Aldershot Town edged out Hartlepool United 1-0 at The EBB Stadium in a National League encounter that was far tighter and more combative than the scoreline suggests. Cameron Hargreaves’ first-half goal proved decisive in a match characterised by a high number of cautions and a late dismissal of the Aldershot manager.
The opening quarter of an hour saw both sides cautiously probing, with possession changing hands frequently in midfield. The deadlock was broken in the 20th minute when Cameron Hargreaves, assisted by James Henry, put Aldershot ahead. The goal visibly galvanised the home side, injecting energy into their play.
Hartlepool responded with increased urgency, pressing forward in search of an equaliser. The intensity of the match escalated, leading to a flurry of yellow cards. Hartlepool’s Besart Topalloj was the first to be cautioned in the 27th minute, quickly followed by Aldershot’s Archy Taylor a minute later, as referee Paul Johnson found himself increasingly occupied.
Hartlepool continued to apply pressure in the second half, but Aldershot remained resolute in defence. The physical nature of the contest persisted, resulting in further cautions for Aldershot’s Charlie Penman, Theo Widdrington, and Hartlepool’s Alex Reid. In the 66th minute, Aldershot manager Thomas Widdrington made a triple substitution, introducing Ryan Jones and Kwame Thomas, with Tristan Abrahams replacing James Henry. Hartlepool responded with substitutions of their own, seeking to revitalise their attack.
As the match entered its final stages, the tension became palpable. Jed Meerholz became the fifth Aldershot player to be booked in the 73rd minute, followed by Marcus Dewhurst in the 79th, as the home side fought to protect their slender advantage. Hartlepool threw everything forward in the closing minutes, bringing on Danny Johnson and Vadaine Oliver in an attempt to salvage a point.
The match concluded in dramatic circumstances when Aldershot manager Thomas Widdrington was shown a second yellow card, resulting in a red card, for foul and abusive language in the 94th minute. Despite this late setback, Aldershot managed to hold on to their lead until the final whistle.
The victory sees Aldershot Town move up to 12th position in the league table with 12 points, while Hartlepool United, who remain in 9th place with 14 points, see their winless run extended.