Grimsby v Aldershot Preview

The Opposition

Aldershot Town FC rose from the ashes of the closure of debt-ridden Aldershot FC in 1992 after being the first team to fold since Accrington Stanley in 1962. They were forced to start again from the depths of the Isthmian League Division Three and under the guidance of former player Steve Wignall they won the league championship by a massive 18 point margin. A second successive promotion followed, but a third was missed out on by mere goal difference, but two more promotions followed in the following two seasons launching the club into the Conference in 2003. The first Conference game was overseen by new manager Terry Brown and saw a 2-1 win at home to Accrington Stanley, and the Shots went on to the play-offs having occupied a place in them throughout the campaign. The play-off semi pitted them against Hereford United, who were touted as massive favourites for the encounter. A tight and nervy couple of games left the tie poised at 1-1 and it was Aldershot who came out on top winning 4-2 on penalties and Shrewsbury Town awaited them in the final at the Britannia Stadium, home of Stoke City. A tight affair resulted in a 1-1 draw and again Aldershot’s fate would be decided on penalties, but this time their luck deserted them and they missed all three kicks which gifted the Shrews a 3-0 victory. The following season saw the club return to full-time professional status, they reached the FA Cup Second Round losing out to Hartlepool United and again reached the play-offs. Again luck failed them when it came to penalties and they were beaten by eventual winners Carlisle United. The 2005-6 season was no better, a poor season left Aldershot in 9th and a massive 13 points away from the final play-off place, it cost manager Terry Brown his job as he left the club in early 2006. In May 2007 Gary Waddock (left) took the helm at the Recreation Ground and under his watchful eye the club amassed a huge 101 points over the course of the season, winning the league comfortably and finishing with an 18 game unbeaten streak. Waddock had earned himself hero status at the club having finally led them back to the Football League and leading the club to victory in the final of the Conference League Cup. Last season saw Aldershot start the season the way they had finished the last, but eventually they tailed off and finished the season in a respectable 15th place.

The Shots squad features many unknown young players who Waddock has managed to get the best out of. Summer signings included defender and captain Adam Hinshelwood, goalkeeper Clark Masters, full back Ben Herd and striker Andy Sandell. Midfielder Louie Soares is one of two Barbadian players in the squad despite being born in Berkshire, and he was one of the major success stories from the promotion season having been signed from Barnet in 2006. Fellow countryman Anthony Straker has racked up 70 appearances for the club despite being only 20, and is definitely one for the future. Midfielder Scott Donnelly signed for the club from Wealdstone in 2007 and is a former England international at Under-17 level. Town fans will be relieved to hear that Scott Davies, who scored twice against the Mariners last season no longer plays for the club.

Striker Marvin Morgan was snapped up from Conference side Woking in 2008 and has played 36 games for Aldershot scoring 8 goals. Despite this relatively poor goalscoring record, Morgan has drawn interest from lots of clubs higher up the Football League due to his ability to hold the ball up. He was prolific at non-league level for Wealdsone, Yeading and Woking before Aldershot paid out a club record fee for the 26 year old frontman. At 6 foot 4 he is a sizeable task for any defence to handle, and his physical game will test Town defenders Bennett and Atkinson.

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Head to Head

There's little to choose between the two teams but Town have not lost for five games.

P 24 W 7 D 9 L 8 F 29 A 32

Head-to-Head (56th on The Opposition Ladder)

Last Meeting

Grimsby 1 Aldershot 0 (Sat 29th Mar 2009)

Barry Conlon's infamous "Hand of Cod" won the game for the Mariners in the critical run-in to last season.

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