The Fleet are back on the road in search of a second double after enjoying completing the first over Rochdale at the beginning of March. A blank weekend just gone for the Fleet means it’s been 10 days since Danny Searle’s in-form side were in Vanarama National League action.
Form guide
Aldershot sit in fifth place in the table with six wins from their past 10 matches. A disappointing result away to Southend at the end of February is the only reverse recently and has been quickly forgotten after back-to-back wins against Oxford City and Oldham Athletic. Before that there was a freak 5-0 home defeat by AFC Fylde but the Shots were down to 10 men in that one. Aldershot’s hopes for the play-offs are all the more impressive considering they looked like candidates for relegation once again after a poor start to the season left them in 18th place at the quarter-stage of the campaign.
Last time out
A warm Tuesday night back in August saw the Fleet host Aldershot for the first time in four years. A long-range strike from Franklin Domi opened the scoring in the first half and it was quick skill from Dominic Poleon that would see him race through the Aldershot defence to secure the Fleet’s second (pictured below) and the three points.
New faces at the EBB Stadium
January and February saw four arrivals at the EBB Stadium with former King’s Lynn man Josh Barrett through the door. Barrett played 86 times for manager Tommy Widdrington’s former side during his four-year spell at the club. On loan from Walsall, Rollin Menayese joined the Shots at the end of January with previous experience on loan with the club back in 2019. Another loan signing is James Daly who joins from Harrogate Town. He has also played for the likes of Woking and Stevenage with his youth career seeing him start out at Crystal Palace. The third and final loan signing is Dylan Kadji who joins from Bristol Rovers having spent a number of loan spells at the likes of Bath City, Swindon and Forest Green.
The manager
It’s coming up to a year since Tommy Widdrington took charge in April 2023. Previous managerial roles have seen him at King’s Lynn Town, Eastbourne Borough and Sailsbury. The Shots manager has also had a successful playing career, with appearances for the likes of Hartlepool United, Port Vale, Grimsby Town and Southampton.
Club connection
Fleet duo Toby Edser and Craig Tanner both played at Aldershot with Edser making 62 appearances for the side in his two-year spell and Tanner totalling 28 appearances in his time at the EBB Stadium. Danny Searle, meanwhile, will return to the Shots for the first time since he spent over two years at the club in charge of 88 matches as manager. And Fleet’s newest England C man Myles Kenlock also spent time at Aldershot at the end of last season.
Ticket info
Tickets for our match against Aldershot can be purchased here with Fleet fans located in the South Stand seating area.
