Three changes were made from last Saturday’s 0 – 0 draw against Tonbridge Angels, with Jacob Jagger Cane, James Dodd & Emlyn Lewis all coming in for Jason Pope, Callum Wood and Waite.
The visitors were to take the lead midway inside the first half following some near misses in and around both penalty areas, Ryan Hill scampering down the left away from Michael Smith and squaring a pass to Kiban Rai who took a touch before hammering in past Max Harris for the game’s opening goal.
The Seagulls started to grow into the game, going close when Louis Britton held his man off inside the box from a Smith clip and firing narrowly wide of the target at the near post. Britton then had an attempt kept out at the second attempt by Marcus Dewhurst when the powerful No.9 rose to head a Pearson knock-down towards goal following good work on the opposite flank by Dan Martin and Luke Coulson, before former Seagull Ryan Jones drove wide down the opposite end.
Emlyn Lewis then saw a pull-back knocked off the line by Maxwell Mullins following Coulson’s deep free-kick, before Waite stung the palms of Dewhurst from 25 yards after replacing Jagger Cane on the half-hour mark.
Half-Time: Weston-super-Mare AFC 0 – 1 Aldershot Town
Kwame Thomas had two early attempts for the Shots inside the opening 10 second-half minutes, first firing over the bar from 12 yards before seeing a six-yard header scrambled off the line by Sam Avery. Shots substitute Archy Taylor then smashed a shot into the side-netting after bursting down the flank, before Tristan Abrahams curled a shot into the grateful arms of Harris.
The Seagulls were to level the tie up when Coulson whipped a free-kick into the area, Dewhurst got his fists to the ball in an attempt to punch clear but with the ball spinning up into the air, James Dodd was able to nod towards goal and Lewis stuck a foot to prod the ball over the line in front of the GSH Stand.
Jones headed over at the back post for the visitors, Britton then tested Dewhurst with a curling left-footed effort inside the area before makeshift substitute striker Jason Pope drove over the bar from 25 yards on the half-volley after Britton’s chest-down.
Full-Time after 90: Weston-super-Mare AFC 1 – 1 Aldershot Town
Jason Pope headed over the bar from Dan Martin’s cross in the only real first-half attempt during extra-time for either side.
Just four minutes into the second period of extra-time, the Seagulls were to send the supporters wild. Having lost the ball, Martin sprinted back 30 yards to win a 50-50 before substitute Dawes was able to win a sliding challenge against his breaking Aldershot counterparts. Waite took over the reins and drove forward into space, unleashing an excellent effort into the bottom corner for his second goal of the season.
With the clock winding down, the Seagulls kept the ball in the corner and defended resolutely to secure a historic win for the club.
We now turn our attentions to this Tuesday’s league game away to Hemel Hempstead Town in the Enterprise National League South.
Full – Time (AET): Weston-super-Mare AFC 2 – 1 Aldershot Town (Lewis 84, Waite 109; Rai 21)
Attendance: 2,557 (540 Aldershot)
Weston XI: Harris, Smith, Jagger Cane (Waite 30, Hicks 115), Avery (Wood 76), Coulson, Dodd, Britton, Pearson (Dawes 58), Lewis (C), Cummins (Pope 76), Martin.
Unused substitutes: Glover (GK), Johnson, King, Birch.
MOTM: Emlyn Lewis. A collasal display capped off with a goal, the skipper gave Kwame Thomas a torrid time up front for Aldershot and won everything that came in his direction.
