A late goal from substitute Maxwell Mullins snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory for Aldershot Town against Altrincham at the J. Davidson Stadium, completing a come-from-behind win and securing three vital points for the visitors.
The first half was a cagey affair, with few clear-cut chances for either side. The midfield battle was keenly contested, and a yellow card for Altrincham’s Kahrel Reddin in the 30th minute for a foul hinted at the physical nature of the contest. Aldershot’s Isaac Marriott also received a yellow card in the 47th minute for a foul, followed by a yellow for Aldershot’s Dan Ellison in the 52nd minute, also for a foul. Despite the lack of goals, both teams showed glimpses of attacking intent, but neither could find a breakthrough.
The second half, however, provided a stark contrast. Aldershot broke the deadlock in the 65th minute. Cameron Hargreaves, capitalising on a moment of opportunity, fired the visitors into the lead. Altrincham’s response was swift. Just eight minutes later, in the 73rd minute, Alex Newby levelled the scores, converting a well-worked move thanks to an assist from Elliot Osborne. The home crowd, momentarily silenced by Aldershot’s opener, roared back to life, sensing a shift in momentum. Around this time, both managers turned to their benches, making a series of substitutions to inject fresh energy and tactical adjustments into the game. Aldershot’s Josh Barrett received a yellow card for a foul in the 69th minute. Crucially for Aldershot, Maxwell Mullins entered the fray in the 74th minute, replacing Jack Barham.
With the match seemingly destined for a draw, drama unfolded in the 88th minute. Hargreaves, instrumental in Aldershot’s first goal, turned provider, delivering a pinpoint pass to Mullins. The substitute kept his composure and slotted the ball home, silencing the home support and sparking jubilant celebrations amongst the travelling Aldershot fans. Mullins’s impact off the bench proved decisive, underlining the importance of squad depth. A late yellow card for Mullins in the 92nd minute for a foul, a testament to the intensity of the closing stages, did little to dampen the visitors’ celebrations as they professionally saw out the remaining minutes to secure a hard-fought victory.
The result leaves Altrincham in 8th place on 55 points, while Aldershot Town climb to 16th with 43 points. The two sides share a closely contested history, having met five times in recent seasons prior to this fixture, with two wins apiece and a single draw.