July 15: Aldershot 1 Albion 1

3:24pm Wednesday 26th July 2006

Manager Mark McGhee had plenty of food for thought following Albion's pre-season stalemate at Aldershot.

He was encouraged by an impressive first-half display, which saw plenty of goal scoring chances created.

But there was also some cause for concern, not least in how the Seagulls lost the way after the interval and ran out of steam.

It needed an equaliser by Colin Kazim-Richards five minutes from time to prevent defeat after the Conference side went ahead early in the second half through a Gary Hart own goal.

McGhee said: "The first half was only disappointing in the sense that we went in 0-0.

"We saw a lot of what we have been working on, there was good movement and plenty of energy but no goals.

"In the second half, they (Aldershot) changed shape which caused us problems. We got ragged and ran out of energy and it was not as well constructed.

"But it was a good exercise and we have seen plenty we have to work on."

McGhee gave a hint of what his starting line-up could be come the start of the season as Albion began the game almost at full strength.

Apart from the injured Guy Butters, the only recognised first teamers missing were Wayne Henderson, Joel Lynch and Jake Robinson.

However, the Seagulls barely had time to settle before McGhee was forced into his first change.

Hinshelwood was replaced by Tommy Elphick as a precaution after suffering a re-occurrence of a hamstring strain picked up in training.

Despite the early injury blow, the Albion supporters who had travelled up the A23 would have been pleased with what they saw from the first half.

Unlike against Worthing in last weeks pre-season opener, the Seagulls showed their superiority from the start and created enough openings to have killed the game by the break.

The lively Alex Revell, who partnered Kazim-Richards for the first time up front, went the closest with two opportunities around the half hour.

He was first denied by a last ditch tackle from defender Rhys Day, then keeper Nicky Bull made a low block from his angled shot.

Bull did well again soon after with a full length save from a rasping drive by Kazim-Richards.

Daniel Severino, the only trialist in the squad, was given his chance after the interval, replacing Alex Frutos on the left wing.

The 24-year-old Australian had a few neat touches but struggled to make a significant impact as Albion lost their rhythm in the second half.

That had a lot to do with Aldershot, who upped their tempo considerably after making five changes.

One of the players who made way was former Seagull David Lee, who missed most of last season with a broken leg.

The Shots went ahead within five minutes of the interval after right back Dean Smith's powerful low cross caused panic in the visiting box. The ball ricocheted off the hapless Hart as he tried to clear under pressure from striker John Grant.

A goalkeeping mistake by substitute by Louis Wells handed Albion their equaliser.

He dropped a deep cross from Revell and Kazim-Richards was on hand to side foot in from close range.

Michel Kuipers showed his opposite number how it should be done in the last minute with a stunning point blank block from Grant's header.

• Aldershot: Bull, Smith, Anderson, Day, Edwards, Molesley, Lee, Gayle, Scott, Hudson, Pritchard. Subs all used: Newman, Grant, Williams, Soars, Ridgeway, Salmon, Winfield, Milletti, Wells.
• Albion: Kuipers, Hart, Hinshelwood (Elphick 10), El-Abd, Mayo, Reid (Gatting 81), Carpenter, Hammond, Frutos (Severino 46), Kazim-Richards, Revell.
• Subs not used: Gatting, Martin, Molango, Fraser, Rents.

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