Aldershot 2 FC Halifax 2: Aspin content despite unfortunate breaks

Lee Gregory took his goals total to 19 for the season with two more to start and end the scoring, with Aldershot levelling just before the break and taking the lead midway through the second half.

Aspin was unhappy at referee Craig Hicks’s decision to award Aldershot a penalty moments before Gregory’s first goal, and the fact that the official got in the way of a Halifax clearance in the build-up to Jordan Roberts’s goal seconds before the interval.

The visitors also lost defender Simon Ainge and midfielder Matty Pearson to injury, playing the second half with a makeshift defence.

Aspin said: “I was expecting a tough game and as it panned out you can’t legislate for what happened, but taking everything into consideration I have to be pleased with a point.

“I don’t think it was a penalty, justice was done when he put it wide. We were unlucky with the equaliser; for the referee to get in the way in the fourth minute of stoppage time is a bit of a kick in the teeth.”

A quiet game was sparked into life by the award of a penalty to the hosts for Marc Roberts’s tackle on namesake Jordan.

Top-scorer Brett Williams put the spot-kick wide and moments later Gregory prodded Pearson’s cross past Glenn Morris.

Aldershot equalised when Hicks inadvertently kept their attack going and Roberts tapped in after Bradley Bubb had hit the bar.

Halifax were pegged back for most of the second half playing against a strong wind and Craig Stanley’s free-kick from near the touchline went straight in, aided by the swirling wind.

But substitute Reece Gray’s superb through ball allowed Gregory in behind the Shots’ defence before he delicately chipped the on-rushing goalkeeper.

Aldershot: Morris, Oastler, Barker, Roberts (Plummer 80), Gibbs, Molesley (Scott 89), Stanley, Rowlands (Oyeleke 75), Partington, Bubb, Williams. Unused substitutes: Webster, Williams.

Halifax Town: Glennon, Challinor, Ainge (Worthington 7), Roberts, Maynard, Smith, Marshall, Pearson (Wilson 46), Clay, Jackson (Gray 81), Gregory. Unused substitutes: Senior, McReady.

Referee: C Hicks (Surrey).

Man of the match: Paul Marshall.