Wanderers 3, Aldershot & Farnham 3

ALDERSHOT and Farnham were dealt a cruel blow for the second time this season as Wanderers snatched a point with the last touch of the ball in a one-sided Surrey/Hampshire 2 contest at Battersea Park.

The visitors arrived with the bare minimum of players for the first time this season but still put in a high-energy effort, creating multiple chances and dominating the game from start to finish.

Wanderers struggled to overcome the high-pressure work rate of the forwards and conceded several early turnovers through Luke Powell and Sam Fuentes-Moreno. They resorted to long balls from the back, and while the A&F defence was solid, one attack led to a short corner which raised some consternation as the right winger struck a high ball at the waist of left half Ed Rushmere. Wanderers converted low to their left, against the run of play to take the lead.

A&F immediately hit back with Rob Jervis and Jonny Groves both creating several chances pushing forward from midfield, and they soon created an opportunity for Phil Rushmere following a goalmouth scramble as the teams went in at the break all square at 1-1.

The second half saw more dominance from Aldershot and Farnham, and the constant pressure soon led to a goal as Johnny Thompson broke forward from central midfield, rounded several players and laid the ball for Joe Whelan, relishing in his new role up front after a season at centre back, to grab the second.

Andrew Simmons then hit the post from a well-worked short corner, the ball deflecting across the face of goal with no-one able to add the final touch.

But the away team didn’t have long to wait for their third goal, this time from Phil Rushmere’s quick free hit which was driven into the D and Fuentes-Moreno got the slightest of touches.

So light was the touch that the opposition were convinced that no-one had actually touched it and their centre back was incensed, the resulting arguments leading to a yellow card and ten minutes in the sin bin.

This should have allowed A&F to see out the game, instead they conceded two green cards, for Thompson and Phil Rushmere, and two goals in relatively quick succession.

Both goals came from short corners – the first a follow up after a double save and the equaliser a shot that squirmed under the goalkeeper just as the final whistle was blown.

It was a disappointing outcome given the pressure, but A&F would take positives from many good passages of play and the number of chances created which they will look to continue into next week against Camberley & Farnborough, who sit just above them in the table.