Aldershot Town host Ipswich Town U21 in a National League Cup group stage match at the EBB Stadium on Tuesday. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:45 as the Shots look to progress in the competition.

The fixture comes after a 1-0 victory over Gateshead last weekend, a result that moved the club to 14th in the National League table with 21 points from 16 games. That win ended a run of three league games without a victory, a sequence that included defeats to Sutton United and Wealdstone. The team's overall record stands at six wins, three draws and seven losses, with a goal difference of zero having scored and conceded 19 times. Their recent form across the last five league games is two wins, one draw and two losses.

Recent form

Manager Tommy Widdrington is expected to rotate his squad for the cup tie. The starting line-up that beat Gateshead featured N. Hayes in goal, with a defence of M. Stickland, K. Oshilaja, T. Dyce and O. Harfield. The match-winner was B. Peart, who scored the only goal after five minutes. That result on Saturday 31 October followed a 2-0 loss at Sutton United on Wednesday 28 October and a 1-0 home defeat to Wealdstone on Saturday 24 October. Prior to that, the team recorded a 2-0 win at Tadley Calleva in the FA Cup on Tuesday 20 October after a 2-2 draw with the same opponent on Saturday 17 October.

Ipswich Town's development side will provide a different test. Their recent starting XI has included Alex Noonan, L. Elliott and J. Mažionis. Aldershot have already faced a Premier League academy side in this competition, beating Norwich City U21 5-3 last month.

Looking ahead

With a goal difference of zero after scoring and conceding 19 league goals, consistency is the target. The immediate focus after Tuesday's cup game shifts back to the league and a tough trip to face third-placed Southend United on Saturday 14 November. Sitting 23 points behind the league leaders, Aldershot will hope a positive result against Ipswich's youngsters can provide momentum for that key away fixture.

Aldershot Town were thrashed 5-0 by Ipswich Town U21 in the National League Cup on Tuesday. The club, currently 14th in the National League with 21 points, made two substitutions in the opening minute before conceding five unanswered goals. Jacob Mazionis opened the scoring after five minutes, with Frankie Runham netting twice. Manager Tommy Widdrington said, "We made changes and it didn't work out." Ipswich's victory saw them progress to the quarter-finals at Aldershot's expense.