GUISELEY AFC 0, ALDERSHOT TN 4

ALL of Aldershot Town’s fragmented early-season promise finally clicked into place as Richard Brodie’s double strike contributed to an emphatic first victory of the season in Yorkshire last Saturday.

Of course, it wasn’t without a few moments of concern – Guiseley fashioned ample opportunities only to founder on their own lack of attacking prowess – but this was something approaching a consummate away performance which left Shots manager Barry Smith at least momentarily satisfied.

“We’re delighted with the first win, but we want to have many more,” he said. “It was a good overall performance. The boys worked very hard for it and scored some good goals. Every single player contributed to the victory. Our defence have taken a wee bit of stick off myself for not defending in the box, but I thought in the second half they were excellent and coped with everything thrown at them.”

Brodie, who now has three goals in his two starts since joining from Southport, and strike partner Dan Walker typified Aldershot’s committed and industrious approach which paid handsome dividends to inflict upon Guiseley their first defeat in three home matches since promotion to the National League.

Wayne Brooksby, Adam Boyes and targetman Tom Craddock all failed to hit the target with early chances and Brodie punished them on 22 minutes. Competing for a strong header in midfield which Guiseley suggested was a foul, he then found himself on the end of a neat interchange of passes between Sam Hatton and Jim Stevenson and slid a shot across Steve Drench into the net.

Guiseley remained a threat, especially with their use of the flanks, but the second goal, on 33 minutes, put the visitors in control. The ever-dangerous Rhys Browne effortlessly raced into the penalty area to hit a shot which Drench could only parry into the path of Stevenson, who stabbed home the rebound.

Any hopes the hosts had of a second-half resurgence were extinguished on 49 minutes when right-back Cheye Alexander scored a goal which his manager compared to Ricky Villa’s legendary 1981 FA Cup Final strike.

Picking up the ball just inside the Guiseley half, Alexander left two markers in his wake before entering the penalty area where he stepped inside two defenders and beat the lunging challenge of another to calmly beat Drench from four yards.

Craddock finally mustered a shot on target for the Lions, but Brodie remained the game’s most potent attacker. He put a 25-yard shot straight at Drench, but, after Liam Dickinson had driven a shot into the side-netting for Guiseley, the former York City striker grabbed his second on 80 minutes. Brodie’s lay-off allowed Dan Walker to show good pace down the right and his return pass saw Brodie skip a tackle on the six-yard line and shoot past the hapless Drench.

Brodie immediately limped off with a groin strain, incurred in hurdling the last-ditch challenge, to provide Aldershot with the only downbeat note of a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.

This should now provide the benchmark by which Aldershot are judged in the coming months.

Guiseley: Drench, Lowe, Lockwood, Lawlor (Toulson 55), Brooksby, D Boshell, Boyes, Craddock (Dickinson 65), Hatfield, N Boshell (Rothery 55), R Atkinson. Subs (not used): D Atkinson, Thompson. Booked: Brooksby.

Aldershot: Smith, Alexander, Beckles, Oliver, Saville; Hatton (Barnes-Homer 68), Stevenson, Gallagher, Browne (Richards 54); Brodie (C Walker 81), D Walker. Subs (not used): Thomas, Barker. Booked: Gallagher, Browne, Stevenson.

Referee: Wayne Barratt.

Attendance: 782.