The Wanderers first team were defeated for the fourth straight league game in a row on Saturday afternoon after losing 2-0 to Aldershot Town at The EBB Stadium. Goals from Justin Amaluzor and Ryan Glover at the end of each half secured victory for the Hampshire side, meaning the wait for a league win in 2023 continues for Marc White’s men, now just two points off the relegation places, sat in 19th spot in the National League table.
The disappointing result came at the end of an eventful week of transfer activity for the football club, with the signing’s of Aaron Kuhl, George Francomb and Jason Prior all confirmed through the course of the week and Francomb and Prior both going straight into the starting line up for Saturday’s league fixture. Midfielder Kuhl is currently injured and expected to be sidelined for another few weeks.
Josh Taylor and Matt Briggs were also named on the bench at the weekend as the duo returned from respective injury lay-offs, both coming on during the second half of the contest. For Taylor it was a first appearance since suffering a ligament injury away at Maidenhead United in early December, and for Briggs it would be his first competitive appearance in a Wanderers shirt since injuring his ACL at the end of last February in the 1-0 home win over Maidstone United at Meadowbank.
The addition of faces new and old will hopefully galvanise a Wanderers side looking to turn around their recent form and climb away from the bottom end of the league in the coming weeks, albeit with a tough run of away fixtures lined up before the end of February as trips to promotion contenders Bromley, Wrexham and Boreham Wood lie in wait.
Focus shifts away from the league this coming Saturday though as Wanderers return to The EBB Stadium to face Aldershot again, this time in the FA Trophy 5th Round. Wanderers first ever appearance at this stage of the competition, an opportunity to get to the quarter final’s is on the cards for the winner, with the incentive to go on and get to a Wembley final heightened by the fact that top sides in the National League such as Notts County, Wrexham, Chesterfield and holders Bromley are already eliminated from the competition this term.
Tickets for Saturday’s game are only available online, currently at early bird prices until Thursday 9am: £12 Adults, £10 Senior/Military/U18-20s and £2 U17s.
Secure your ticket here: https://www.flowte.me/storefront/aldershot-town-fc-736
Ladies Advance To League Cup Quarter Final
Following on from their 2-1 defeat of Welling United in the Capital Cup the previous weekend, the Wanderers Ladies booked their place in the League Cup quarter final’s on Sunday afternoon with an emphatic 10-0 victory over Enfield Town from the league above. Hat-tricks from striker’s Cherelle Khassal and Katie Butts were accompanied by individual efforts from midfielder Xayla and forward’s Gemma Shepherd and Charlotte Keenan, plus new signing Mika Keen, making her debut for Wanderers coming off the bench in the second half having signed from Sutton United on Feb 1st.
The competition continues immediately for the Ladies with the quarter-final tie taking place this coming Sunday February 12th at Meadowbank. It’s another test from a side in the division above as Fulham Woman will be the visitors in a 15:30pm kick off, entry priced at £5 Adults, £3 for Cons and U18s and Free for U8’s. Please note that first team season tickets are not valid.
B Team Back With A Draw
After a fortnight’s break from action, Ruben Gaspar’s B team began the month of February contesting a 1-1 draw with Mile Oak at Meadowbank on Saturday afternoon. Going behind to a goal from Joe Benn just before the half-hour mark, Ben Aubrey equalised for Wanderers from the penalty spot with just over twenty minutes to go. Unbeaten in their three league games played since the turn of the year, the Wanderers B team remain in 2nd place in the Southern Combination Division One, 7 points behind leaders Shoreham who do also have three games in hand.
Next up, Wanderers B hit the road this Saturday for more league action as they travel to 6th placed Selsey in a 3pm kick off at the High Street Ground.
Talking Wanderers: Back This Friday with Marc White!
Episode 5 of the club’s official podcast, Talking Wanderers, will be available to stream and download this Friday Feb 10th with very special guest, Marc White! The Wanderers manager and chairman will be speaking to host’s James Lampard and Gary Pascoe about all things relating to the club on and off the field and answering supporter’s questions.
Talking Wanderers is available via Apple, Google, Spotify and the DWFC App, plus available for viewing over on the club’s official YouTube channel, @DWTV1999.
