ALDERSHOT & Farnham (A&F) lost 4-3 at Sunbury & Walton Hawks last Saturday (January 29) in a key top-of-the-table clash.

Following two comfortable victories in as many weeks, A&F travelled to Sunbury for a first against second clash which could prove pivotal to the outcome of the season.

The game started tentatively with the midfield areas being hotly contested by both sides.

Sunbury with longer balls through the channels toward their young and potent frontline, and Shots favouring their usual methodical build up play through midfield duo Treadgold and Boot.

The first outcome of note came out the blue with Sunbury counter attacking from deep, catching the back three by surprise with the pace and directness of their foray.

A short corner resulted in the ball being fired through a mess of players and into the bottom corner to give the home side the lead.

Aldershot responded with renewed vigour, pressing to get an immediate equaliser.

This came through a flurry of short corner awards thanks to the industrious forward work of Coombe, Smith, Cryer and Groves.

The subsequent corner was fired in by Perry, hitting the body of the Sunbury defender on the line.

The resulting penalty kick was successfully dispatched by Treadgold to level the scores.

The second half was a frantic affair with the game ebbing and flowing between both sides.

Sunbury won a corner through an early breakaway, which was knocked into the net past Hall to make it 2-1 to the home side.

Not to be deterred the Shots came back with their usual effort and guile, however the ball never fell kindly for the forwards despite the increased pressure.

Eventually though the pressure paid off, with Perry scoring to make it 2-2.

But an incisive Sunbury breakaway bisected the right-hand side of the Shots defence before a cross was smashed home to make it 3-2.

Again Aldershot came storming out to level the scoreline.

Treadgold took it upon himself to restore parity with a superb solo effort, firing a ferocious strike past the keeper to make it 3-3.

This was not the end of the goalscoring, though.

Sunbury once more won a short corner with one of their few attacks of the game.

The ball was worked round the Shots defence before being converted to make it 4-3 with two minutes left.

Today (Saturday) Aldershot & Farnham host Oxted’s second team in another big fixture as they attempt to restore their advantage at the top of the table.

Report by William Giltrow