Aldershot Town and Wealdstone have nothing left to play for when they go head to head on the final day of the National League season on Sunday.

The hosts have seen off the threat of relegation thanks to a decent finish to the campaign, whilst the visitors have comfortably avoided the drop thanks to an improved final few weeks themselves.

Match preview

Three wins, and just two defeats, in their last eight games have seen Aldershot confirm their survival in the National League in recent weeks.

This decent return includes a current four-game unbeaten streak, with Sunday's hosts looking to make that five when they welcome an opponent positioned just three places above them in the table heading into the final day.

Mark Molesley's side may only be able to climb one place on Sunday, but they will be out to send the Shots faithful home happy before the season concludes.

However, with just four of their 11 National League wins so far this season coming at the Recreation Ground, this task has proved much more difficult than it should up to this point.

Although, boasting an unbeaten record against Sunday's opponents in their three previous meetings, and with two of their four victories on home turf coming in their last three outings there, there still remain plenty of reasons for Aldershot to be confident when they welcome Wealdstone.

Meanwhile, the visitors have recorded a healthy return of points in the closing stages of the 2021-22 campaign themselves.

Three wins have been picked up in the last six games for the Stones, which sees them occupy 17th place heading into the final day, and a far more comfortable 16-point advantage being held over the relegation zone.

Stuart Maynard's side only avoided the drop by a six-point margin last season, largely due to their woeful defensive record of 99 goals conceded, but having dramatically reduced that tally to 64 ahead of game 44 this year, Wealdstone's stay in the National League has never been in too much doubt.

Josh Umerah and Ira Jackson Jr got the goals last time out, as Wealdstone came from behind to defeat already-relegated King's Lynn Town by a 2-1 scoreline at St Georges' Stadium.

Maynard will be hoping that the win, as well as their recent improvements, will be enough to secure a first-ever win over Aldershot when they visit the Recreation Ground on Sunday.

Team News

Aldershot will be looking for forward Mikael Ndjoli to get amongst the goals on Sunday, after the 23-year-old netted a late equaliser last time out for his third goal in his last four outings.

Fellow forward Tommy Willard has just one to his name in his last 16 appearances, but Molesley is likely to continue with him in the front three once again.

Full-back Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain remains unavailable following the injury that he picked up at Maidenhead United recently.

As for the visitors, Alex Dyer will miss out through suspension once again following his recent red card at Yeovil Town.

Jerome Okimo is an option to return to the three-man defence, which would free up Connor McAvoy to occupy a right wing-back role once more in the place of David Sesay.

Umerah has five goals in his last 10 games following his equaliser last time out, and the striker should partner Charles Clayden in a two-man attack once again.

Aldershot Town possible starting lineup:
Hall; Saunders, Foster, Phillips; Berkeley-Agyepong, Sylla, Harris, Kinsella; Ndjoli, Willard, Armstrong

Wealdstone possible starting lineup:
Wickens; Tavares, Okimo, Cook; McAvoy, Charles, Cooper, Henry, Mundle-Smith; Clayden, Umerah

We say: Aldershot Town 2-1 Wealdstone

Both of these sides head into their clash on the back of decent form of late, so an entertaining encounter should be expected at the Recreation Ground, with both looking to end their season on a high.

Aldershot's poor record on home soil could well cost them all three points, but having improved in front of their own supporters lately, we can see them edging out Wealdstone by a narrow margin.

Written by
Matthew Tranter

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