28/3/2008
Sport
Shots appeal over Davies red cardGARY Waddock confirmed late on Friday morning that Aldershot are appealing over Scott Davies’ sending-off in the 2-2 draw at Droylsden last night.
If the appeal fails, the 20-year-old midfielder faces a five-match ban for his third straight red card of the season, this time for a late challenge on Jamie McGuire, having already missed seven games through suspension earlier in the season.
“We are appealing,” said Waddock. “I have watched the tackle over and over again on the replay. Scott watched it with me too, as I was keen to get his reaction. In my view it was not a straight red card offence, but that is only my opinion and the FA's panel may differ.”
Because this was a Thursday night game and Aldershot’s appeal would not have reached the FA until late morning today (Friday) Davies is available for tomorrow’s league match at Stafford Rangers. “The FA will view the appeal early next week, so Scott is available for selection tomorrow,” said Waddock. Only if the FA deem the appeal to be frivolous - and Waddock would probably not have appealed had he feared that to be the case - can Davies be ruled out of tomorrow’s match.
As for the 2-2 draw, the manager was full of praise for bottom-of-the-table Droylsden, who was unlucky not to beat his league leaders.
“Droylsden were excellent and all credit to them,” said Waddock. “They put on one hell of a show.
“But I was expecting that. I watched them recently at Grays [last Thursday, Grays won 3-1] and although they lost they played with freedom and without fear. They can do that given their league position and all teams will be raise their game against us, as we are the league leaders.”
Waddock insisted that tiredness - this was the middle one of three away games in five days for the Shots - was not a factor in his side’s struggle to match Droylsden, despite being 70 points ahead of their opponents in the table.
“Tiredness didn’t come into it,” said Waddock. “The players have had an adequate rest and have trained hard all season, so are very fit. I’d like to credit Droylsden instead.
“But we obviously didn’t play to the level that the players have set themselves. That, however, is inevitable. It is simply impossible to perform to your best in every game. The players have been outstanding all season but last night they were not at their best.
“It’s a testament to this side’s great character and battling qualities that we came away with something from the game. This was another point to the total and a very valuable one. If you look at the bigger picture, any point away from home is a good one, a point gained.”
Waddock was especially pleased with Louie Soares’ contribution. Soares set up Aldershot’s second equaliser (an own goal by Lee Roche) and is looking more at home at right back than he has done recently in his more favoured position, further forward.
“Louie’s was a good performance,” said Waddock. “I still regard right back as playing out of position for him but he’s a very good footballer and I was pleased. We now know he can play there and do well, which gives us good versatility.”
More good news for the Shots came with the return from injury of leading-scorer John Grant, who played the last 25 minutes.
“I’m very pleased to have John back,” said Waddock. “He gives us another option. He’s been out for a few weeks and is not 100 per cent match fit yet, of course, but he will only get that back by playing.”
Another of Waddock’s striking options, Rob Elvins, is still struggling with an ankle knock picked up in the Easter Monday win at Crawley. “I didn’t want to risk Rob yesterday,” said Waddock. “His ankle is quite sore. We will see how he is in training this afternoon but tomorrow might be too soon for him.”
Danny Hylton, who started up front with Junior Mendes last night, was booked again, his seventh caution in as many weeks, most of which have been for petulance and time-wasting.
“We have spoken to Danny about it, as most of the bookings have been for silly things,” said Waddock. “He needs to mature but he’s a young player, learning his trade. The bookings will start to disappear the older he gets. We know already that we have a good player on our hands in Danny.”
Nonetheless, fitness permitting, John Grant - or possibly Kirk Hudson - must be in contention for a start alongside Mendes at Stafford tomorrow.
The team travelled down to a hotel near Stafford immediately after last night’s draw and are training this afternoon, ahead of tomorrow’s 3pm kick-off against another of the league's strugglers.
If last night’s draw was a rude reminder that there are no easy games in Blue Square Premier, Aldershot will also remember how hard Stafford pushed them at the Rec in December, in a seven-goal thriller, settled by Davies’ late free-kick.
Torquay, surely the only side with any chance of hauling back Aldershot’s 15-point lead, also face a tough away game, at Altrincham, who, unlike Stafford and Droylsden, have a chance of beating the drop.
“”We weren’t at our best at Droylsden but, who knows, we might be outstanding at Stafford,” said Waddock. “One thing is for sure: the team will be prepared.”
As for the Droylsden game itself, it was pretty grim up north for Aldershot fans but at least Gary Waddock's side took something from the game, in a lively 2-2 draw - just their third league stalemate of the season.
If Aldershot can win at Stafford Rangers tomorrow (Saturday) then ten points from the four league games they will have played in a week wil be regarded as a more than satisfactory return. As it stands, after the Droylsden draw, the Shots would still be nine points clear at the top, should Torquay United win their two games in hand.
On the night, Droylsden dominated the first half and led at the break through Terry Fearns. Waddock's men were vastly improved in the second half and Junior Mendes equalised in the 57th minute, only for Fearns to restore the home side's advantage.
Scott Davies was then handed a straight red card for the third time this season, for another dangerous tackle.
But, with Droylsden also reduced to ten men soon later - Steve Daly received two yellows - the Shots drew level in the 81st minute, when Louie Soares' cross forced an own goal from Lee Roche.
Perhaps the best news of the night for Aldershot was the unexpected return to the squad of leading-scorer John Grant, who came on for the last 25 minutes. First printed in:
Aldershot News and Mail
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