ALDERSHOT TN 1, BROMLEY 1

A SENDING-OFF spiked Aldershot Town’s guns just as they were threatening to turn a closely-fought game in their favour at the EBB Stadium.

Bromley, aiming to consolidate their place in the top five, certainly had the best of a cagey first half and seemed to have the momentum after swiftly cancelling out Charlie Walker’s fortuitious 38th-minute goal.

But Aldershot were the stronger side from the hour-mark onwards and a winner looked to be in the offing until Jake Gallagher’s red card left his side to play the last ten minutes and a hefty slice of added time with ten men.

Not surprisingly, Barry Smith sent on an extra centre-back to defend what was a valuable point against strong opposition. The improving Shots have now taken ten points from their last five games.

Bromley, who had scored eight goals in two games before losing at home to Cheltenham in midweek, began confidently, using the full width of the pristine pitch.

Aldershot had some defending to do and were glad to have club captain Sean McGinty making his first appearance of the season after a troublesome injury.

McGinty was a reassuring presence at left-back, but got himself booked in the mass skirmish that broke out after Gallagher’s dismissal.

Bromley’s passing game was easy on the eye; Aldershot countered with admirable defence, and neither goal was remotely troubled until the sides exchanged goals in the space of three minutes.

Aldershot’s strike was lucky in that Charlie Walker’s long-range shot took a wicked deflection off Jim Stevenson’s heel to completely wrong-foot Chris Kettings in the Bromley goal.

There was no luck about the equaliser on 41 minutes, except that Bromley were fortunate that Aldershot, after their earlier good work, went missing at the back as Ugo Udoji delivered a raking cross from the right and Jack Holland arrived undetected to score with a superb header into the far top corner.

Then it was back to a stalemate. There is a dim memory of a McGinty cross and a Richard Brodie header wide, but it was the arrival of Dan Walker on 57 minutes that galvanised Aldershot into more positive action.

Bromley almost regained the lead when Reece Prestedge’s cross was met by Moses Emmanuel, the league’s top scorer, whose delightful backheel volley forced Phil Smith to palm the ball onto the crossbar and over.

But substitute Walker, operating wide on the left, was making a real difference and Aldershot took their lead from him, while Bromley became slack and lost their bite in midfield, where previously they had been ruling the roost.

A frenetic goalmouth scramble was ended by an offside flag as Charlie Walker tried to bury his shot.

Now it was Aldershot doing the attacking and winning the 50-50 balls.

Brodie’s deft lay-off set up a great chance for Jim Stevenson in a central position, but the midfielder dragged his shot wide as the home fans sprang to their feet in anticipation of the winner.

Charlie Walker, aiming for the top corner, curled his shot just high from 20 yards as the visitors continued to creak under pressure.

But then came Gallagher’s lunging challenge on Louis Dennis and an immediate red card flourished by Adam Hopkins who chose to stand well out of the way during a prolonged bout of pushing and shoving before finally summoning McGinty for a caution.

Luke Oliver came on to bolster the defence in the final minutes, but, deep into injury time, Bromley could have snatched all three points.

Ali Fuseini’s chipped pass picked out the skilful Emmanuel. The former Woking player attempted to dink the ball past the onrushing Smith who made a vital block and Aldershot scrambled to clear their lines.

“Bromley are fifth for a reason – they’re a good team,” said Barry Smith. “We started slowly, but we scored a deflected goal and probably should have defended it until half-time. We came out on the front foot and created all the chances in the second half until we had the player sent off.

“Down to ten men, the boys did well. They had to dig in and it was a good point in the end.”

The Shots manager, who said he did not see the red-card incident, praised goalkeeper Phil Smith. “Credit to him, he made a great save at the death – but that’s what he’s there to do.”

Aldershot: Smith, Alexander, McGinty, Saville, Beckles, Stevenson, Richards (Hatton 64), Browne (D Walker 57), Gallagher, C Walker (Oliver 86), Brodie. Subs (not used): Thomas, Mavila. Booked: McGinty. Sent off: Gallagher.

Bromley: Kettings, Udoji, Anderson, Fuseini, Chorley, Francis, Prestedge (Minshull 64), Dennis, Cook, Holland, Emmanuel. Subs (not used): Rodgers, Kiernan, Goldberg, Tumwa. Booked: Prestedge, Chorley.

Referee: Adam Hopkins.

Attendance: 1,617 (158 away).