With a number of key players unavailable, a makeshift Southampton side came close to ending Aldershot and Fleet's unbeaten start to the league campaign, but in the end they came agonisingly short on a frustrating afternoon.

Captain Jordan Dashwood moved to inside centre with Lachlan Fasher making his First Team debut in the pack. Steve Munter and Tom Humphrey lined up on the wings, with Second teamers Dave Ward and Kev Simmonds called up to help out for the day.

It was a tight start to the game, with the first twenty minutes largely fought out in the centre of the park, with neither side threatening the other's try line. Aldershot's backs' game was largely dominated by their big fly half's equally big boot and he sought to find gaps behind the Saints' back line, but each time full back Ward read the kick well and with one kick return was unlucky to be denied a 50-22 as the ball unluckily bounced back infield. Jordan Dashwood made a good break and bounced a number of defenders, before fending off the last with a fierce hand off. Some howls of complaint from the supporters on the A&F touchline, who were to become more vocal as the game went on...

Southampton were lucky to keep all their players on the field shortly after, when hooker Cam Coffin powered through to put in a big hit on an A&F back. The tackle was high, but the ref deemed the defender's change of position was sufficient mitigation to warrant no more than a penalty. Cue the A&F fly half's massive boot, and Southampton were back defending in their own 22.

Coffin was then instrumental in Saints' first try, when he gathered a ball dropped by the A&F winger and charged into the opposition half. He offloaded to Steve Munter, who then justified the decision to play him on the wing by running in to score from just short of halfway. The home supporters called for offside against Coffin, clearly forgetting you don't magically create an offside line by dropping the ball.

A penalty to Aldershot gave their flay half the chance to drill the ball into the corner and from the line out the forwards put pressure on the visitors. A number of crashes from the forwards were defended and Cam Coffin did very well to hold an attacker up over the line. Saints cleared their lines and their second try came through another mistake by the home side. Number 8 Tom Laycock pounced on another dropped ball and he also ran in from long range to score under the posts. Dashwood added the conversion and Saints led 0 - 12.

Things then started to unravel for Southampton as flanker Gus Nye was yellow carded (for either getting involved in an altercation with his opposite man or for making the ref eat a fish eye, we aren't quite sure) before Lachlan Fasher earned one himself five minutes later for a high tackle. With a two man advantage, Aldershot were keen to take advantage and they did finally cross the line through their forwards after a series of crashes from around the breakdown. The conversion made it 7 - 12 as the teams went into the halftime break.

Southampton saw out the first two minutes of the second half until Gus Nye could return, but Aldershot continued to press while they had a man advantage. They hit back through their fly half who finished off a move in the corner and although the A&F touch judge raised his flag, the TMO (the A&F fly half himself) insisted he had stayed infield and the try was awarded. He then added the conversion, Aldershot were ahead and the home support were getting even louder.

Back to full strength Southampton attempted to hit back but too often A&F were first to get hands on the ball at the breakdown. Saints conceded penalty after penalty and were in danger of losing the ref as they voiced their grievances. Every penalty, turnover and mistake from Saints was cheered wildly by the home support and it was Aldershot who grabbed the next try, giving them a 21-12 lead. A rare mistake from the boot of the fly half came by way of a missed penalty, before he was then sent to the sin bin after tripping a Saints attacker.

As the game entered the final ten minutes, Southampton continued to press for the points they needed. Steve Munter made another break from long range, before a last-ditch tackle knocked the ball forward before he could ground it. The Saints pack had their chances too, but on at least two occasions a knock on close to the line saw the opportunity go begging. They did hit back after some good interplay from the backs put Tommy Ashby into space on the left and he was too quick for the defence to cross for the try. The score was now 21-14, with time for one more play after the restart.

Saints knew they had to keep possession and keep the ball in play and, after going dangerously close to the left touchline, they brought it back infield and tried to sling it wide to the right. A knock on in midfield brought an end to their attack and sealed victory for Aldershot and Fleet.

It was a hard game for both sides, with the undefeated A&F players acknowledging this was the toughest they had been pushed so far this season. Saints will feel it was a game they could have won, but on the day Aldershot were quicker to the breakdown and turned over a lot of Saints ball which probably tipped the game in their favour. Losing two players to yellow cards didn't help Southampton much either.

Despite his yellow card Lachlan Fasher earned the man of the match pint, while Bean took Dick of the Day for his try-butchering knock-ons.