The Shots were put to the sword by a clinical York City side that scored seven, helped by Ollie Pearce’s hat-trick, and finished the match with 10-men after a straight red card to Cameron Hargreaves.
Five changes were made from the side that lost to Boston United at the EBB Stadium on Tuesday night. Theo Widdrington, Josh Barrett, Ryan Jones, Aaron Jones and Jack Barham returning to the starting lineup.
York piled on the pressure early doors with a couple of corners and as Callum Howe rose highest in the centre and headed towards the far-post, Ollie Pearce was on hand to head in his 30th goal of the season and give his side the lead in just the third minute.
And six minutes later, York doubled their lead through Lewis Richardson. Ashley Nathaniel-George did well out on their left wing and find Richardson in the box who dummied inside and made enough space to give him time to pick out his finish and find the back of the net.
But just a couple of minutes later, the Shots were given hope of getting back in the game as Josh Barrett was tripped just inside the box and a penalty was given. Barrett himself stepped up but was denied by harrison Male who dove the right way. Male then got straight back up to make a superb double save denying Barrett once again on the rebound.
York, who still have hopes of automatic promotion and a Vanarama National League title and were certainly playing like it as Will Armitage needed to make a last-ditch block and deny what was most likely going to be a third goal just a minute after the penalty save.
The Minstermen did have their third in the 18th minute, though, as Lewis Richardson scored his second with another composed finish from around the penalty spot.
A devastating counter-attack saw the Shots get back into the game in the 22nd minute, however. Ryan Jones was found in space on the halfway line and he drove forward before playing the ball out to Jack Barham on his right who found the bottom corner with a brilliant, powerful finish.
Kwame Thomas was brought on for Tyler Frost in the 27th minute in a change that appeared to be tactical with a change of shape for the Shots which did appear to nullify York’s rampant start and bring the Shots more into the game.
Ryan Jones was gifted an opportunity in the 37th minute as a misplaced pass by a York defender fell straight to his feet on the edge of the box, but he blasted shot over the bar and despite claims for a deflection, a goal-kick was given by the Referee.
On the stroke of half-time, the Shots were given another penalty as Jack Barham was dragged down just inside the box by Joe Felix but despite being clean in on goal and with what was almost certainly a clear goalscoring opportunity, Felix was only shown a yellow card.
Harrison Male once again dove the right way and pulled off his second penalty save of the afternoon to deny Theo Widdrington on this occasion, but this time, Kwame Thomas was on hand to turn in the rebound and put the Shots right back in the game.
But that lasted just a minute as a high ball over the Aldershot defence caused confusion and Ollie Pearce was able to race in behind, control the ball and finish under Marcus Dewhurst and restore York’s two-goal advantage.
HALF-TIME
The Shots started the second-half well and launched some early pressure onto the York defence with a couple of early corners as Will Armitage’s header back across goal was dangerous but turned behind for another corner.
But in the 55th minute, Aldershot were reduced to 10-men with Cameron Hargreaves shown a straight red card as he appeared to take Marvin Armstrong out from behind with the ball heading out for a throw-in.
York put their numerical advantage to use with a fifth goal in the 70th minute. Josh Stones found the bottom-corner with an effort from the centre of the box.
And five minutes later, they had a sixth. Callum Howe ventured forward and found the back of the net with a fantastic strike from outside the area.
Ollie Pearce completed his hat-trick and scored York’s seventh of the afternoon in the 85th minute. Racing across the edge of the box, his low-effort beat Dewhurst.
Attendance: 5872 (341 Away)
Shots lineup: 28. Marcus Dewhurst, 6. Theo Widdrington (12. Keane Anderson, 61′), 7. Cameron Hargreaves, 8. Tyler Frost (39. Kwame Thomas, 27′), 10. Josh Barrett (27. James Henry, 61′), 11. Ryan Jones, 17. Aaron Jones (C), 22. Jack Barham, 33. Luca Woodhouse (37. Tariq Uwakwe, 76′), 35. Dan Ellison, 36. Will Armitage.
Subs not used: 1. Jordi van Stappershoef, 24. Maxwell Mullins.
York lineup: 1. Harrison Male, 5. Callum Howe (C), 7. Tyrese Sinclair (29. Junior Lutamba, 58′), 8. Alex Hunt, 10. Ollie Pearce, 11. Ashley Nathaniel-George, 15. Marvin Armstrong (24. Josh Stones, 58′), 17. Lewis Richardson (18. Dan Batty, 58′), 21. Cameron John (3. Adam Crookes, 58′), 23. Joe Felix, 28. Malachi Fagan-Walcott (14. Lenell John-Lewis, 77′).
Subs not used: 16. Rory Watson, 19. Billy Chadwick.
