around.

Inside where everybody is smiling, I’m walking around the back of the goal to the largest stand which is tonight split into home and away divided by a bit of rope, expecting a decent number from Aldershot, they are given the open end (the Quag End) to my left as well as some of the seats in the covered Main Stand, sat highest row I’m met by a regular scout who covers Braintree, he by now has already given up on their plight, “the gap looks too big” he says, before confirming “they look like a side who are resigned to going down”.

We have a good chat, as the floodlights glaze into my spectacle lenses, the players walk out on the slightly soft grassy surface, just over 800 inside, half are probably away fans, there’s plenty of room here, even if the arena is compact, tight and cosy.

The Game

From the off, Aldershot in all black, look like a team playing with confidence, they have a few new players since I last seen them play, Sean Patton on loan from Reading leads the line, Sam Inwood on loan from Bolton is at centre half, he’s been chucking balls into the box with his long throw-ins, whilst they have a neat midfielder in Jed Meerholz who they signed from Bristol City, they have a sprightly youthfulness about them, which rubs off on some of the old guard too, Cameron Hargreaves looks a different player since I last saw him play, running forward at every opportunity from midfield to join the attack, James Henry looks ten years younger than his actual 36-year-age, Ryan Hill is bombing on from right back, he’s much better than most in the final third for me, wasted as a defender, he’s linking well with Patton as they bounce balls off eachother inside the opposition box.

It’s one way traffic as a Luke Jenkins cross almost loops in over Mason Terry in the Braintree goal, Hady Ghandour has a shot desperately blocked before Henry goes down inside the box, claims for penalties are completely ignored.

Patton and Hill link up brilliantly as another shot narrowly escapes rippling the net, before the save of the game, Terry flies left to stop Olly Scott’s pile buster from twenty plus yards.

Braintree are poor, they break on occasion through the useful looking Sahid Kamara, but don’t really utilise their lone forward John Akinde who at times is battling with four or five men around him.

The Score

Somehow, Braintree make it to half time, and in the latter stages of the first half they might have nicked the lead when Taylan Harris heads towards goal, Boyce-Clarke dives to his left and claws it from creeping in.

But it’s same again in the second half, Aldershot pressing, Braintree defending, and when James Henry does get a shot away on 50, it takes a huge ricochet off Sean Patton, who amongst bodies stabs home his fifth goal since signing, he runs away as the ball bobbles over the line, it’s certainly not pretty, but it’s probably deserved.

“This will be three or four” says my southern based scout friend sitting next to me as Sahid Kamara picks the ball up in space on half way, he has Taylan Harris running forward down the right and finds the winger galloping towards goal, composed, the Luton loanee who’s probably been Braintree’s best attacking player, runs through and smashes home hard and low, “didn’t see that coming” I respond to thy neighbour.

The game opens up as Braintree make subs, they take off Akinde for Walker, and Babic for Cooper, Drake for Clampin, they have a stronger team to end the game with than what they started, perhaps Manager Steve Pitt deserves credit for actually setting up his team for this type of scenario, but as it all seems to be in the balance, Nightingale escapes brilliantly to defend a three on one situation and he finds a pass which eventually leads to another Henry effort but it's half scuffed and with plenty of bodies behind it should be comfortably saved by Terry, but isn’t, the on loan goalkeeper spills it terribly over the line and undoes all his hard work, “he’s been Braintree’s best player by far since joining” I’m told, apparently on his sixth man of the match appearance in a row, but tonight, his error is costly, as the ball bounces through him, the mistake matters as Aldershot take all three points.

The Stars

Despite the error, Mason Terry is handed the home team man of the match, he’s agile, lean, a great shot stopper, usually, and likes to get play started quickly.

It wasn’t a great night for Braintree who seem to play without identity, Jacob Pinnington had a tough start, he’s a decent right wing back, not so sure he’s comfortable as a traditional right back, Francis-Clarke and Langston are game at centre half, but quiet, inexperienced, perhaps they need a father figure besides them? I do like Ben Drake at left back, but another young kid, a lot being asked of these boys.

In midfield, they struggle to get players beyond the ball, which is their biggest issue, good players individually, collectively the dynamic perhaps not there, James Vennings sits and holds, Manny Omrore does that too, Goran Babic I like, but he does frustrate with his final pass, whilst Taylan Harris does look a good player, direct, busy, positive, Sahid Kamara is one that will get bums off their seats, when least expected, but is one you probably wouldn’t put your mortgage on, when running through on goal.

For Aldershot, a lot to like, young Coniah Boyce-Clarke is only 22, unconventional he kept out two efforts with sprawling saves, very athletic, he likes to race out of his box and pretend he’s a quarterback.

Ryan Hill is one of my favourite players in the division, he’s a right back who plays like a no10, far better in the opposing half than his own. Will Nightingale solid next to young Sam Inwood, the Bolton player is only 20, left footed, he is good on the ball and has some assets like aerial ability, goal threat and throw-in distance to his game. I liked the look of Oliver Scott at left back who left the building at half-time.

In midfield their stronghold was the deciding factor for me, Hargreaves and Henry both very busy, Meerholz caressing between them, Charlie Warren also doing well when he came on, I did like their teen striker Sean Patton who’s a short stubby sod but has great link up play and certainly an eye for a goal.

The Verdict

Aldershot’s win takes them to twelfth in the table, on last viewing in November I said, “I don't think they have the tools or heart for surviving relegation.” I did redeem myself slightly, by saying “I feel for their Manager John Coleman as it's not his fault, inheriting a team lacking characters, which is what they need to add, if they are to attempt to stay up.” They have added three or four players since then, who have made the difference, which is proof, why you should never write anyone off in the National League.

As for Braintree Town, well I’m writing their survival chances right off, however, as noted above, I have been wrong before.

The Teams

Braintree Town: Mason Terry, Jacob Pinnington, Aidan Francis-Clarke, George Langston, Ben Drake (Ryan Clampin 78), James Vennings, Taylan Harris, Manny Omrore, Goran Babic (Chay Cooper 70), Sahid Kamara (Zavier Massiah-Edwards 79), John Akinde (Lewis Walker 63).

Aldershot Town: Coniah Boyce-Clarke, Ryan Hill, Will Nightingale, Sam Inwood, Oliver Scott (Matt Penney 46), Jed Meerholz, Cameron Hargreaves, James Henry, Luke Jenkins (Charlie Warren 62), Sean Patton (Kwame Thomas 62), Hady Ghandour.

7:45pm Kick Off. Wednesday 25th February 2026, Cressing Road, Braintree (att 838).