Aldershot knocked Fulham out of the Freight Rover Trophy after winning the world’s longest penalty shoot-out that featured 28 penalties.
Shots goalkeeper Tony Lange was the hero – making a series of superb stops in the ninety minutes – before he saved two spot-kicks from Gordon Davies, another from John Marshall and scored one himself. Skipper Ian McDonald converted the winning penalty as the home side recovered from being 3-1 down after Colin Fielder missed the target altogether and McDonald had seen his first effort saved by John Vaughan in the Fulham goal.
The Whites only had themselves to blame as they missed a hatful of first half chances to put themselves in a commanding position. Lange kept the Shots’ clean sheet intact with outstanding saves to thwart Gary Barnett, Chris Pike and Marshall – who really should have buried a close-range header. At other end, Andy King shot straight at Vaughan when it seemed simpler to score.
The Cottagers looked to have won the tie three minutes from time when Pike pounced on a poor backpass from Fielder to score his first goal for the club. But Bobby Barnes forced extra time in the fourth minute of injury time by slotting under a stranded Vaughan after reaching King’s clever through ball. Both sides tired in extra time – before Lange took centre stage in the shoot-out to steer the Shots into the last eight.
Aldershot first team coach Ian Gillard, who deputised for a flu-ravaged Len Walker in the home dugout, was not surprised to see his goalkeeper slot home a nerveless penalty after being beaten by his opposite number. Gillard told the press following the final whistle: “Tony is always confident when he takes penalties in training. In fact, he doesn’t like to be a classed as just a goalkeeper. He’s an all-round player”.
ALDERSHOT: Lange; Mazzon, Friar, Wignall, Smith, King, Burvill (Fielder 70), McDonald, Barnes, Ring, Foyle. Subs (not used): Blankley.
BOOKED: Fielder.
GOAL: Barnes (90+4).
FULHAM: Vaughan; Marshall, Hicks, Cottington, Oakes, Donnellan, Kerrins, Barnett, Elkins, Coney (Davies 75), Pike. Subs (not used): Harlow.
BOOKED: Oakes, Marshall, Hicks.
GOAL: Pike (87).
REFEREE: Keith Cooper (Stockport).
ATTENDANCE: 2,571.
