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Preview | Aldershot Town (h)

Barnet will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run to five games tomorrow night when they welcome Aldershot Town to The Hive London.

The Bees go into tomorrow’s game off the back of a goalless draw away at play-off chasers Salford City on Saturday.

Last Meeting:

Nothing could split the two sides in their last meeting back in August with the score ending 0-0 at The Recreation Ground.

Manager: Gary Waddock

Gary Waddock, who is taking charge of his third season as Aldershot manager since his return to the club in 2016, is no stranger to Barnet. The former Millwall and Luton Town midfielder was our First Team Coach in 2014-15 before leaving the Hive to return to the Shots.

The former Republic of Ireland international embarked on his managerial tenure back in 2006, taking charge at QPR, a club where he made over 200 appearances for as a player.

Waddock then made his first move to Aldershot a year later and very much made himself an instant hit. It was an impressive debut season to say the least for the 56-year-old after guiding his side to the Blue Square Premier title, setting a then-record total of 101 points and lifting the club back to the Football League. On top of that, Aldershot beat Rushden & Diamonds to win the Setanta Shield and also claimed a semi-final finish in the FA Trophy all in the same campaign. He was also named Conference manager of the season.

His time at Aldershot came to an end in October 2009 where he became manager of Wycombe Wanderers, leading the side to promotion back to League One in 2011. However, relegation followed the next season before Waddock’s spell at Adam’s Park concluded in September 2012.

After spending a year at MK Dons, he was appointed Head Coach at Oxford United before taking up the Assistant Manager’s job at Portsmouth which later saw him take charge in a caretaker capacity before returning to the Shots.

In his first season back at Aldershot, Waddock guided them to a play-off finish, but suffered semi-final heartbreak at the hands of Tranmere. It was de ja vu for him and his side last season, missing out on play-off glory yet again after a penalty shoot-out defeat to Ebbsfleet in the Qualifying round.

One to Watch: Scott Rendell

Forward Scott Rendell will be going into tomorrow’s game in high spirits having scored twice in his last three games, including a strike against Boreham Wood at the weekend.

The 32-year-old is currently the Shot’s top scorer this season, netting on seven occasions.

Rendell has also reached the heights of League One, featuring for Peterborough, Yeovil and Wycombe whilst becoming a proven goal scorer in England’s fifth tier.

Recent League Form:

Aldershot, who sit in the relegation zone in 22nd, have only won once in their last five league games.

A 2-0 defeat at home to Gateshead at the start of the month was quickly followed up by a 2-1 loss away at Barrow. Their winless run extended to three games when falling on the receiving end of the same score-line at home to Leyton Orient. They then suffered a 1-0 loss at home to Salford four days later but go into tomorrow’s game off the back of a win, beating Boreham Wood 2-0 at the weekend.

Last 5 league games: LLLLW

Connections:

Waddock won’t be the only name from the Aldershot camp facing his former club on Saturday. Shots goalkeeper Jake Cole joined the Bees in 2009 on loan from Queens Park Rangers before signing permanently ahead of the 2009-10 campaign. He made over 90 appearances for the Bees before leaving North London for Plymouth Argyle in 2011.

Forward Bernard Mensah spent a short spell with Barnet back in 2014 whilst on loan from Watford.

As for the Bees, Cheye Alexander joined us from Aldershot in the summer. The full-back spent three years with the Shots, helping them reach the play-offs on two occasions.

Callum Reynolds captained Aldershot during his two-year spell at the club. Signing from Boreham Wood, the defender made 90 appearances for the Hampshire side before arriving at the Hive this summer.

Andre Boucaud featured 13 times for the Shots after signing on loan from Peterborough United in 2005. His brief spell in Hampshire only lasted three months before he was recalled by his parent club.