Thursday Sep 29 2005 18:53
Aldershot won the battle of the Nationwide Conference newcomers with an entertaining 2-1 victory against Accrington Stanley at the Recreation Ground.
Most of the crucial action came in an incident-packed opening 45 minutes.
Nick Roddis fired an early effort wide for Aldershot while Tim Sills also went close with a header before the hosts took a 16th minute lead.
Stuart Tanfield created it with a pinpoint cross and Sills was on hand to head past James Speare in the Stanley goal.
The Lancashire side were struggling to create any clear-cut chances and it came as something of a surprise when they equalised ten minutes later.
Andrew Proctor grabbed it with a sweetly-struck volley to stun the majority of the crowd.
The former Great Harwood midfielder was booked in the 29th minute but there was worse news for the visitors on the stroke of half time.
Speare raced out of his goal and was sent off for handling the ball outside the area and after Jon Kennedy came on to replace Rory Prendergast, the former Sunderland keeper's first taste of the action saw him beaten by Roscoe D'Sane's excellent free-kick.
To ten-man Accrington's credit they refused to lie down and continued battling for an equaliser throughout the second period.
Proctor went close with a fierce shot on the hour while at the other end D'Sane saw an effort sail just over the bar while Roddis and Sills also went close to adding to the Shots' lead.
Paul Mullin had a header cleared by Dominic Sterling after good work by Lutel James with 14 minutes left as Stanley continued to press for a late equaliser while James also saw a late effort flash just wide.
However, Aldershot emerged as winners and almost extended their lead in the closing stages with substitute Luke Gedling having a shot tipped over the bar by Kennedy.
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