Aldershot Town prepare for a National League home fixture against Gateshead this Saturday, October 31. The 3pm kick-off at the EBB Stadium at Recreation Ground sees the Shots aiming to improve on their 13th-place standing, a position they hold with 18 points from 14 games, having recorded five wins, three draws and six losses.
Tommy Widdrington's side have 18 points from 14 games this season, with a goal difference of plus one, having scored 18 goals and conceded 17. They sit 23 points behind leaders Boreham Wood in the title race. Their recent form has been inconsistent, with two wins, one draw and two losses in their last five outings, a sequence that reads loss, win, draw, win, loss.
Recent results
Aldershot Town's last result was a 1-0 home defeat to Wealdstone on October 24, with Ollie Olomola scoring the only goal. That followed a 2-0 win over Tadley Calleva in the FA Trophy on October 20. Before that, they drew 2-2 with the same opposition in a league match and recorded a 5-3 victory over Norwich City's under-21 side. Their last league win came against Altrincham on October 10, a 3-1 away success, which was followed by a 1-3 home loss to Carlisle on October 3.
Gateshead arrive having also struggled for consistency. Their last five matches include heavy defeats to Boston United and FC Halifax Town, as well as a goalless draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers' under-21 team. In the league, they have suffered three consecutive losses, conceding ten goals in that period while scoring only once. Their last victory was a 3-0 win over Chesterfield on October 3.
Team news
In their last starting line-up against Wealdstone, Aldershot fielded a side featuring Nik Tzanev in goal, a defence of Efete, Kodi Lyons-Foster and Harfield, and an attack led by Lorent Tolaj. Midfielders Mo Bettamer and Jack Powell also started, with Powell providing the primary creative threat from set pieces.
Gateshead's most recent XI included goalkeeper James Montgomery and forward Jordan Preston. Defender Louis Storey and midfielder Owen Gallacher are also expected to feature. The Shots will look to their squad for a positive response after the weekend's setback, with manager Widdrington likely to consider changes after the lacklustre offensive display.
The opposition
They have a negative goal difference of minus nine.
This match is the final fixture of October for Aldershot Town. They travel to face 16th-placed Sutton United on Wednesday, October 28, in their next league assignment, a game that offers a chance to build momentum before hosting Gateshead.
