Aldershot 2-1 Rochdale

Aldershot made history at the expense of Rochdale as they ran out 2-1 winners in and end-to-end encounter at the EBB Stadium.

Rochdale manager Steve Eyre went into the game without two of his 'keepers after first choice stopper Jake Kean was cup-tied and number two David Lucas picked up an injury in training on Tuesday. It meant Matt Edwards was drafted in for his first senior start for Rochdale and he didn't let anyone down with his performance.

On loan Posh striker David Ball was another player absent due to his part in Peterborough's win over Stevenage and his place was taken up by Nicky Adams.

Rochdale started the game well and were unlucky not to have opened the scoring after Ashley Grimes found himself clear inside the box. Grimes prodded the ball goalward but Worner in the Aldershot goal made the first of a series of good saves from close range.

Debutant starter Matt Edwards was also kept on his toes early on and he was wide awake to make a save from an Alex Rodman centre. Edwards despite the number of flying boots watched the path of the ball and collected diving to his left.

The home side continued to cause problems for Eyre's side aiming to utilise the pace of McGlashan and Rodman out wide. It was the former who just five minutes in used that pace to get in behind the Dale defence, but his low drive into the box flew out of the other end evading the slide of Rankine.

It was entertaining fare for the supporters as both sides played at a high tempo which created errors, contained great passing and good chances in a first half that flew by.

Opportunities to break the deadlock kept coming but again the goalkeepers came out on top, in particular the Shots stopper. With 19 minutes played Rochdale went close after great work from Akpa Akpro on the right flank. His cross found Grimes and he sadly found Worner too good again.

Aldershot did create a chance for skipper Ben Herd three minutes later but he failed to test Edwards as he stabbed a left sided corner just wide of the target.

Andrew Tutte, just past the half hour mark brought the best out of Ross Worner again with a stinging shot from 20-yards out. The Aldershot 'keeper dived to his right to push the ball away and his defence did the rest by clearing the loose ball.

Just before the break Worner was again called into action making another superb save. Ashley Grimes got in behind the defence after beating the offside trap to lob the ball over Gary Jones but his volley from inside the box was pushed around the post by Mr. Unbeatable Worner.

Steve Eyre's side finished the half the stronger and deservedly they took the lead on the stroke off half time. Rochdale got their noses in front after Marcuus Holness showed great strength to hold off Hylton before finding Gary Jones. The Dale skipper slid the ball through to Grimes who nipped in between the last defender and 'keeper to slide the ball home.

The second half started well for the home side, very well in fact as they levelled the game through Rankine with just minutes on the clock. Dale gave a way a corner almost from the restart and it was Rankin who hooked the ball over his shoulder inside the box as Dale failed to clear the ball into the box.

Rochdale were rattled and their hosts could smell blood and with it went the hunt for more goals. Dean Holdsworth's side, playing down the slope mounted an assault on Dale's back line and despite some anxious defending, Aldershot couldn't find a way through.

The momentum shifted and it was the visitors a few minutes later that got the chance to take the lead once again after Balkestein played a glorious 40-yard pass over left back Brown.It put striker Jean Louis Akpa Akpro in but sadly the Frenchman could only find the side netting.

Chances came and chances went for both sides, Luke Gutteridge pinged in header from inside box that looped up and was saved by Edwards shortly before JoeWiddowson crossed on 66 minutes to find Nicky Adams but he opted to turn a good chance into a great chance by taking the ball around another defender when a first time shot looked the best option and lost possession after finding too many defenders in his way.

As the game wore on Ross Worner stayed alert and on 73 minutes the 'keeper was called into action once again making a save from Grimes. Jason Kennedy provided the chance after good work by the midfielder. Inside the area Kennedy touched the ball out to Grimes and the striker drove the ball low only to be denied once again by Worner who made a great save at his near post.

That save proved crucial as Aldershot mounted a sustained push forward which was rewarded with what turned out to be the winning goal. Hylton was the man who scored for the home side after finding himself free inside the box on the left as Rochdale again to deal effectively with a corner. Hylton, on the left of the box smashed the ball through a group of players fizzing past Edwards and sparking early celebrations for the Shots supporters.

The home side continued to press and only a double save from Edwards and a clearance off the line from Tutte kept Dale in with a shout of getting back in the Game. Sadly there was no big comeback, no big pressure towards the end despite changes in personnel. The game petered out and Aldershot took their historic place in the last 16.