TheJonsterMonster

December 2027 In a world where Laurent Blanc is in charge of Finland, Eric ten Hag is in charge of Cyprus, and David Moyes is the Scotland manager, Monster had some confidence going into December. Norwich looked to be the biggest test, now up to second in the league, and there were also two games against Sunderland coming up. Steven Gerrard was still in charge of the Wearsiders, and Monster was looking forward to renewing the rivalry having knocked them out of the FA Cup on the Aldershot run to the FA Cup semi final in 2026. 04/12/2027 - SBC v Hull City (A) First up was a trip to Hull to take on a side Monster had knocked out of the FA Cup earlier on in the year with his Aldershot side. They had won the replay 3-2 thanks to a last minute goal that day, and Monster was hoping for something not quite as dramatic today. Brentford were quickest out the traps and had the lead inside two minutes when Master was played through by Murphy and tucked the ball home with a delicate chipped finish over Coleman. They were 2-0 to the good when Mbeumo scored in the 15th minute. Murphy swept the ball out to the left where the winger cut inside on his left foot and finished into the far corner. Brentford rarely threatened after that, and Hull City pulled a goal back before half time when Talbi sloppily tripped Diang in the box when there hadn't been much need to commit to the tackle. Manning fired the ball past Serin. The second half was a measured and controlled performance from Brentford but neither side added to their tally, the game finishing 2-1. No late fireworks this time. Murphy provided both assists and was awarded the player of the match award. 05/12/2027 - FA Cup draw The latest stage Monster had ever entered the FA Cup as the 3rd Round was drawn. At home. To Newcastle United. Not the easy draw Monster had hoped for, but a chance to knock out the side that had beaten him at Wembley in 2026. 07/12/2027 - SBC v Sunderland (H) Another chance to see if they could win comfortably at home against 15th-placed Sunderland. Monster had a few changes to make but it was still a decent side that took to the field. In the 6th minute, Lowe had Thiaguinho on toast down the Sunderland left and whipped in a cross that Barry headed towards goal, with Ekuban nipping in to score a cheeky flick. Brentford appealed for offside but there was nothing going. Ekuban had timed his run perfectly. Brentford weren't behind for long, Friedrich equalising from a Brooks free-kick in the 15th minute. 5 minutes later, Vonasek had the ball in the net from a Benitez through ball but the assistant had his flag raised. With the second half seconds old, Brentford grabbed the lead thanks to Master's finish. Ferguson's ball ran perfectly into the winger's path and he was able to tuck home right-footed to give Brentford the lead. In the 69th minute, the referee ruled out a perfectly legitimate goal. Brooks whipped in a free kick from the right wing and Ferguson applied the headed finish only for the assistant to raise his flag. Brentford eventually grabbed the goal their pressure deserved, De Marco applying a calm finish to bely his normally wasteful finishing, having been played through by Brooks. He took the ball wider than he would have liked but still managed to convert at the near post. It was a convincing performance without the goals to necessarily show for it. Brooks was the star man for the day with his two assists. 11/12/2027 - SBC v Reading (A) Reading began the day in 16th but had a good recent record against Brentford; Monster was hoping to put that right before the crunch Norwich game coming up in a week. Reading made it a combative match and took the lead in the 13th minute through their best player Placheta, wandering through looking suspiciously offside and somehow beating Serin at his near post at an impossible angle. Brentford dominated the ball, created the better chances, but never found a way past Southwood. Monster was livid, Murphy bearing the brunt of Monster's ire with a shocking performance, but in truth, nobody had played particularly well. It didn't affect their lead at the top, Norwich succumbing to a home defeat to Plymouth to keep the gap at 8 points. Monster warned the side he wouldn't stand for any more of this nonsense, though. 18/12/2027 - SBC v Norwich City (H) A chance to put the last week behind them and take an 11 point lead into Christmas. Monster chose the home style and sent the team out to look for early goals. Ferguson partnered Vonasek up front. It was a slow start to the game, with both sides cancelling each other out until a couple of minutes before half time when Ferguson fed Master and the right winger dinked the ball into the net to give Brentford the lead. Master scored after the break as well, Trevino with the cross, Ferguson miskicked, and Master slammed home from close range. Brentford kept up the pressure and scored again before the end to round off a comprehensive victory. Hughes found Master in the box and the winger's cross across the face of goal was tapped in at the back post by Aitchison. 3-0, a dominant performance, and Monster was delighted. 21/12/2027 - SBC v Peterborough United (A) Another game crammed in the Christmas period saw Brentford travel to Peterborough for a midweek game against a side hovering outside of the relegation zone. Peterborough took advantage of some clinical finishing on their part to score two goals in the first half. Poku scored from the edge of the area catching Serin by surprise with an effort he should have done better with, palming it over the line. Azeez then doubled the lead, running through to smash past Serin at his near post. Monster had to change something and he went for the more attacking option that he used at home, and swapping Vonasek with De Marco. Murphy's chipped pass then found Vonasek breaking into the box, and he squared it for Ferguson to tap in. Monster gave the players some sharp words in the interval and they equalised in the 51st minute with a well-worked goal. Serin sprayed the ball out to Hackett on the left and his pass went straight through to De Marco who rounded the keeper and slotted in. Monster went for the jugular, taking off Patino and Aitchison who hadn't played well. Having wasted numerous good chances, with everything seemingly aimed at Vickers in the Peterborough goal, Brentford eventually found a breakthrough towards the end with Hackett involved again. His cross found Ferguson at the near post and his ball across goal was spilled by Vickers for Murphy to slam home and snatch the 3 points with a minute to go. Monster wasn't especially pleased with the performance but they had managed to win from a losing position, having looked dead and buried at 2-0 down. 26/12/2027 - SBC v Coventry City (H) A home game on Boxing Day against the Championship's bottom side. Merry Christmas, right? For large parts of this game, Coventry looked to have frustrated the life out of Brentford. It took a lot of encouragement from Monster to eventually spark the players into life, Morgan Rogers grabbing his first goal of the season and first for Brentford in the 86th minute when De Marco laid the ball off to him in the box and the substitute winger curled a beauty right-footed into the top corner from just inside the area. Aitchison then curled home a beautiful free kick from the right side of the area in the final minute of the game to add some gloss to the scoreline. Brentford had completely dominated but Ferguson had been surprisingly wasteful in front of goal. Ajer was the player of the match after a dominating performance at the back and Monster hoped to be able to keep him in the transfer window. 28/12/2027 - SBC v Sunderland (A) A second game against Sunderland in a few weeks and Monster hoped to return down south with another 3 points. Guardiola had been on the phone with regards to Roganovic not playing enough so Monster decided to give the loanee a start in this one alongside Vonasek. Sunderland drew first blood in this game in the 6th minute, Lowe receiving a brilliant pass from Lemina and the left winger stroked past Serin from 8 yards. Friedrich grabbed an equaliser in the 24th minute from a Brooks corner, rising highest at the near post to head home. Lowe scored again in the 37th minute, cushioning a volley past Serin at the back post from a Sarmiento cross. Vonasek equalised within a minute, running on to a defence splitting pass from Brooks before dinking the keeper to continue his recent upsurge in form. 2-2 at half time. With the first attack of the second half, Lowe grabbed a hattrick. Sarmiento did the damage with a brilliant header that looped over everybody for Lowe to nod in from a yard out. Roganovic grabbed the equaliser 20 minutes later, Hutchison playing a fantastic ball through for him and he had the composure to take it around the keeper and slot in. Could they now find a winner? It came in the 89th minute. Patino's searching ball from his own half found the run of substitute Hutchison, who played in Roganovic who scored from outside the box to break Sunderland hearts and send Brentford home with the 3 points. A welcome reminder that Roganovic was being tracked by Premier League clubs, he showed his potential in this match. Another win, albeit a scrappy one. Monster was puzzling over why the side were giving goals away at the back suddenly. He couldn't complain about the late winners, though. It had extended their lead at the top to 15 points thanks to other sides slipping up. Sheffield Wednesday were now in second. December 2027 Review What a final game to have at the end of a manic year for Monster. He had started 2027 in charge in the National League, managed 7 games in the Premier League, and then spent the rest of the time in the Championship. For Brentford, they were miles clear at the top of the league after a decent recent run, and Monster wanted to make sure they didn't slip up on their way back to the Premier League. Monster picked up the manager of the month award too. Darryl Eales had completed a takeover in December and had altered a few bits in the club vision but it hadn't affected Monster's role at all. On having a look at his former clubs, Monster was delighted to see Aldershot had bounded up the league and were now at the summit of League 2. However, Hillingdon Borough were rooted to the bottom of their Tier 8 division, looking set to return to Tier 9 where Monster had taken them from originally.

November 2027 In a world where Phil Neville was relieved of his Watford managerial duties during October, Monster wanted to continue Brentford's charge back towards the Premier League. With games coming up against Blackburn Rovers, Watford, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Huddersfield Town, and Nottingham Forest, there was a mix of sides from all areas of the league to play. 02/11/2027 - SBC v Blackburn Rovers (H) First up was the game against Blackburn Rovers, 4th in the league. This was Brentford's game in hand but they produced such a disconnected performance against a 3-5-2 formation that they never quite got to grips with. Brentford were the better side looking at the stats but couldn't find the breakthrough. Blackburn scored on the counter, Reine-Adelaide smashing into the top corner from the edge of the area in the 26th minute. Monster couldn't find any serious issues with the performance, it had just been one of those days. It was frustrating that it had happened at home again. 06/11/2027 - SBC v Watford (H) Fortunately, the opportunity to bounce back came quickly, a few days later at home to 20th-placed Watford. Monster had made some tactical tweaks to see if it made any difference to how the side played. It didn't have any impact in the first half when Watford played them off the park. Monster promptly changed things back at half time but it was Watford who grabbed the lead, Gueye smashing home from inside the box after Mbeumo had given the ball away needlessly in midfield, playing an aimless ball forward that was nowhere near any strikers. Within a few seconds, Serin was picking the ball out of the net. Monster was furious with the side. They had been so poor, not putting any pressure on the goal at all. He demanded they played with more urgency, and something seemed to click, finally creating some chances and looking more threatening. It took a triple change to take off the lacklustre Murphy, Vonasek, and Mbeumo to spark the team into life. De Marco had come on wide on the left, and in the 86th minute flicked a first-time pass forward to Ferguson. A defender intercepted but couldn't get the ball to a teammate, allowing Ferguson to take a touch and smash past Pardo-Roques to the relief of three-quarters of the ground. Monster immediately wanted more. He wanted the winner. As the clock approached the 90th minute, Serin began a move with a short goal kick to Ajer. The ball was worked out to Master who flicked it infield to Roganovic. He laid it off to Master who played a ball looking for the run of Brooks. The Welsh midfielder ran through, kept his cool, and slotted home left-footed to then disappear under a mob of his teammates. Monster was delighted with the change in fortunes, and wondered if playing a higher tempo at home would make the difference in those games that had proved tricky recently. Something to work on over the next few weeks, which included a friendly during the international break against former side Hillingdon Borough. 20/11/2027 - SBC v Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) One of the toughest fixtures of the season, away at the odds-on favourites to return straight to the Premier League. Wolves hadn't started brilliantly, but had recovered to start the day in 5th. Monster had experimented against Hillingdon Borough by dropping the 3 attacking midfielders into midfield and hadn't seen any adverse effects on their performance going forwards in a comprehensive 8-0 win. Wolves hadn't lost since a home defeat to Burnley in September, so were one of the in-form teams in the division. They also had Brentford's former keeper, Mark Travers, between the sticks for them. Monster would have been more than happy to keep Travers but after he had kicked up a fuss and demanded to leave (to a side in the same division?), Monster couldn't wait to see what his new-look side would do to the former goalkeeper and show him what he was missing. Wolves also had some of the best players in the division at their disposal; Daniel Ballard was second only to Kristoffer Ajer, and they also had players like Luke Shaw and Rodrygo in their ranks. Monster wasn't taking anything for granted. In the 11th minute, Wolves countered from a corner resulting in Anderson nodding narrowly over at the other end. From the resulting goal kick, Brentford built from the back to allow Mbeumo to wriggle through but his shot drifted wide of the far post. Wolves continued to pour forward but were caught on the break when Shaw's cross was cleared by Sorensen, and Murphy and Ferguson broke forward. Ferguson played the ball back to Mbeumo, arriving late, and he curled into the top corner left-footed from just inside the area; a wonderful strike to silence the crowd. In the 19th minute, Barrentxea broke free on the right and played a simple ball across the face of goal which Bretones could only turn against the post from close-range. A huge let-off. In the 32nd minute, Bretones broke through after another breakdown from a corner, but he could only chip the ball straight into the hands of Serin. Brentford were hanging on. Brentford created a decent chance a few moments later, Ajer bringing a Wolves attack to a shuddering stop with an excellent tackle on the halfway line, and springing an attack which saw Ferguson shoot narrowly wide. After an end-to-end half, Brentford's possession-based game kept the game quiet until the hour mark. Ferguson had lost the ball in the left channel but the clearance went straight to Ajer who found Murphy. His through ball found Ferguson, and the striker added to his tally for the season with a delightful dink over Travers which bobbled into the corner. In the 70th minute, a throw in from the right made its way into the box via Master and Sorensen, finding Talbi, who smashed into the top corner from 12 yards. A minute later, Ferguson made it 4-0. Master broke down the right and his low cross to the Irish forward put it on a plate for him and he couldn't miss from 10 yards. In the first minute of stoppage time, Brentford made it 5-0 with Master the creator again, a perfect pass from the right wing played Vonasek through and the Czech youngster kept his composure to finish low into the corner to cap a miserable afternoon for the home side. An outstanding performance from everybody. Monster was delighted. 23/11/2027 - SBC v Huddersfield Town (A) A midweek trip up to Yorkshire saw Brentford take on Huddersfield, down in 22nd place. After the heroics at Molineux, Monster set the team up in the exact same way and sat in the dugout to watch Brentford dominate. No goals in the first half but plenty of chances. De Marco, playing on the right wing in this game, scored the opener shortly after half time when Vonasek tapped the ball to him on the edge of the box, and the Italian smashed into the roof of the net for his 5th league goal of the season. Huddersfield were always in the game, though, at 1-0 down but Vonasek put the game beyond reach with a well-taken second a few minutes before the end. Benitez on the left played him through, and the Czech striker took it round Smith and finished calmly left-footed. A routine 2-0 win for the away side and they extended their lead at the top to 7 points. Will Hughes was the player of the match with a tidy game spraying the ball around in midfield. 27/11/2027 - SBC v Nottingham Forest (H) The final test of Monster's tactical plan came at home to Nottingham Forest, a mid-table side in poor form without a win in their last five games. Monster went out with an attacking mentality and to play at a higher tempo, in contrast to the balanced controlled possession approach now adopted in away games. Brentford took the lead in the 14th minute with a well-worked goal. They probed the Forest backline with various attempts. One clearance then fell for Trevino who played it inside to Murphy who played through Ferguson to slot home with a precise finish. Brentford's lead didn't last long, though. Forest equalised in the 21st minute with a simple goal that began with a throw-in from the left. They worked it across the field and Mowatt found Antonio with a yard of space, the right winger lashing home left-footed from inside the box. The two sides went in level at the break. Forest had kept them quiet so far. Monster gave the team a telling off. They seemed to be playing within themselves. Mbeumo and Master were hooked on the hour mark, Vonasek moving out to the right. Within a couple of minutes, Ajer played the perfect ball through for Vonasek to latch on to it and poke the ball under Trott to give Brentford the lead again. Brentford kept Forest at arms' length, despite the visitors creating a few opportunities. Thankfully, Brentford extended their lead in the 82nd minute with a sensational piece of play between Vonasek and Ferguson. Ajer retrieved the ball from a corner and knocked it out to the left for Ferguson. His ball across the box found an unmarked Vonasek who was running back infield from having taken the corner. Controlling it on his left foot and then curling it back over to Ferguson with his right, the Irish striker scored with a gorgeous cushioned volley, beating Trott's despairing dive at the near post. Forest scored a complete potshot at the death, Gibbs curling home from outside the box, having sneaked on to the pitch after receiving some physio treatment leaving him unattended. Monster was slightly cheesed off, but it was a great strike that Serin couldn't have done any better with. A 3-2 win was satisfactory, but it hadn't been the dominant performance he had originally expected. More work for Monster to do with the players. Ferguson picked up another player of the match award with his brace. November 2027 Review A frustrating defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers had started the month but since then, Brentford had continued to impress; the win at Molineux was the most memorable following Monster's tactics review. Ferguson was the player of the month with 5 goals in 5 games, while Vonasek, Master and Talbi were the top 3 in the young player of the month award. Monster was third in the manager of the month. Ferguson was clear at the top of the goalscoring charts with 17 goals while Ajer, Ferguson, and Friedrich were top of the average ratings.

October 2027 In a world where Rafa Benitez is the Wales manager, Monster was hoping to continue his side's good form into October. With Millwall and Cardiff challenging at the top to play this month, it would prove to be another defining set of fixtures. 02/10/2027 - SBC v Peterborough United (H) First up was the match against 20th-placed Peterborough. Monster made 4 changes and hoped for another dominant performance. It didn't quite work out that way. Peterborough didn't lie down and let Brentford walk all over them and in fact were the better side until Roganovic opened the scoring with his first league goal for the club. In for De Marco, the on-loan Liverpool striker confidently finished from Rogers's through ball. Peterborough continued to press but proceeded to waste a load of opportunities. Monster dropped one of the strikers back in as another shadow striker to see if it would help out the midfield and was rewarded when Master's shot came back off the post and Ferguson was clattered trying to put home the rebound. Ajer took the penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way and giving Brentford a 2-0 lead. Peterborough continued to play and pulled one back in the 77th minute when Gallagher smashed home after a patient move from the visitors. Brentford did have a couple of opportunities on the break but hit the woodwork on numerous occasions. Monster warned the side afterwards against being too complacent. They had created lots but lacked a clinical finish. It gave Monster some thoughts about his tactics and he went back to the drawing board to see what tweaks he could make, frustrated with the performance. 16/10/2027 - SBC v Cardiff City (H) After the international break when they took on Greenwich and demolished them 12-1, Brentford returned to league action against 7th-placed Cardiff City. Being odds-on favourites, Monster tried an attacking mentality in this game to see if it broke some of the shackles off at home. He also moved his deep-lying playmaker into central midfield. It seemed to work initially with a goal in the second minute, Ferguson finishing off a perfect ball through by Aitchison, beating Griffiths at his near post. They doubled the lead in the 34th minute when Talbi's cross from the right looped over the defence, caught the keeper by surprise, and allowed Ferguson to tap into an empty net. Cardiff improved after the break with a ball over the top to Colwill, who brought the ball down, and tucked the ball past Serin. They kept pressing and found another goal to draw it level in the 73rd minute. Another ball over the top went to Martinez, who kept his cool and finished from the edge of the area. Monster wasn't impressed, and demanded more from his players. In the 82nd minute, Hughes whipped in a corner from the right, Friedrich flicked it on, and Ferguson sealed his hattrick with an astute header at the back post. The gloss was added with another goal in injury time, Talbi breaking down the right and squaring the ball for De Marco to sweep home for his first goal since the defeat to Portsmouth in August. If an attacking mentality meant the strikers started scoring goals, Monster wasn't going to complain. Ferguson's hattrick saw him named as the player of the match. Brentford also stretched their unbeaten run to 10 games. 19/10/2027 - SBC v Millwall (A) 2nd v 1st at The Den. Monster was without Hughes and Ajer due to being tired, Friedrich and Patino coming in to replace them. In the 6th minute, Brentford tore Millwall apart through the middle, De Marco knocking the ball around the corner for Master to tuck home. However, Millwall levelled it up before half time when Wallace nodded home at the back post from Bennett's cross. Brentford had the better of the second half but couldn't find a way through the stubborn Millwall defence. Monster wasn't disappointed with a draw at the team closest to them. He also made a point of saying hello to Paul Spencer on the Millwall bench, now back at the Championship side after his loan at Aldershot. 23/10/2027 - SBC v Stoke City (A) Away to the side in 6th was the next game up for the Saturday evening kick off. Monster named a strong side, even with the 4th Round tie against Manchester City coming up on Tuesday night. In the 10th minute, Mbeumo cut back inside on the right flank, whipping a left-footed cross to the back post where Ferguson nodded past the keeper to give Brentford the lead. In the 26th minute, Mbeumo was tripped as he broke into the box and stepped up to smash home the penalty. Flooding the box before half time, De Marco and Mbeumo combined to let the right-winger have a shot which the keeper could only parry into the path of Ferguson who slammed home. 3-0 up away against a side battling for the playoffs - Monster was pleased with their performance at half time, having threatened this on several occasions in recent matches. In the 69th minute, Ferguson grabbed his second hattrick in three games with a thunderous finish with the outside of his right foot from Rogers's cross. Stoke pulled one back when Meshino tapped home at the back post from a Kesler Hayden cross in the 71st minute and it set up a goal frenzy in the last 20 minutes. In the 81st minute, Ajer nodded home from Vonasek's corner from the left. Talbi then played a great ball over the top for Roganovic to score a beautiful dinked finish over Cooper and make it 6-1. Stoke then scored on the break with Huggins running through to grab a second. Friedrich then added a 7th goal at the death with another header from a corner, Hutchinson with the cross from the right this time. An emphatic performance from the league leaders, and finally the sort of scoreline Monster was after. 27/10/2027 - EFL Cup 4th Round v Manchester City (H) Having beaten Manchester City in April, Monster knew there was a chance of knocking them out here. Would his young side rise to the occasion? It didn't look like it after a few minutes, Kimmich scoring a howitzer from outside the area, having not been closed down at a corner. An opportunity to make the clearance had been missed by Hackett too, so it had to go down as a mistake. There then proceeded to be a series of offside goals at both ends but the assistant had it right on three occasions. Monster tweaked a few things, trying to ensure his side knew what they should be doing defensively. However, Manchester City managed to squeeze in a second before half time, Sorensen missing the chance to make an interception and a slide tackle from Hackett falling kindly for Poku to stab home. However, Brentford did manage to keep the ball, and were on top in the possession stats. Monster told them to keep believing in the second half and they managed to grab a goal back when Roganovic brought down Ferguson's ball over the top and took his chance with a clipped finish over Ederson. The game petered out to a 2-1 defeat in a fairly even game. City had made the better start before Monster had managed to shore them up defensively and that had ultimately cost them, as well as two defensive errors. Monster said in the tunnel afterwards that he hoped to aspire to be at Manchester City's level in the future. They still had a strikeforce that would be the envy of any side in the world. Brentford had run them fairly close. It meant they could concentrate on the league until the FA Cup kicked in. 30/10/2027 - SBC v Plymouth Argyle (H) From playing the Premier League champions to the side bottom of the Championship. With Blackburn Rovers coming up in midweek, Monster saw the opportunity to rest anybody not looking fit enough to play again a few days later. Brentford started well as always but didn't create anything clear cut until the 33rd minute when De Marco missed a typical sitter, shooting straight at the keeper when he should have done better. To the surprise of most of the stadium, Plymouth took the lead in the 39th minute. Slicing the Brentford defence open, Nvomo's cross was converted at close range by McKiernan under little pressure. Mbeumo came close to equalising before half time, curling an effort wide from the edge of the area. After a rollicking at half time, Brentford came out with much more purpose, Thiaguinho going close with an effort just over the bar within the first couple of minutes. However, they eventually broke through when Aitchison unlocked the defence for De Marco to prove he can score one-on-ones in the 51st minute, using his pace to run through and tuck the ball into the bottom-right corner of the net. 5 minutes later, Brentford snatched the lead when De Marco was released down the right flank, he played the ball back to Hughes, who fed Brooks, who squared it to Roganovic to slam home from near the penalty spot. In the 67th minute it was 3-1. Master's low cross from the right was spilled by Ashby-Hammond and Mbeumo had time and space to turn and stroke the ball home left-footed. The game settled down until stoppage time when Galloway sent Master tumbling inside the area and De Marco converted the spot kick into the top left corner. His goal drought seemed well and truly over. Monster was pleased with how it had turned out, Kian Master the player of the match after an assist and making a nuisance of himself all afternoon. October 2027 Review Another decent month at Brentford. Going well in the league with 4 wins and a draw to leave them 4 points clear with a game in hand over Millwall. The cup exit to Manchester City was entirely expected but had been a close game. De Marco came third in the young player of the month award, while Monster came second in the manager of the month contest. Ferguson was still top scorer in the league while Ajer had the best average rating.

September 2027 In a world where Pepe Mel (one-time West Brom and Real Betis manager) is in charge of Northern Ireland, Monster hoped to carry on his side's good form in September. With an international break, Monster arranged a friendly against Woodstock to kick off the month. There were also upcoming games against Preston North End and Derby County who had started the season in good form, as well as fellow relegated side Burnley. The EFL Cup had drawn them away to League 1 Northampton, so Monster hoped to make it through to the next round and meet the board's expectations. 11/09/2027 - SBC v Middlesbrough (A) Struggling near the bottom, Middlesbrough hoped to not be on the end of a similar thrashing to that handed out to Woodstock. Monster continued with Ferguson and De Marco as his preferred front line, Rogers continued on the left after a decent performance last time out, and Master continued on the right. In the 20th minute, a break down the left saw Rogers turn and clip a ball to the back post where Master was on hand to convert on the volley. In the 28th minute, Ferguson continued his scoring run with a tidy finish. Monsterball was in action here, Ferguson coming deep to lay the ball off to Murphy, who flicked it through to Trevino, and the left back played the ball through for Ferguson to run on and toe poke home from inside the area. At half time, Monster asked for more. Middlesbrough were still in the game. In the 53rd minute, a long ball out to the right where De Marco flicked the ball down for Murphy who poked it through for Master to pass the ball into the net. 4 minutes later, Ferguson grabbed his brace, De Marco with the through ball and Ferguson running through to the left side of the area and creating the angle to convert past Ward. Middlesbrough couldn't find a way through despite creating numerous chances and the game ended 4-0 to the visitors. Monster had clearly found a formula that worked away from home. Could he find something similar at home? 14/09/2027 - SBC v Derby County (H) An unbeaten start to the season had seen Derby County in the upper echelons of the fledgling table and Monster was keen to show his side were settling into life back at this level. Now playing with inside forwards out wide rather than wingers, David Brooks started on the right with Master too tired to make the squad. Elsewhere, Ajer had to start at right back with Thiaguinho suffering. Cresswell came in alongside Sorensen. Aitchison was in for Trevino too. Monster challenged the side to show what they were all about. After having the best of the early chances, Brooks gave Brentford the lead in the 32nd minute, Ajer splitting the defence and the experienced Welsh international coming off the right to curl home from the edge of the area. He was instrumental in the second goal, which came after a half time team talk with Monster letting them know how unimpressed he had been with their display. Brooks broke down the right and cut back on to his left foot to swing in a cross. De Marco knocked it down and Murphy was on hand to slam home from near the penalty spot. Shortly after the hour mark it was all over when Ferguson stole the ball off Pollock's toe midway inside the Derby half, knocked it to De Marco, who spread it wide to Mbeumo. The winger sprinted to the byline, drilled the ball in low, and Ferguson swept home at the near post for his 6th league goal of the season. Derby did respond and have their best spell of the game towards the end, but couldn't find their way past Serin. Monster was delighted with the performance and the clean sheet. Everyone had played well in that match, and he'd been able to give some youngsters a chance off the bench too. 18/09/2027 - SBC v Preston North End (A) Another side in decent form, Brentford made the trip to the North-West to see if they could keep their winning run going. Now Monster was starting to settle on his first-choice side, and understand the capabilities of his players, he had dropped the tempo and kept the team mentality to balanced. It worked a treat in this game as they made the perfect start. The first attack of the game came down Brentford's left, Rogers breaking into the box and finding Ferguson who played the ball across the face of goal for Murphy to slide in and convert in the 2nd minute. Thiaguinho extended the lead after 20 minutes, rampaging forward as he has licence to do, firing home from inside the area after De Marco played him through. Preston got themselves on the scoresheet in the 26th minute, young starlet Walters escaping Sorensen's attention to run on to White's through ball and finish confidently past Serin. The second half was mostly a stalemate until Fenton Heard went through the back of Patino as he was running away from goal and the referee didn't hesitate to produce a straight red card. Murphy eventually settled the game with a glorious goal and an early goal of the season contender when Roganovic played him a simple pass to find him on the edge of the D, and the shadow striker signed from Charlton in the summer produced an exocet of a shot into the top corner, thundering in off the underside of the crossbar. Another professional win with some excellent performances, and Monster was excited to see what his new-look Brentford side could go on to achieve from here, now that the team cohesion was starting to click. 22/09/2027 - EFL Cup 3rd Round v Northampton Town (A) Another chance to rotate with a key match against Burnley coming up at the weekend. A few of the reserves made starts; Mainoo and Boucaud-Lina came in as well as Friedrich making his first start since the 6-3 win against Tottenham in April. Northampton were 11th in League 1 and took the lead after 18 minutes when Johnson took advantage of Hackett's inability to cut out a low cross from the right to tap in from a couple of yards out. Brentford grabbed the equaliser in the 33rd minute when Mainoo intercepted the ball in midfield, laid it off to Hackett for the left back to play in a gorgeous pass to Vonasek to take it into the box and finish with the outside of his right foot into the far corner. 5 minutes later, Mainoo swung in a cross from the left channel to find Boucaud-Lina unmarked at the back post, and the towering right back powered a header into the net to give Brentford the lead. Brentford continued to have the better of the game but found themselves level in the 70th minute when Iroegbunam's run into the box couldn't be stopped and his square pass for Boylan was slammed home from close range. With extra time looming, Monster thought the game would be heading for penalties, and the game was decided that way when Cresswell was pushed over in the box contesting a corner in the final minute. Hackett stepped up to smash his penalty into the top of the net to restore Brentford's lead. Benitez added some gloss to the score when he added a fourth in stoppage time. He played a neat one-two with Hackett and then completed his run into the box and finished into the far corner. It took a while but Monster was pleased with the dominance of the back-up players. Hackett was the player of the match with a goal and two assists but everyone had done well. Now to see if they could follow it up with a tricky trip to Turf Moor. The draw for the 4th Round took place after the match and Monster watched in disbelief as Brentford were drawn at home to Manchester City, the holders of the competition. They had beaten them before. Could they do it again? 25/09/2027 - SBC v Burnley (A) A fellow-relegated side up next. Burnley were unbeaten in the league but had only picked up two victories to justify their place in mid-table. Monster went back to his preferred side, although Mbeumo started on the right instead of Master. It was all Brentford at the start of the game but Burnley picked them off on the break, Alvarado breaking down the left to smash in a cross that Serin could only palm out into the middle of the area. Doan was on hand to turn the ball home from a few yards out. Monster wasn't happy at half time and let the players know it. De Marco in particular had wasted several good opportunities. In the 57th minute, De Marco was played through again but rather than head for goal headed towards the corner flag where he was hacked down inside the area. Mbeumo slotted the penalty home low to the keeper's right and Brentford had a foothold in the game. Mbeumo then took the game by the scruff of the neck. Murphy played through a pinpoint ball for the right winger, and he managed to bend it past Pope from an acute angle into the far corner to give Brentford a deserved lead. They managed to see the game out, even with Monster hauling off Rogers and Ferguson who had been poor, inflicting Burnley's first league defeat of the season. Mbeumo was the star of the show - a player Monster hadn't always been convinced by - but he seemed to be forging a spot in the team for himself. September 2027 Review A perfect month. Brentford were seemingly set to challenge to bounce back up to the Premier League. With so much money in the bank, Monster had requested training facilities to be upgraded so they could make the most of it, which the board agreed to. They also agreed to looking for another affiliate club as well as sending Monster on another coaching course. In terms of awards, Monster picked up the manager of the month, Murphy came second in the player of the month with 3 goals, and 2 assists, while Thiaguinho was third in the young player of the month after some impressive performances and a goal too.

August 2027 In a world where Steve McClaren is the current manager of the Czech Republic national team, having previously managed Costa Rica, Monster was hoping to get off to a good start in his first season in the Championship after his first ever managerial relegation. He knew his transfers had been slightly hotchpotch, trying to bring in quantity as well as quality, but he hoped he had a base he could build from now to bounce straight back up again. 07/08/2027 - Sky Bet Championship (SBC) v West Bromwich Albion (A) A tricky start away at a side predicted to be mid-table, Monster picked his team. Five names remained from the match against Chelsea; Mbeumo, Hughes, Ajer, Sorensen, and Brooks. The rest were all new. Serin was the new goalkeeper, a Belgian U21 international, whom had impressed Monster when the scout report came through. Brentford started on the front foot and had the early lead when Talbi curled in from the edge of the area in the 13th minute, a sumptuous finish from the new right back. They continued to dominate, without creating many clear-cut chances, but did find a second goal near the end when Evan Ferguson scored with a first-time finish. Rogers's through ball was intercepted by Kipre, but only ran into the path of the new Irish striker, who slammed into the bottom corner. A comfortable 2-0 victory with the defence playing well, and a clean sheet to show for it. 14/08/2027 - SBC v Portsmouth (H) After an impressive victory last time out, Monster wanted more of the same against a Portsmouth side who had lost their first two games of the season. He made a few changes; Murphy, Cresswell, and Roganovic making their debuts for the club. It was Portsmouth who took the lead in this game, Carreno nodding home at the back post following the breakdown from a corner. The ball went back out wide to the corner taker, Williams, who had the time and space to whip in a cross which the forward couldn't miss. Within 5 minutes, Brentford were level. Masters did well breaking into the box on the right, his shot palmed out by Bass into the path of Roganovic who played a simple square ball to De Marco to turn in for his first goal in 20 hours of football. Brentford continued to take the game to Portsmouth, stung by that early goal, but it was Portsmouth who were on the end of a fortunate refereeing decision when Hughes cleanly won the ball with a thunderous sliding challenge on Greenwood. However, the referee disagreed, and Greenwood miraculously picked himself up after such a heavy challenge on him (apparently) to stroke the ball past Serin. Brentford laid siege to the Portsmouth goal, Monster unimpressed with the wasteful shooting from the side. Chance after chance to equalise was wasted and he made a triple substitution to try and change the fortunes of the side. The equaliser came when Murphy played through Ferguson, and the striker hammered home from inside the area to grab a well-deserved leveller. Could they find a winner? As it turned out, Portsmouth, who had offered little in the second half, grabbed the eventual winner in the 80th minute, Greenwood wriggling free on the edge of the box to squeeze a shot through a crowd of players and in at the far post. De Marco had a chance to level up once again before the end but his shot came back off the post. Monster could only watch on in disbelief. His unbeaten league record had disappeared in smoke in a game that Brentford had dominated. It was a chastening blow and the dressing room was sombre afterwards. Monster knew that slip ups like this must only be a rarity. On another day, the outcome could have been very different. It did mean that his only win at home as Brentford manager had come against Manchester City with two draws and a defeat since then. It was a curse he wanted to lift as soon as possible. 21/08/2027 - SBC v Sheffield Wednesday (A) After a frustrating defeat, Monster wanted to bounce back with a win. The opposition were bottom after losing both league games and Monster wanted to add to their misery. It took a while to get going in a quiet first half and the second half wasn't much better. Monster could see them trying but they couldn't force a breakthrough until the 68th minute. It started with some nice build-up play from the back, Sorensen knocking it out wide to Rogers. A flick inside found Brooks, who knocked it forward to the head of Trevino who flicked it through for Ferguson to smash home his 3rd league goal of the season with his left foot. It seemed to break the shackles and with their next attack, Master produced a fantastic ball through for Brooks's late run, and the shadow striker kept his composure to finish low into the left corner of the net. Monster made a late triple sub, and Ryan Murphy stabbed home from the edge of the area in the 88th minute from Trevino's through ball to grab his first for Brentford. Sheffield Wednesday grabbed a goal before the end, Green producing a tidy finish to beat Serin's dive but it didn't change the destiny of the 3 points. Rogers on the left wing bore Monster's ire afterwards following an ineffective performance. 25/08/2027 - EFL Cup v Watford (A) An opportunity to experiment for Monster in his first appearance in the competition. He wanted to let some of the fringe players have an opportunity to impress. A trip to local rivals Watford with Phil Neville's men not having had a great start to the league, picking up one point so far, meant Monster had no qualms about making 9 changes, Master and Serin the only survivors. In a competitive opening, Brentford grabbed the breakthrough with a lovely move through the middle. Murphy played the through ball for Master's run and the on-loan Liverpool winger found the bottom corner. 5 minutes later, Roganovic opened his account for Brentford too, tucking home from the right side of the box after Master's through ball picked him out perfectly. Monster encouraged the side to keep going at half time. In the 49th minute Thiaguinho and Benitez combined for the Spanish left winger to score on his debut. Thiaguinho boomed over a deep cross from wide on the right and Benitez headed it home at the back post. Two minutes later, Murphy's shot was blocked on the edge of the box, looping up for Benitez to bring it under control and knock it through for Vonasek who hooked in on the volley, a delicate finish that clipped the far post on its way in. They saw the game out with Watford barely creating anything, and Monster was delighted with the youngsters, all of the starting eleven having been purchased in the summer. Now to see if they could win as comprehensively at home. 28/08/2027 - SBC v Barnsley (H) Could Monster finally pick up a second home win since he joined in March? Barnsley were a side predicted to be mid-table in the league but hadn't started particularly well, beginning the day in 19th. Monster restored the first choice side and Sorensen scored from a corner after 3 minutes. Ajer's header from Rogers's corner was saved but fell to Sorensen to loop it over the keeper from close range. Rogers had a hand in the second goal, playing a perfect through ball for Mbeumo to run on to and slot home from inside the area. Barnsley grabbed a goal back when Trevino lost his man and Cornick had a clean run through to tuck home past Serin. It had been a goal out of nothing, and Monster had plenty to ponder. However, Trevino made amends a few minutes later with calm finish presented to him from more excellent work by Rogers. Monster had been critical of the former Manchester City man, but he had shown up so far in this match. De Marco then played Ferguson through for the Irish forward to finish with a typically powerful effort but the referee called him back for offside. Monster wanted more of the same at the break. Ajer nodded in an Mbeumo corner to make it 4-1 after 49 minutes. With a comfortable lead, Monster rotated the pack, making a triple substitution on the hour mark to blood some youngsters. However, a few minutes later, Talbi was taken off injured and Brentford had to finish the game with 10 men. Barnsley seized the initiative, and with Will Hughes deputising at right back, managed to escape down his side allowing Poveda to tap home at the back post. They played the rest of the game in calm fashion, and importantly saw the game out in front of their home fans. Sorensen picked up the player of the match award, but a tactical tweak to see the side crossing less and the wide men playing as inside forwards, seemed to help in this match. 31/08/2027 - Transfer Deadline Day The first deadline day Monster had experienced saw him sweating over a few of the experienced players. Sorensen, Brooks, Mbeumo, Ajer, and Hughes had all expressed dissatisfaction at the point of being relegated but were still here. Ajer and Mbeumo would generate nearly £120m in sale fees if Monster was going to let them go. He was happy with deals he had done but he was still on the look out for any bargains that might crop up, particularly if they had Premier League or top division experience. There was one pathetically low bid from Bayer Leverkusen for Friedrich, on his way back from injury, but Monster was also able to agree an obscenely high asking price for him too. Ali McCann left on loan with a mandatory fee but Monster didn't have him in the squad anyway. There was no other business and the transfer window slammed shut until January. Monster's rigorous scouting for youth players would continue throughout the winter and he would see what January would bring. August 2027 Review A league defeat for the first time since August 2024 hadn't fazed Monster at all. His side had bounced back and it wasn't as if Portsmouth had dominated them on the day. Poor finishing and a lack of team cohesion were probably the reasons. Monster's side had recovered and were 4th in the league as it stood, one point off the top. If they were still in the hunt by the end of September, Monster was confident they could challenge for promotion. Trevino picked up the league's young player of the month award and Monster was named third in the manager of the month award. A promising start to the season - now could they carry on with their young squad? Monster also checked on his previous clubs to see how they had got on. Hillingdon Borough were 16th in Tier 8. Aldershot were 16th in League 2. There had been no further details about the takeover - a Qatar-based investor had been rumoured to be taking over with a huge transfer bounty (bearing in mind Monster still had £77m to spend already) but nothing had happened before the end of the month.

Pre-season 2027/2028 As predicted, a summer of turmoil. Near enough all of the first choice team came to see Monster asking to leave. He promptly cashed in on them. He had managed them for 7 games and he had inherited all of them; he had no qualms. Ajer and Mbeumo requested surprisingly high asking prices, which as the season was due to start, nobody had matched as yet. If they were to stay, then Monster was fine with that. There had been rumblings of takeovers for most of the summer but nothing had happened yet, which Monster was grateful for, allowing him to bring in players who were interested to be at the club from all over the world (including discovering a Brazilian youngster known as John Lennon). Transfers Having sold £208m and spent £60m (the board had eventually changed his retained transfer revenue to 100% midway through July), Monster had plenty in the bank to spend on the right players. His transfer policy had been to find young talent, whether on loan, or transfer listed from high-ranking clubs, or using the scouting centre to find Premier League potential youngsters. It was an eclectic mix he had brought in, but he was thrilled to have them all. He was optimistic of making profit on the vast majority of them or them turning into superstars. It involved buying a whole new squad to replace the vast majority of the players who had kicked up a fuss at being relegated. Squad Monster had built a squad with depth, including some highly talented youngsters in reserve, which he hadn't had the luxury of in the Premier League. The players he had on loan had all come recommended through wonderkid shortlists. He still had options to bring in another if one became available. It would be the first time he had to abide by a transfer window in his career. (And yes, that is Bradley Ihionvien in on trial. He wasn't picked up. But it was good to see him again.) Staff The board had trimmed his staffing levels slightly but hardly any of them were on short-term contracts. Monster was over-staffed in some areas but he had to accept he wouldn't recruit new staff until he had vacancies. League Season Preview Monster's Brentford were 3rd in the predictions. The lowest of the relegated sides. Monster figured it would be because of replacing a ton of experience with untried, untested youngsters from all over the world. His two most experienced centre backs were the best players at the club but Monster didn't know if they would survive the transfer window. He had purchased accordingly and identified other targets if needed. Pre-season fixtures A perfect round in pre-season, including handing out some thrashings. While he was trying to introduce the players to the club, a few loanees made appearances, but he had given most of his new players a game. Fitness didn't seem to be a horrendous issue going into the season and they had seemed to take Monsterball to heart and use it to good effect.

May 2027 In a world where Liverpool will meet Real Madrid at the Stade de France to contest the Champions League Final, (Editor Monster: hang on... No, it's true!) Jonster Monster's Brentford went into the final two games of the season with their destiny in their own hands; unthinkable 5 games ago when he first joined. 08/05/2027 - PL v West Ham United (H) The final home game of the season was marred by 4 first team players being ruled out by injury. Fabio Silva, Friedrich, Galeno, and Lo Celso would all miss the rest of the season after picking up knocks in training. In hindsight, Monster maybe shouldn't have arranged physical training in late April but with a week off, he had wanted to make sure the side were physically ready for the games. That had seemingly backfired. West Ham, led by Roberto de Zerbi, had slipped to 16th in the league, 3 points above Brentford. A 6-goal swing would be needed if Brentford wanted to go above them with a win. Tzolis made his first start under Monster having returned from injury but it was more out of necessity with the players missing. The top scorer. The creative force. A great centre back. And a slightly unconvincing right winger. All missing. In the 5th minute, West Ham took the lead when Seoane played Vlasic through in the left channel, and the attacking midfielder slotted it past Travers at his near post. In the 11th minute, Ajer's poor clearance fell straight to Tsimikas. He played it forward to Bowen who was able to drill it across from the byline for Rafa Mir to stab home. 2-0 down and Monster was slumped in his seat. Those injuries were looking tough now. Brentford finally started to create something and Mbeumo was able to grab a goal before half time when Stevens played the forward through and he couldn't miss from near the penalty spot, stroking the ball into the bottom-left corner. Monster wanted more at half time and he got it. In the 53rd minute, Tzolis was in space on the right and he played the perfect ball through to Brooks who slammed into the net left-footed from just inside the area. Brentford couldn't add a third and West Ham turned up the pressure, Travers pulling off some decent stops to keep the match level. In the end, 2-2 was a fair result. It left Brentford in 17th but with Chelsea away on the last day, they had by far the hardest match among the bottom 4 that they had to win to stay up. 16/05/2027 - PL v Chelsea (A) Away against rivals Chelsea who were battling to finish 3rd would be the game that would decide Brentford's fate. If they won, they would be safe. Anything else and they needed favours from elsewhere. In many ways, it was ridiculous that they still had a chance of staying up, but Monster knew it would be thin. He looked into the eyes of each of his players. He didn't know how the next couple of hours would play out. He could tell them to go out and play without pressure. He could tell them to go out as the underdog and cause some surprises. In the end, he told them to go out there and prove a point. Prove they deserved to stay in the division. He told them to go and play positively, away from his normal balanced approach; he had done the same when battling Championship sides with Aldershot. Try and surprise them. The positive approach nearly backfired in the first minute when Lukaku was played straight through the middle but Ajer recovered well to make the block. In the 22nd minute, Mbeumo played a brilliant ball in behind for Semenyo but Chalobah recovered well to block the ball out for a corner. In the 35th minute, a long clearance downfield by Martinez was flicked on to Havertz by Lukaku, and the German's cross was nearly turned in a the far post by Broja. Kamara cleared the ball to safety. In the 40th minute, Brentford won a corner. Zhegrova stood over it, raised a hand above his head and whipped it to the near post. Ajer met it, Martinez pulled off a fantastic save but Ajer reacted quickest to turn it over the line to give Brentford the lead in front of the away fans! As it stood, they would be safe. Monster told them all to keep going at half time. They'd not really let Chelsea have a sniff. However, it was inevitable Chelsea would respond. They were pursuing 3rd in the PL after all. In the 49th minute, Porro took a throw-in from the right, Lukaku laid it off to Havertz, and his cross was met by Broja at the back post. But the ball bounced off the crossbar and away to safety. A minute later, Semenyo played through Stevens on a rampaging run from full back and he chipped Martinez from the edge of the box. Monster watched the ball sail over the Chelsea keeper. Was this it? No. The ball bounced off the far post and was cleared by Chalobah. In the 67th minute, a corner from the right was flicked on by Ajer but Brooks was denied at the far post by a brilliant block by Kante. The rebound fell to Mbeumo but James was there with a sliding challenge. As the clock ticked on, the tension increased. Brentford had the lead but news had reached them that Brighton were winning. It meant they had to hold on. In the 80th minute, Stevens took a throw-in near his own area. They kept the ball between them but the right back cleared the ball downfield looking to release the pressure. It was taken down by the Chelsea defence and they quickly switched the ball to Mount. He flicked it through for Lukaku and his pace and power took him clear. He clipped a shot from the edge of the box. Travers got a hand on it but the ball still dribbled in. The equaliser. As it stood, Brentford would be down. Monster tried to rally the troops but they had little left to give. Chelsea came closest to the winner when Anguissa's shot came back off the post in stoppage time, but the game finished 1-1. All eyes were on the Brighton score but they had won 3-1 at home to Aston Villa. Brentford were down, finishing 18th. So close, but not close enough. Monster didn't know what the future held. He knew the players he had at the club had bought into Monsterball, but he still hadn't been convinced by some of their attitudes. Losing 4 of their first choice team prior to the penultimate game was a blow and it looked to have ultimately cost them. Could he rebuild the side? He had never suffered relegation before and the history books wouldn't have an asterisk next to it. All he could do would be to develop a side in the Championship in his image, try and earn promotion, and see what he could do with a full pre-season with the players. He realised he still hadn't lost a league game. He had 4 wins and 3 draws in the Premier League so far. But it wasn't the division he would be in next season. The board gave him the budgets. They were the biggest budgets he had ever had. A transfer budget of £4m. The wage budget was the same as it was now but some players would be on lower wages due to relegation percentage clauses. None of the first-choice players were on short-term contracts. If he wanted to generate any extra funds he would have to sell them. He was tempted to but he knew he would have to bring in new faces to flesh out the squad, particularly with the lack of youth team available. Monster cancelled the end of season awards. Relegation didn't deserve any awards, as far as he was concerned. It had been a miserable season for Brentford, despite their form in the last three months. He met with the board and they told him the long-term plan. Next season they wanted at least the playoffs in the Championship. Monster felt that was reasonable. It looked to be a summer of turmoil ahead. Relegation release clauses for Fabio Silva, Fin Stevens, Edon Zhegrova, and Christos Tzolis became active. If it generated interest, Monster was fine with cashing in on them. All of them apart from Stevens came to see him and Monster agreed he would let them go if their clauses were met. Kristoffer Ajer also came to see him and Monster agreed he wouldn't stand in his way if a side was interested. A news story flashed up later that evening to say Chelsea were rumoured to be considering an offer. It would be a blow to lose arguably their best player but at the same time, Monster didn't stand for players causing dressing room disruption. He vowed there and then to sell players if they didn't want to buy into the Monsterball project. He knew his scouts would be the staff he would be spending the most time with over the next few weeks to see what options would be available. At the whole club, there were only 29 players to work with including the U23s. He would much rather have a larger pool of players on lower wages. Youth would probably be the best way of developing that. He then checked on Aldershot. They had remained unbeaten, although had picked up a few draws. Newport County had been promoted through the playoffs meaning Notts County had missed out, despite gaining more than a hundred points. Layton Stewart came third in the end in the goalscoring charts. Monster sent Tom Tapp a message, wishing them all well in League 2. And that was it. The end of a crazy 2026/2027 season. It had started with Aldershot in the VNL, included a win over Premier League (and Champions League winners) Liverpool in the FA Cup, a win over the manager currently top of the Hall of Fame, but had ended in Premier League relegation despite being unbeaten in his last 7 games which had also included a win over champions Manchester City. A truly bizarre season by all accounts. Now he knew where he would be and what division he would be in next year, Monster set about finding a new home nearer to London, having rented a property in Aldershot. His long-term goal would now be to try and attract the attention of a club that had the best chance of winning the major trophies that would help catapult him up the Hall of Fame. Whether that would be a Premier League club or somewhere else abroad, Monster didn't know. In terms of the Hall of Fame, Monster was now on 64 points. Pep Guardiola was clear at the top with 5730. However, Monster had won a game against him this season. No points for that, though. Just a moral victory. Over the course of the next week, Monster had most of the first team knock on his office door and ask if he would consider selling them. Monster promised all of them he would consider any bids that came in for them. The only one to complain was Bakayoko, whom Monster then offered out. It was going to be a long summer.

April 2027 In a world where a manager who had never managed at a higher tier than Tier 5 was now at the helm of a Tier 1 club, and his first game at that level would be against a side containing both Haaland and Mbappe (I mean, come on... one's bad enough, but both of them?), Monster had a brand new suit to walk out at the Brentford Community Stadium. He was on £13.5k per week. He could have a new wardrobe of suits every week if he wanted. He had never earned that much a month, let alone a week. He now earned more in a week and a half than his annual salary at the brush factory. 03/04/2027 - Premier League (PL) v Manchester City (H) 20th v 1st. Monster wasn't used to being the side lower than the opposition. He hadn't been involved in a relegation battle since his first season in charge, nearly 5 years ago now. In the Saturday evening kick off in the Premier League, Monster was filled with a sense of pride as he sat in the dugout for the first time. He would take a draw in this game. He would love to win to instil some hope, but realistically a draw would be the best he could hope for. When their teamsheet was named, Monster recognised most of the names. Phil Foden. Bernardo Silva. Lautauro Martinez. Kevin De Bruyne. And that was on top of Haaland and Mbappe. Picking his first team sheet was tricky. He hadn't seen the point in playing a friendly during the international break as 10 of the squad had been away on international duty. His biggest issue was choosing a deep-lying playmaker to fill the Jayden Harris and Lukasz Gostomski role. Both had been outstanding ball players but he didn't have one of those in the squad. In the end, he went with captain and best centre back, Kristoffer Ajer, as the man for the role. Walking out of the tunnel in front of 17,250 fans who were intrigued rather than delirious. How would this non-league manager fare against the side top of the table? Monster's message in the dressing room had been about belief. Hard work. Determination. All things he wanted to see. It didn't matter who was on the opposition's team. Play Monsterball. In the 11th minute, Kamara took a throw-in in front of the dugouts. He threw the ball to Semenyo, who gave it back to the throw-in taker. Kamara knocked it forward to Mbeumo, who took a touch and played a ball through to Fabio Silva near the penalty spot who lashed it into the top corner! Ederson got a hand on it but couldn't keep it out, and the young Portuguese striker wheeled away with his hands aloft. Two minutes later, Stevens had the ball on the right hand side near the halfway line. He threw it to Galeno who knocked it off to Silva. He played it inside to Lo Celso, who nearly lost out but recovered and gave it back to the goalscorer. Silva knocked it to Ajer, and he laid it off to Stevens in the tucked in role. The tucked in midfield four of Ajer, Lo Celso, Stevens, and Kamara all exchanged passes, giving it to Semenyo's feet, and his ball through to Fabio Silva was perfect for the striker to take it round Ederson and tuck the ball in. The players ran off celebrating but Monster experienced something he had never seen before. A VAR check. They were looking for an offside. He knew it had been close. Had the left back played Silva on? After an agonising wait, the referee pointed to the centre circle. 2-0! Monster instantly told the team to start focusing on possession. Manchester City would need the ball in order to score goals. The team in blue then proceeded to pepper the Brentford goal. Mbappe had several good chances, his pace a constant menace on the left wing. Travers in goal kept repelling everything. Haaland hit the post from close range at one point too. But Brentford held on and went in at half time 2-0 up. Monster wanted to tell them to hold on but had to let them know how well they had played. They had been resilient so far. Through the walls of the dressing room they could hear Antonio Conte telling his superstars what he thought of them. Monster knew there would be a reaction. But the second half started quietly. Brentford patiently kept the ball, not taking any chances, not doing anything risky. Man City had efforts, but most of them were tame and easily dealt with by Travers. Monster decided to make changes, bringing off the disappointing Lo Celso and Galeno, sending on Hughes and Brooks. A couple of minutes later, Hughes was played through by Semenyo. Surely they couldn't make it 3-0? Hughes's effort looked to be curling past Ederson, but it clipped the post and went wide. Monster couldn't believe it. At the other end, a nice move from Manchester City saw Mbappe played through. Haaland had been substituted for Lautauro Martinez, and the Argentine made a nuisance of himself to create the space for the French forward to run through and finish into the corner. The referee signalled for a VAR check. Had Mbappe been offside? Another agonising wait and the referee raised his arm. To the sky. An indirect free kick had been given. Mbappe had moved too soon. Frimpong was then played through and chipped Travers but Monster was relieved to see the ball sail on to the top of the net. He told the team to waste time. Keep the ball. Don't do anything risky. Man City couldn't get near it. Monster kept checking his watch. The time ticked down. Injury time ran out. The tension in the stands was palpable. Surely they weren't going to beat the league leaders? But they had. 2-0. It was only the fourth time that season they had scored more than a goal in a game, and only the third time in the league. It was Man City's 3rd league defeat of the season. Mark Travers was the player of the match after making 10 saves but all of them had played fairly well. Monster returned to the pitch after his tunnel duties and tried to remember everything that had happened. Could this be the start of a miraculous escape? Could he somehow manufacture more wins between now and the end of the season and pull off the unlikeliest of escapes? He was certainly going to try. The players seemed to believe now too. Monsterball was alive in the Premier League. In terms of safety, Monster had to keep an eye on Brighton & Hove Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Burnley. Wolves lost 2-1 at home to Crystal Palace, Brighton lost 3-0 away to Liverpool, and Burnley lost 3-1 to Spurs. It brought the gap to safety down to 7 points. Southampton and Aston Villa could also get dragged in. Up next for Brentford were Everton in 9th and Fulham in 10th, both away games. 07/04/2027 - PL v Everton (A) 9th v 20th. A Wednesday night on Merseyside at the recently built Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium. Brentford were actually in better form than their hosts, having won four of their last five. Monster decided to make some tactical tweaks after realising the physical prowess of the team. The defensive line was raised to be higher. Monster wanted the team to counter attack but he wanted the goalkeeper to slow the distribution down to maintain the possession. He also dropped the tempo. Possession was his aim. They were statistically the worst team in the league; having possession of the ball would be key. Monster chose to play one of his centre backs at left back to counter-act the threat of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, third in the PL goalscorer charts. He also went for putting Zhegrova out to to the right and dropping Galeno, who hadn't been great in the first match. Everton started the match on the front foot, carving a couple of early shots. In the 21st minute, Friedrich cleared the ball out to Mbeumo on the left, who flicked it on to Semenyo. The young striker took a touch before knocking the ball through for Lo Celso and he took a couple of touches before launching a shot from all of 25 yards into the bottom corner with Brentford's first shot of the game. In a game of few chances, Brentford held out to half time. However, Everton came out second half with a new purpose and Luka Romero grabbed the equaliser, beating Travers at his near post after receiving the ball in the box from Lazzari's pass. Monster knew he would see the character of his new side now. Could they hold on? Within 5 minutes, Brentford had retaken the lead. A long ball downfield from Travers was knocked on by Fabio Silva to Semenyo who played the ball through for his strike partner to poke past Martin in the Everton goal, the ball dribbling into the corner. Midway through the second half, Semenyo intercepted a loose ball and played in Mbeumo, whose cross was deflected into the path of Zhegrova, who squeezed the ball in off the left-hand post. 3-1! Monster was ecstatic. There was a real flow to Brentford's play now, and Everton seemed rattled. Fabio Silva put the cherry atop the cake with a fourth goal in stoppage time, a loose clearance from Martin going straight to Brentford and Zhegrova played Silva in for him to slot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. 4-1. Monster couldn't believe it. Everton had been by far the better side but Brentford had been clinical. They could actually pull it off. Looking around the dressing room afterwards, Monster could see it in their eyes. Belief. It pulled Brentford to within 4 points of safety with 5 games to go. 10/04/2027 - PL v Fulham (A) A trip to local rivals was up next for the Saturday lunchtime kick off. Monster was forced to rotate to keep players fit. He also asked for his team to play with a high tempo today. It was a key component of Monsterball and he wanted to see some endeavour to get forward and put the opposition's goal under some pressure. Toure, Brooks, and Hughes, were in for Stevens, Ajer, and Lo Celso. In the 20th minute, Brentford kept the ball in the middle of the park, the ball being spread out to Toure who played Galeno through and the right winger was able to squeeze the ball home from a tight angle to give Brentford the lead. 4 minutes later, Kamara picked the ball up in the Fulham half, drove forward, and played a tantalising ball for Fabio Silva who finished first time. Before half time, the high-tempo Monsterball found Semenyo playing through Kamara, and the left back stroked the ball into the bottom-right corner to make it 3-0. Slightly harsh on Fulham but Monster wasn't going to complain. Another clinical display. In the second half, it was a timid start by Brentford but Fulham couldn't find a way through. Brooks had a goal ruled out for offside before Monster made a couple of changes. Lowering the tempo to keep the ball, Monster sent on Lo Celso and Docherty and the latter managed to scramble the ball in following chaos in the box from a Zhegrova corner. Ajer flicked the ball on, Docherty headed against the bar, Ajer flicked the ball back across, Docherty then hit the post with another header, the ball bouncing off the woodwork, hitting him in the face and going in. Fulham were reduced to ten men following an injury and Monster could only watch on in disbelief as his side strolled to the finish. 4-0. Away at one of their local rivals. On their manager's birthday. Kamara picked up the player of the match after a goal and an assist and an accomplished display at left back. Monster was delighted in the tunnel afterwards. 9 points from his first 3 games was far more than he had dreamt of. They were now within 2 points of safety. Brentford had been bottom since 17th October, and now with 4 games to go, they could escape the relegation zone in the most dramatic of circumstances with another win. 19/04/2027 - PL v Sheffield United (H) Last time out at home they had shocked the league leaders. Sheffield United weren't quite the same calibre as Manchester City but were in 12th. Monster wanted to see if they could make it 4 wins on the bounce. He had slowly been adding to his staff, bringing in Andy Crosby as assistant manager and filling up the vacant slots in the staff list. He had sorted scouting out for the summer, now being given reports on players who were so much better than he had ever experienced before. He was now going to have to refine his philosophy on key characteristics he wanted in players. However, he knew he had to stay in the Premier League in order to start building for the future due to the finances on offer. Coming up against Frank Lampard's side in the Monday evening kick off, Monster was determined not to be overawed in meeting someone he had once seen miss a penalty for England at Old Trafford in a 2006 World Cup warm up fixture. After the weekend's results, Monster knew a win could pull them clear. Brentford had the better of the first half, and took the lead in the 25th minute when Stevens's cross from the right was allowed to bounce in the area and left back Kamara was able to turn in from an acute angle. Jebbison then missed Sheffield United's best chance when put clean through but saw his effort come back off the post. Monster switched things up and pushed for a second goal but with time running out, Sheffield United grabbed a deserved equaliser, Jebbison making amends for his earlier miss with a close-range header in the 89th minute. Monster was disappointed, they had defended well, but 1-1 was the final score. The front 5 hadn't clicked at all. Monster knew he was working with somebody else's squad, which hadn't been balanced to his tactics, and players were playing out of their preferred position. It had been a good opportunity to climb the league but with games against Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, and Chelsea remaining, this had been the best opportunity to pick up 3 points. 24/04/2027 - PL v Tottenham Hotspur (A) Coming up against Ralf Rangnick's Tottenham side pushing for European football in 6th, Monster knew a win could pull them out of the relegation zone. He lowered the tempo to try and focus on keeping the ball, something they had struggled with against Sheffield United. Tottenham took the lead in this game, Son playing a wonderful ball through for Del Palacio Langer to convert into the top corner from inside the area. The lead didn't last long. Travers's booming clearance upfield found Kamara, who nodded it on to Fabio Silva, who knocked it down for Lo Celso to play in Mbeumo, who poked it past Szczesny (yep, even with his Arsenal connections) and into the net. In the 20th minute, Stevens had a throw-in on the right which he gave to Galeno. The right winger took the ball past his marker to the byline and blasted a low cross towards the far post where an unmarked Zhegrova was on hand to convert from close-range. In the 34th minute, Del Palacio Langer made it 2-2, played through by Kane, and he finished confidently into the top corner again. Monster could only shake his head. They had fought back to grab the lead - could they do it again? In the 40th minute, Zhegrova took a corner from the left. Ajer flicked it on, Lo Celso headed it back across goal, and Mbeumo was on hand to tap in to give Brentford the lead going into half time. Monster asked for more of the same in the second half. They had been working on set pieces, having not scored many since his arrival, and Friedrich added to the scoreline in the 58th minute, tucking in from Zhegrova's corner. Zhegrova then added his second of the game with another close-range tap-in. Stevens had done brilliantly to spin his man on the edge of the area but Szczesny could only palm the shot into the Kosovan's path. 5-2. Could Brentford hold on? Monster didn't know if they could, and his doubts became louder when Devine nodded in Konrad's free kick in the 66th minute to make it 5-3. Fabio Silva was then stretchered off in the 73rd minute to add to Monster's concerns. He was their talismanic striker. It could have implications for the rest of the season, even more so if they couldn't win here. A few minutes later, Friedrich's long ball forward found Semenyo's run, and the substitute forward had the composure to touch the ball past the onrushing Szczesny and tuck the ball into the far corner of the empty net from the edge of the area. Spurs did try and reduce the deficit but couldn't make their pressure count. It finished 6-3, in a game that would go down as a classic in PL history. For Monster, it was nothing new. Monsterball had seen plenty of high-scoring games over the years. As the 3pm games finished, Brentford were officially out of the relegation zone. However, the other sides around them still had to play. Monster didn't want to celebrate yet. The final game of the season away at Chelsea would be the decider, he was sure. Fabio Silva was ruled out for the rest of the season with a torn thigh muscle, which was a blow. April 2027 Review An unbeaten first month in charge of the side rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, Monster's side had notched up 17 goals in April, having only scored 19 goals prior to that. They had gained 13 points, having only picked up 18 when he had arrived. There was a real sense of optimism that Brentford could stay up. Hassane Kamara came third in the PL player of the month award, while Lo Celso's thunderbolt against Everton came second in the goal of the month competition. Monster also came as runner up in the PL manager of the month. Not bad for someone who had been managing in non-league in March. It had been a dream start. Could he now make so many dreams come true by avoiding relegation?

March 2027 In a world where Wayne Rooney and Phil Neville are managing in the Championship (Bristol City and Watford respectively) and Eddie Howe is managing Bournemouth at the Eddie Howe Stadium, Monster had another game against Premier League opposition; his third in less than a year. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. National League sides shouldn't be reaching the latter stages of the FA Cup. However, to add to Monster's surprise, he had emerged as the leading candidate in the press for the managerial vacancy at the Premier League's bottom side, Brentford. 03/03/2027 - FA Cup 5th Round v Manchester United (H) Having entertained Liverpool already, the town was alive with the visit of another Premier League side. Monster made 11 changes from the previous game, the first choice side coming in. Monster asked them to focus on keeping possession, unable to compete with the Premier League side's pressing intensity. It didn't work to begin with, Manchester United running riot over the VNL side in the first 23 minutes, racking up 4 goals in that time. The first was a tap in at the back post by Golovin from a McKennie cross. The second was a Wirtz finish from a Golovin pull back. The third was another tap in for Golovin, this time from Daka's cross. Daka then scored the fourth, tapping in after Tydeman's pass to nowhere. Monster had tried to stem the tide by asking the players to mark specific players tightly and he moved Tydeman out of the attacking midfield into the central midfield role. Spencer did have the ball in the back of the net but he was correctly adjudged to have been offside. At half time, Monster asked the team to cause a few surprises in the second half. He couldn't yell at them. They'd managed to prevent any more goals going in, against a side 2nd in the Premier League, four tiers above them. 4-0 was by no means a disgrace against a side containing several established internationals. Golovin made it 5-0, his hattrick, with another tap in. Then Brynn saved Goncalves shot but could only palm into the path of the onrushing left winger. However, Monster was delighted to see Aldershot begin to play, Tydeman flicking the ball through for Spencer to finish from near the penalty spot only a minute or so later. After making some changes, Aldershot added another in the 80th minute. Townsend lofted the ball forward for Wright to run on to, and he pulled the ball back for Stewart to finish at the near post. 4 minutes later Aldershot made it 5-3, substitute Hayes picking up a loose header from Diveev and running into the box and smashing the ball past Gorter. Monster couldn't believe it. They couldn't from here, surely? As it turned out, they couldn't - the Premier League side wrestling control back again but even for a few moments, Monster had been allowed to dream and send the supporters home feeling like they'd given the Champions League holders a decent game. Aldershot set a new gate receipts record, raking in £190k from the tie. Monster was now hoping to be offered an interview for the Brentford job. 06/03/2027 - VNL v Woking (A) And back to the grind, although they'd already won the title. The first match of the swansong was against local rivals Woking. It was a mostly first-choice side that played. Aldershot took hold of the ball, as they often do, but it was Woking who took the lead in the 15th minute with a well-executed counter attack. Shade played through Bass and he finished confidently past Brynn. Monster was more annoyed at the goalkeeper for giving the ball away with a pointless clearance downfield. Try as they might, Aldershot couldn't find a way through, and went in at the break behind. Monster was beginning to wonder if was one of those days, and was even more frustrated when Porter doubled Woking's lead from a corner. Monster hauled off Spencer after a pathetic showing, and sent on Robinson. In the 78th minute, a free kick just inside the Woking half was played by Clayton to Townsend. The deep-lying playmaker played a great ball forward to Robinson, who played a one-two with Jones, and was able to run through and dink the ball over the keeper. 2-1. Hope for The Shots. In the 83rd minute, Robinson was scythed down in the penalty area following the breakdown from a corner. He picked himself up and smashed the penalty into the bottom corner to find a deserved equaliser. Monster encouraged the side to go for the winner but they couldn't find a way through, and Woking came closest to snatching it when Porter's header came back off the crossbar from another corner. The game finished 2-2. Monster wasn't too disappointed, they had pulled it back from 2 goals down. He'd have been more annoyed if they'd capitulated like Woking had. However, his mind was already elsewhere. Would Brentford come looking for him? Could he be managing in the Premier League before the end of the season? 09/03/2027 - VNL v Stockport County (H) The next game up saw Monster wanting to get back to winning ways, at home to a side struggling to meet their pre-season predictions, wallowing in 17th having been predicted to be 4th. Monster told the side to go out and win. They took that message to heart, doing what Manchester United had done to them by smashing 4 goals in within the first 20-odd minutes. In the second minute, Kinsey's inswinging corner from the right was met by Hunt and Wright tapped in at the far post from a yard out. Two minutes later it was 2-0 when Stewart was played through by his strike partner and found the far corner with a right-footed finish. In the 13th minute, Hunt scored with a looping header from a Kinsey free kick from near the corner flag, scoring from an impossible angle, meeting the ball at the near post and the ball dropping in at the far post. Stewart added a second in the 25th minute with a composed finish from Kilner's perfect through ball from his tucked-in position on the right. Monster wanted his side to keep pushing for goals but none were forthcoming. Stockport made it 4-1 in the 67th minute, Hughes heading in at the back post from a Bailie cross. In the end, Monster took the 3 points and congratulated the team on their performance. They had destroyed Stockport at the start of the game. Now he was sat waiting for Brentford to get in touch. 13/03/2027 - VNL v Boreham Wood (H) Another home match and the trickiest game left this season against the side in 4th. Nothing from Brentford, who were on a slight renaissance after sacking their manager, picking up two 1-0 wins to give them some hope of staying in the league. Monster named his fittest side, once again, and Spencer continued his excellent recent form with a great finish in the 14th minute, receiving the ball in the box, swerving one way and then the other, before smashing home from 15 yards. In the 30th minute, Tydeman's run was halted inside the box by a poorly timed tackle, and Kinsey stepped up to finish in the bottom-left corner from the spot. In the second half, Spencer was brought down in the area by a last-ditch tackle from Conor Sproule, who had been at The Recreation Ground last season on loan, but Kinsey couldn't convert the penalty this time, hitting his penalty straight at Patterson, and then hitting the post from the rebound. The game finished 2-0 and Monster could take some solace from the fact the side were seemingly over their FA Cup exit. There was little to play for in the final 6 games of the season. 15/03/2027 - job interview Brentford were finally in touch, nearly two weeks after Monster had first applied for the role. A few questions surprised him such as why was he developing a reputation for applying for roles while in employment (are you only supposed to apply for jobs when unemployed?) and what would he bring to a side battling relegation. He answered honestly, desperately hoping he would be given a chance to get stuck in and test himself at the highest level with Monsterball to see if they could stay in the top division with 8 games remaining. The vision they posed for him matched his own footballing philosophy. He was also asked when he wanted to take charge. He decided to say he would take charge immediately. The title had been won. He was chomping at the bit to test himself in the Premier League and if unsuccessful at keeping them up, bringing them straight back up from the Championship next season. If he got the job, of course. 20/03/2027 - VNL v Maidstone United (A) New job Brentford came in and offered Monster a 2-year deal on £13.5k a week with a 30% relegation wage decrease. Luckily, it was right at the start of the international window so Monster would have some time to try and embed Monsterball into the players for the final 7 games of the season. 10 points from safety meant he would need to win at least 4 of those to stand a chance of surviving. His first test would be against table-topping Manchester City. As part of his move, the board agreed to send him on his next coaching course too. Monster said his goodbyes to the club where dreams had been fulfilled. An FA Cup semi final. Beating Liverpool. A league and cup double. He'd never lost a league game as Aldershot manager. It had been a whirlwind not-quite-two years. And now he was going to have at least 7 games in the Premier League. He couldn't say with any certainty that he could keep Brentford up but he would damn well give it a go. On researching the club's history, Monster was surprised to find they had never reached the semi final of the FA Cup, something he could use in the dressing room to try to convince the players he knew what he was talking about, having reached it with a Tier 6 side. Monster immediately set about shaping things from the club at top to bottom, sorting out who was doing what, and making sure he had full control of all of the aspects he wanted to handle. One of the strangest things was not having a youth academy. Monster knew it was how Brentford had worked but it was still strange not having any youth players at the club to blood into the first team squad. March 2027 Review Not the review he was expecting. His tenure at Aldershot had come to a close and he had begun a new one during an international break. The game against Manchester United would live long in the memory, probably for the wrong reasons, but he had made the jump from non-league to Premier League in a move he certainly hadn't expected. Assistant Manager Tom Tapp had taken the reigns at Aldershot on a caretaker basis and Monster would keep an eye out for them moving forwards. Hillingdon Borough, meanwhile, were on their second consecutive relegation, meaning they would be back in Tier 8 next season.

February 2027 In a world where Jurgen Klopp's RB Leipzig will be taking on Zinedine Zidane's Inter Milan in the Champions League later this month, Monster was looking forward to a month of fewer games, edging closer towards the title, and the FA Cup tie against Hull City. 02/02/2027 - VNL v Scunthorpe United (A) Now 3rd in the league, Scunthorpe would prove to be tricky opposition again. However, after this, there would only be two other league games this month against 15th-placed South Shields and bottom-of-the-table Radcliffe. With the FA Cup tie against Hull being the priority, Monster rotated the full side to see how they fared. Even with the back-ups on the field, it was yet another dominant performance from Aldershot, being busy with the ball, and putting the opposition's goal under pressure. Hayes missed an early chance, his effort clipping the outside of the post. Scunthorpe offered little apart from two speculative efforts, but it was level going into the break. Monster tried to rally the troops to see if they could have another early blitz. It didn't happen in this match. In the end, he summoned Spencer and Barrows from the bench. A minute later, from a corner on the right, Flood whipped in a cross, Phillips met it with a header, and Burge could only tip it into the net when he should have done better. Thoroughly deserved on the balance of play. Scunthorpe then had their best spell of the game. Spreading the ball about nicely, Dodoo found a route through the middle but the assistant raised his flag. Greengrass also had an effort from distance which clipped the top of the net but that was the closest they came. 1-0 was the final score. Not one for the neutrals but it was a professional performance from The Shots. 3 points and a clean sheet meant Monster was satisfied on the ride home from Scunthorpe on a Tuesday night. 06/02/2027 - FA Cup 4th Round v Hull City (H) A home tie against a side 9th in the Championship. The Recreation Ground was abuzz with the prospect of more cup giantkillings and Monster reminded his team to go out and cause an upset. Hull started brighter but it was Aldershot who opened the scoring with a fine volley from Paul Spencer. The on-loan Millwall forward took the opportunity presented by Kinsey's delicate chip over the top, after Phillips had won the aerial duel on the halfway line. Aldershot continued to impress, but couldn't find any further breakthroughs. 1-0 at half time. Monster wanted more from them to try to press home the advantage but the Hull side they faced in the second half were fired up and seized control of the match. Brynn pulled off several fine stops to deny them and as the clock ticked over into the final minute of stoppage time, Monster was relieved to have escaped. Kilner played a ball forward looking for Stewart, but it was intercepted and launched downfield by Bowler looking for the run of Regvar who had pulled O'Connell wide. Suddenly it was three-on-one at the back, and Rathbone was able to slot it through for Honeyman to take a touch and curl into the bottom corner from inside the box in front of the rapturous away end, 8 seconds over the added time. Monster wasn't best pleased. The chance had been there and they had let it slip between their fingers. Either way it was a replay at the MKM Stadium in 10 days. It had been a close game, the VNL side had run a Championship side so close, but the extra fitness of the Hull players had shown. At least they had another chance to cause a cupset. They began to anticipate the draw. 07/02/2027 - FA Cup 5th Round draw Manchester United. At home. Hull to beat first, though. Could they grab the opportunity to take on the reigning Champions League winners? 13/02/2027 - FA Trophy 5th Round v Ebbsfleet United (A) An away tie to whet the appetite for the FA Cup replay and another chance for Monster to rotate the side. He made 11 changes from the Hull game to take on 16th in VNL. Rather than taking their opportunity, they proceeded to play out a 0-0 draw. Aldershot had the better of the opportunities but couldn't find a breakthrough. The match went to penalties. 9 of the first 10 penalties found the net but it was Townsend who missed the final one to send Aldershot crashing out. They would miss out on a trophy. Monster was gutted. Having won the trophy last season and top of the league so far this season, to barely play the Monsterball way was of great disappointment, in a trophy they had had an excellent chance of winning. However, Monster felt it would be somehow worth it, despite it costing him points in his Hall of Fame quest, if Aldershot could knock Hull City out of the FA Cup in midweek. 16/02/2027 - FA Cup 4th Round Replay v Hull City (A) Monster kept faith in the system and most of the players from the original tie. In the original game, he had tried to force a second goal to put the tie beyond doubt and Aldershot conceded on the break in the last minute of the game. This time he vowed not to be too adventurous. It would be their mental strength that would win this match, not their mentality. In the 4th minute, Kinsey broke down the left, his attempted through-ball then blocked. In trying to play it out, Diangana then managed to present the ball straight back to Kinsey, who managed to squeeze his through-ball through to Spencer. His delicate touch poked it past Coleman and in at the far post. There was delirium in the Aldershot corner of the ground. Aldershot managed to keep Hull at bay and were looking good for a lead going in at half time. However, from an O'Nien cross from the right, Forrester pushed Bamford too forcefully for the referee's liking, and pointed to the spot. Hector stepped up and slammed the ball to Brynn's right. Monster told the team to keep working; he hadn't seen anything to say Aldershot couldn't win. In the 56th minute, Jones broke down the right and was tripped by Pedersen. Kinsey whipped in the free kick on to Hunt's head, and he managed to get enough on it to flick into the far corner. 2-1! Monster was thrilled - could they hold out? Hull responded, being much more positive in possession, keeping the ball better. A flowing move brought them their equaliser on the hour mark, Brunner scoring from just inside the area with a terrific strike off the underside of the bar; Aldershot hadn't been able to get near them. Three minutes later, Monster thought they had gone behind, Diangana tapping home from a few yards out but Barrington was adjudged to have been offside in the build-up. Having seen their football be effective, Monster changed nothing tactically, instead deciding to change personnel. Forrester, Jones, and Wright made way as the least effective players on the pitch. It strengthened Aldershot's resolve, and they had the better of the remaining stages of the game. In the 89th minute, Hull put together another flowing move, Barrington breaking through down the left and feeding Bamford in the box. The striker converted left-footed despite the attentions of both centre backs. Monster looked to the sky. The dream was over. Until the referee blew his whistle and signalled a free kick. Another offside decision given. It seemed to spur Aldershot on, and they put together a beautiful move of their own when Kinsey was released forward. He gave the ball to Tydeman who poked it through for Hayes, the substitute on the left. Bearing down on goal, he toe poked it into the bottom corner to send the away end jumping up and down again as Hayes ran off to celebrate by the corner flag. Monster instructed everyone to ease off and they managed to see out the remaining few minutes to earn the right to play Manchester United in the 5th Round. Kinsey was the star of the show with two assists. Another scalp to add to the list. Many of the fans were dreaming about what could be, fresh off the back of last season's journey. 20/02/2027 - VNL v South Shields (H) 1st v 21st. Rather than rotating the whole side, Monster decided to play the fittest team. A combination of reserves and first choice took to the field and produced a dominant display of Monsterball in the first half. Spencer continued his decent spell of goalscoring form when in the 18th minute, Wright's cross from the left deflected into his path, and he finished first-time inside the far post. In the 29th minute, he used his height to his advantage, rising highest at the far post with a bullet header from Moses's free kick out wide on the right. His hattrick came in the 43rd minute in classic Monsterball fashion. Harris picked up the ball off the defence, knocking it forward to a tucked-in Kinsey. His pass found Moses on the right, who nodded it in to Stewart. The striker didn't shoot, but had the nouse to play it square to Spencer, 8 yards out, who couldn't miss, and he found the bottom corner with a first-time left-footed finish. Spencer was then fouled at a corner, and Monster decided to let Wright, who had been in a poor run of form, take the penalty. He slammed it in from the spot into the bottom-right corner to make it 4-0 before half time. South Shields tried to make a game of it in the second half but there was little action, the game meandered by despite Monster demanding more a couple of times. Even the substitutes couldn't have an impact and 4-0 was the final score taking Aldershot to within one win of the title. In February. 27/02/2027 - VNL v Radcliffe (A) With the FA Cup tie at home against Manchester United coming up in midweek, Monster was caught in two minds as to the sort of side to name against bottom-of-the-table Radcliffe, having only picked up points in 4 games all season. Monster made 8 changes in the end, keeping the players fresh as well as wanting the best team fit and ready for the FA Cup tie. Aldershot dominated the ball as expected and Monster wanted them to put on a show. Robinson, top scorer last year but not quite up to the same standards this year, took his opportunity to remind Monster of his abilities by scoring two quick goals. The first was good movement on his part in the 31st minute, timing his run perfectly to meet Jones's through ball, stroking the ball into the bottom-right corner of the net. 4 minutes later, the referee pointed to the spot having spotted a hand-ball in a melee and Robinson passed it straight down the middle to make it 2-0. Aldershot always had control of the game and confirmed the title at full time to muted celebrations. They hadn't dazzled but they had got the job done. Robinson was the player of the match after his brace. It was Monster's fourth league title in five seasons and the first time he had wrapped it up with 9 games to go and in the month of February. The board also announced his new budgets, giving him £800k in the transfer budget, and a 50% increase in wages. Monster was secretly hoping to have caught the attention of a higher league club, but was happy to stay with Aldershot if no other jobs were forthcoming. February 2027 Review A mixed month for the first time at Aldershot where not everything went Monster's way. The defeat on penalties in the FA Trophy hurt but on reflection he had taken Ebbsfleet too lightly in that game with the FA Cup tie next. However, he still had some Hall of Fame points from the league title, and the FA Cup 5th Round tie against Manchester United up next. Spencer picked up the young player of the month award after some excellent recent performances. Monster picked up another manager of the month award after winning all three league games without conceding any goals.

January 2027 In a world where Diego Simeone has just been appointed manager of Leeds United, Aldershot faced a key month in their season with a trip to their closest rivals and a huge FA Cup 3rd Round match against Liverpool. 02/01/2027 - VNL v Notts County (A) 2nd v 1st. A grudge match where Notts County could be the first team to beat Aldershot this season or Monster's side could extend their lead over them even further. Notts County have dominated their games with a 4-3-3 control possession tactic, and Monster was wary enough to send his side out with a cautious mentality. One of the only sides to play with attacking wingbacks, Monster set the wingers to mark them to try and nullify the threat. It did the trick in the first half as both sides played out a tepid affair. However, Monster changed it up for the second half, laying into the players at the break and going for the balanced mentality again. Notts County didn't know what had hit them. Forrester nodded in Moses's corner in the 49th minute after a few chances had been wasted. A fine run from Everitt down the left, dancing past his man and then driving into the box to square the ball to Stewart, saw the top scorer add his 23rd league goal of the season. Notts County completed their capitulation with another goal from a corner. Hunt won the flick on and Wright tapped in from a yard out at the back post to make it 3-0. Monster put the brakes on and wanted to see the game out from there. Stewart thought he had a brace in the 83rd minute but he had set off a fraction too soon and the assistant referee raised his flag. Notts County did grab one back before the end. Fellahi, who had been at Woking the previous season, stealing in to bury the ball after some excellent work from Griffiths down the right. However, if Monster had been offered a 3-1 win beforehand, he would have taken it. Lead extended to 18 points. Stewart back among the goals. Decent performance from most of the side. The team coach left Nottingham in excellent spirits. 05/01/2027 - VNL v King's Lynn Town (H) A nice warm-up for the weekend against the side 23rd in the table, on a miserable recent run. Monster rotated almost everybody to try to keep the first choice squad fit for Saturday's match against Liverpool. Forgotten right winger, Ben Wilson, opened the scoring in the 11th minute after some excellent work by Hayes down the left. His booming cross was nodded down by Tydeman, and Wilson stole in to find the far corner. 10 minutes later, Harvey Jones made it 2-0. Hayes once again was involved, pulling wide and creating some space for Clayton, in as left back today, who played the ball through for Jones to find the net with a simple finish. King's Lynn were undone by a corner in the 35th minute. Wilson's cross. O'Connell's knock down. Phillips's swivel and finish inside the 6-yard box. It was no less than they deserved; Aldershot had been immense so far. Jones added his second before half time when Wilson produced an excellent run down the right, whipped in a cross and Wilson's header found the top corner, clipping the underside of the bar on its way in. After Miles picked up a second yellow card in the 57th minute for a cynical foul, Wilson's chipped ball into the area found the late run of Tydeman who tapped in from close range. Jones thought he had his hattrick in stoppage time but the assistant denied him with a late flag. Phillips's header was well saved by the keeper and Jones tucked away the rebound but was standing offside as the original header came in. 5-0 was the final score with Wilson taking the plaudits to remind Monster he could still have an impact at this level. News reached the home dressing room of Notts County drawing. The lead at the top now stood at 20 points. 09/01/2027 - FA Cup 3rd Round v Liverpool (H) Having done his research for the game, Monster couldn't believe who had taken over at Liverpool. Pep Guardiola. The man he would be competing with at the top of the Hall of Fame. Having won the Nations League and the World Cup with Spain, Pep had resigned from the nation on Christmas Day to take charge of the Merseyside giants. Monster would be shaking hands with someone in the Hall of Fame. Sitting in his armchair at home the night before the match, he was suddenly nervous. His dreams and reality were beginning to collide. Could he mastermind his Shots side to a famous cupset? Top of the VNL against 7th in the Premier League. Surely they would have no chance against a side still in the Champions League and a serial winner such as Guardiola in charge? Surely the best he could hope for would be a draw to then take his side on a trip to Anfield? In front of a raucous Recreation Ground, Monster walked his side out for the evening kick off secretly pleased that it wasn't the first choice Liverpool XI his side would be facing. Liverpool settled on the ball quicker and began to dominate possession. Monster asked the team to lower their tempo, stop rushing so much, and enjoy having the ball. It resulted in a half of few chances, the only major talking point was a Liverpool goal being ruled out for offside before half time. Maddison's strike was chalked off because Sudakov was offside, deemed to be interfering with play, despite not being anywhere near the goal. Monster wasn't complaining. However, he did have some players not pulling their weight, promising he would give them 15 minutes to turn things around. Everitt and Tydeman were the first to make way, Jones and Wright coming on to replace them. At the back, Forrester was having a brilliant game, keeping Brazil U20 international Charles quiet. As the clock ticked towards 80 minutes, Stewart thought he had snatched a winner for Aldershot, Spencer playing him through after some excellent work from Jones on the left wing but Spencer was several yards offside. However, sensing an upset, with Liverpool having offered little threat, Monster asked his players to push towards goal a fraction more. In the 88th minute, some exquisite Monsterball saw them work their way through the middle of the pitch, working the ball towards the left and saw Kinsey play Jones through. Only playing on the left wing because he was left-footed, the Aldershot fans stood up as Jones broke into the box, and the ground erupted as Jones stuck it past Irish international goalkeeper Kelleher in the Liverpool goal into the far corner. Monster reacted by drawing the attacking midfielders back, changing the mentality of most of the players to be more defensive, and asked them to time waste. It ground the game to a halt, the Aldershot players passing the ball between themselves as a bewildered Liverpool side couldn't respond. Maddison wasted Liverpool's best chance, shooting wide when it looked easier to score. Substitute Robinson also had another goal ruled out on the break as he mis-timed his run a fraction but it didn't matter in the end. Monster had prevailed over a Hall of Famer. It may be the only time they would face off against each other but Monster went to bed that night knowing it was one trophy Guardiola wouldn't be winning that season. Forrester earned the plaudits for a dominant display at the back. 10/01/2027 - FA Cup draw Hull City. At home. Probably another sold-out home game against a Championship side. Not exactly what Monster was after, but he would take it. 12/01/2027 - VNL v Crawley Town (A) 6th v 1st. Having knocked out Premier League opposition, Monster had no fear of anybody now. It was mostly a rotated side that took the field at The People's Pension Stadium, the ground where Monster had won his first domestic cup trophy. They had been in decent form, and were usually formidable at home. In the 20th minute, Hunt gave Aldershot the lead with a header from Townsend's free kick from wide on the left. It was the only major action of the half, Crawley not testing Brynn until after the goal had gone in. After half time, Gitau made a good break down the right, slipping Hayes in. The Irish winger's run took him too wide to have an effort, instead back-heeling it to an onrushing Tydeman, who finished tidily from close-range. A throw-in on the right found Townsend in the 61st minute, and the playmaker drilled in an excellent cross to the far post where Harvey Jones nodded in to give Aldershot a 3-0 advantage. Crawley pulled a goal back before the end, Cruickshank heading in Moore's cross but they couldn't apply any real pressure and the game meandered to a 3-1 win, Crawley's heaviest defeat of the season so far. Townsend, with two assists, took the player of the match award. Monster also received a notification that they had broken the league goals scored record. In January. It also took them 23 points clear at the top of the league. 16/01/2027 - FA Trophy 4th Round v Horsham (H) Horsham, 23rd in VNLS, were the next opponents in the FA Trophy. Monster rotated. It was a goalless first half despite Horsham being under pressure the whole half. Horsham took the lead in the 54th minute, leaving Monster wondering if it wasn't going to be their day. Just right of centre, Syla curled his free kick around the wall and past John in goal. The lead didn't last long. As in the Crawley game, Townsend crossed for Jones to head in at the back post. It came following the breakdown from a corner where the ball came out to Townsend and his ball was in the perfect spot for Jones to connect with it. In the 62nd minute, Aldershot grabbed the lead thanks to a Spencer header. Wilson grabbed himself the assist thanks to a great weaving run and a perfect cross on to the on-loan forward's head. Aldershot continued to push for more goals, and in the 80th minute, Phillips was pushed in the back at a corner and O'Connell stepped up to find the bottom-left corner from the spot. 3-1 the final score although it really should have been more. 23/01/2027 - VNL v Solihull Moors (H) With two-thirds of the season gone, Monster was almost in ticking-games-off mode. A 23-point lead meant they had a 7 game lead, as it stood. With some tricky away games coming up, to add to the Crawley and Notts County games already this month, Monster wanted to make sure Aldershot won the winnable games. They did that comfortably here, two early goals doing the damage. Harris opened the scoring from the penalty spot, smashing into the top left corner. Moses then doubled the lead in the 18th minute with a free kick, curling around the wall and just inside the post. That was it in terms of goals. Johnson was sent off for Solihull in the second half when he two-footed Everitt near the halfway line. Aldershot were happy to keep the ball and made it a comfortable 2-0 win with Moses named as player of the match. 26/01/2027 - VNL v Yeovil Town (H) Another home game in quick succession, Monster made a few changes to keep things fresh. Spencer, who a lot of hopes had been pinned on at the start of the season, hadn't lived up to the hype so far, but scored within 17 seconds of the kick off. Moses released him through the middle, and Spencer finished from just inside the box into the bottom-left corner of the goal. In the 9th minute, Stewart scored his 24th league goal of the season, running on to a Gitau clearance, his pace took him past the Yeovil defence to finish calmly past Kovacevic. They continued to press but didn't manage another goal until after half time. Jones was played through in the left channel but his shot came back off the far post. Moses was on hand to stick it in and it was 3-0 with more than half an hour to play. Yeovil finished the stronger of the two sides, Rowe scoring a worldie in stoppage time from all of 30 yards which crashed in off the crossbar and then bounced out. It didn't affect the result, though, the game had already been won, and Monster's thoughts were already on to the next match against Newport County. 30/01/2027 - VNL v Newport County (A) The first of the tricky games found Aldershot travelling to Wales to take on Newport County. 3rd in the league, and in a decent run of form, Monster was wary of them. Aaron Lewis, their right back, was always in good form. Monster wanted to do the worrying about them and let his team focus on doing what they do best: winning games of football. It was a stalemate of a first half, nothing troubling either keeper. Monster wasn't unhappy with that, but encouraged the team to do better. In the 54th minute, Everitt was fouled by Lewis on the edge of the area. Kinsey territory. The left back stepped up to curl a free kick around the wall and in at the near post, similar to Moses's free kick against Solihull Moors. Two minutes later, it was 2-0. Kinsey's free kick from near the corner flag on the left was missed by a couple of defenders and Max Hunt, leaving Tydeman lurking near the penalty spot to hook in. In the 65th minute, Aldershot found a third goal. Stewart was released on the right side of the box. Rather than shooting, he took it wide, and then hit a cross over to the far post where Wright was on hand to nod it over the keeper and into the net. Newport tried to respond, having their best spell of the game but never found a way past Brynn. Monster was ecstatic with a 3-0 win, Kinsey with another brilliant performance thanks to his set piece wizardry. The early second half flurry did all the damage. Moses had come off injured before the end and was ruled out for the next 3 weeks. With a week to go until the FA Cup tie against Hull, Monster was disappointed to be without two of his first-choice side. However, the reserves had shown themselves to be more than capable of stepping in when called upon. January 2027 Review The good times have never ceased so far. Tricky January had turned into Terrific January. How would Monster ever match knocking Liverpool and top of the Hall of Fame Pep Guardiola out of the FA Cup? Possibly only when he topped the Hall of Fame itself. Moses won young player of the month with Jones third, and Monster picked up the manager of the month award. In deadline day shenanigans, Blackpool tried to take Moses. Monster refused anything below the winger's release clause. Max Hunt was also subject to bids, but Monster turned them down too. In the end, the window closed with nobody leaving.

December 2026 In a world where Ralf Rangnick is in charge at Tottenham Hotspur as well as Antonio Conte being in charge at Premier League-topping Manchester City, Monster knew a lot was at stake in December. 9 fixtures to play, 7 in the league, and 2 in cup competitions, would prove to stretch the squad to its maximum. It also saw the switch over to playing return fixtures, and having walked over most sides so far, Monster knew several sides would be out for revenge. 01/12/2026 - VNL v Barnet (H) The first game of the month came against mid-table Barnet, 9th at the start of play. With the FA Cup tie coming up at the weekend, Monster rotated the side to get football into some, give a rest to others. The match seemed to go the same way as most of the others this season, with Aldershot seizing the initiative and taking the game to their opponents. In the 7th minute, Hayes was challenged from behind outside the area and the referee blew for a free kick. Up stepped left back Kinsey, who had been knocking free kicks in for fun in training and despite the angle being against him, he curled a beauty around the wall and into the top corner to give Aldershot the lead. Aldershot continued to dominate the game, Jones wasting a few decent opportunities but they extended their lead on the stroke of half time. Gitau, Wilson, and Jones all combined in the right channel, the striker laying the ball back towards the penalty spot where Kinsey was lurking to lash into the top corner. The job in the second half was to keep their foot on the opposition's neck, which they managed without adding to the score. A comfortable 2-0 win to start the month. Unsurprisingly, two-goal hero Kinsey was the player of the match. Monster was grateful to the scouting team that had spotted his availability. Monster was also pleased with Brynn picking up his 10th clean sheet of the season. 05/12/2026 - FA Cup 2nd Round v Brackley Town (H) After Brackley Town's efforts in the last round to knock out Burton Albion, Monster was wary of their Tier 6 opposition's potential to do it two rounds running. A relatively strong side was named, with John coming in as keeper, and Townsend in at deep-lying playmaker. Spencer also returned in the shadow striker. All Monster wanted was the win to take them to the 3rd Round for the possibility of taking on top-flight opposition; Wembley had given him a taste last season and he wanted more. Brackley had the first shot on goal but it was Aldershot who scored with their first chance of the game. Townsend's ball over the top found the run of Kilner, whose cross hit a defender and looped in the air on to Wright's head two yards out and he couldn't miss. In the 16th minute, Hutchinson's poor clearance ran straight to Spencer in the centre circle. He strode forward with the ball and then played Stewart through, who hit it first time into the bottom corner. Everitt hit the post when played clean through but Kinsey showed him how it was done when Wright played him through and the full back lashed home to make it 3 goals in his last two games. Shortly afterwards, Kilner was caught on his heels allowing Collins to run beyond him and clip a finish in at the far post from Barwick's through ball. Brackley were then reduced to 10 men when Aguiar was dismissed for a reckless two-footed lunge on Everitt. 3-1 at half time. Monster made a few tactical tweaks at half time, reducing the tempo and asking the team to be more expressive so as to make their man advantage count. Within 2 minutes of the restart, Moses curled a corker into the top left corner from the right side of the box, a stunning strike that had Monster out of his seat. Apart from a few Kinsey free kicks, Brackley managed to prevent any more goals until the 89th minute when Forrester nodded in Kinsey's corner. The scoring wasn't over, though. Bradley Rolt, scorer in the FA Trophy fixture between these two sides last season, ran through and dinked John to grab a consolation in stoppage time. It finished 5-2 to give Aldershot their comfiest win so far in the FA Cup this season after narrow victories against Grimsby Town and Salisbury. Will Forrester took the plaudits again but Kinsey and Wright also put in decent performances. 06/12/2026 - FA Cup draw Liverpool! At home... Monster would take a replay now. Liverpool hadn't been in great form, sacking Ernesto Valverde in the last couple of weeks but had recovered to be 8th in the Premier League as the draw was made. All the players let out a cheer at having one of the biggest clubs in the world in their backyard. Monster's task now would be to keep their feet on the ground for the next month. 08/12/2026 - VNL v Maidstone United (H) One of the games they had in hand, Monster's first task would be to prevent any complacency against the side 19th in the table. Monster himself couldn't help but imagine walking out of the tunnel in a few weeks against Liverpool. He could hardly blame the players for imagining it themselves. He was sterner with them before the game than he normally would be as if to enforce the point that there were plenty of games before the Liverpool one. Everitt gave Aldershot the lead in the 20th minute, taking a similar chance to the one that hit the post in the FA Cup. Tydeman played the ball through for the winger, who took a touch and then dispatched into the far corner. The second goal came 3 minutes later and was one of the scrappiest goals of the season. Stewart was released on the right side of the box but his cross was poor, not picking out a teammate. Robson whacked it clear but straight back to Stewart who managed to nod it back into the middle. Rowley came and punched the ball clear under pressure from Everitt. The ball went straight to Tydeman, who gave the ball back to Stewart who could only shoot straight at Rowley, the ball falling for Hayes to tap in from a couple of yards out. Aldershot were in control and added to the lead in the 73rd minute when Tydeman played an excellent one-two with Hayes, running through to score with a finish into the bottom-left corner of the goal. Sheron was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 84th minute after scything Tydeman down as he ran though on goal but Monster had already shut up shop by then. Aldershot were 3-0 winners with Tydeman the star of the show and it stretched their lead to 12 points, now having played each team once. Only the 0-0 draw at Torquay United was the blot on their copybook; they had beaten every other side so far. 12/12/2026 - VNL v Accrington Stanley (A) 4th v 1st. A tricky tie against a side in good form. Monster knew he would be playing most of the top 6 sides away from home in the next couple of months, Boreham Wood the only exception. Ticking this one off the list would be a good start and if it would be with 3 points it would be even better. Wright continued his impressive goal-scoring form by grabbing the opener after 3 minutes. Moses played a diagonal through ball, shredding the Accrington defence for Wright to run through and finish confidently with his right foot. In the 11th minute, Moses swung in a free kick from the left and Will Forrester scored again. With Max Hunt out with flu after his recent injury, Forrester had really stepped up in his absence. Aldershot made it 3-0 in the 22nd minute with a goalmouth scramble. Stewart applied the finish which deflected in off the goalkeeper and was marked down as an own goal. Monster was proud of the team at half time but warned them that Accrington surely wouldn't be as poor in the second half. 2 minutes into the second half, Monster was proved right as Accrington Stanley made their pressure count. Lindley's crossfield pass from the right found Vazquez with time and space on the edge of the area, and with Gitau slow to react, drilled a shot into the far corner of the net. In the 53rd minute, Monster was out yelling at his players to wake up as Vazquez was afforded too much time and space again, picking out a perfect cross this time for O'Kane to knock in from 6 yards. Thankfully, Aldershot responded when Spencer played Wright through, and the forward, originally signed to be a shadow striker but has taken his opportunities up front this season, tucked home into the bottom-right corner of the net in the 58th minute. As the clock ticked over into the 91st minute, Kinsey added another with a great shot from the edge of the area past an unsighted keeper. From outside the D he whipped in his shot inside the near post to make it 5-2 to continue his remarkable goalscoring form. O'Kane scored his second before the end, a glorious volley from the edge of the box which Monster couldn't help but applaud. The ball out from the back was won by the Accrington defence, and Robertson's ball over the top was right on to O'Kane's right foot, unleashing an unstoppable volley over Brynn. However, it didn't affect the destiny of the 3 points. Monster was pleased. He also had the youth intake preview through from Ross McNeilly who had advised of a good intake, and to look out for a goalkeeper, a winger, and a wingback coming through. 15/12/2026 - VNL v Gateshead (H) The home fixture for the opening game of the season and the repeat of the FA Trophy final from last season. There was the first sign of trouble in the camp with Regan Clayton, vice-captain, asking for a meeting during the week and complaining he hadn't been starting enough games. Internally, Monster was wanting to tell him that Kinsey had come in and performed brilliantly as well as Clayton not being fit enough to start every single game. Clayton claimed he had been treated unprofessionally leaving Monster with a conundrum. Before the start of the game, he offered Clayton out for transfer with Huddersfield Town apparently interested. One to watch. One of the original squad members he had inherited, the Kinsey transfer had proved that the grass was sometimes greener and Clayton wasn't indispensable. Gateshead began the game the stronger, having a couple of early efforts, but it was Aldershot who took the lead; Kinsey with a free kick from the left and Robinson nodded in from the edge of the 6 yard box. Wright, playing on the left wing, scored the second in the 29th minute. Robinson took the ball wide on the right-hand side and whipped over a cross. The keeper flapped at it and fell over, leaving Wright to nod in unimpeded. 2-0 at half time. Gateshead were much improved after the break, managing to keep Aldershot under wraps with the league leaders only managing two shots in the second half. Gateshead were far the better side but found Brynn in outstanding form, the goalkeeper managing 7 saves to take the player of the match award. It was far from comfortable but it was an important 2-0 win. 19/12/2026 - FA Trophy 3rd Round v Slough Town (H) The defence of the FA Trophy began against the side bottom of VNLS. Monster decided to rotate and put out the reserves with the busy Christmas period approaching. Kinsey scored in the 3rd minute with a trademark free kick, curling it around the wall and into the near post. A wonderful team passing move created the second goal, eventually finished by Robinson. Kinsey played the through ball, but it was all about the triangles moving up the pitch between Sonko, Hayes, and Townsend. One- and two-touch passing cut the Slough defence to ribbons, and Robinson was allowed to run through and finish into the right-hand corner of the net. Slough actually got a goal back when a long clearance by Chisholm found a goal-hanging Marshall who somehow wasn't offside, and the striker finished into the top corner from at least 20 yards out. Clayton and Phillips had spurned a few chances from corners earlier in the half but Phillips connected properly with one just before the break to make it 3-1, rising highest at the near post and the header crossing the line at the far post. After half time, Robinson had the chance to score from the spot having been pushed in the back but could only hit his spot kick straight at Chisholm. However, in the 81st minute, substitute Barrows played a great through ball for the striker, and he confidently stroked home with the outside of his right foot. Slough couldn't wait to get off the pitch but were hit on the break again when Barrows's cross from the left sailed all the way over to Townsend, now playing on the right wing, who was unmarked and headed home from close range. 5-1 was the final score, as comfortable a game as Monster could have hoped for. Kinsey was player of the match after a goal and an assist. What a great signing he was looking to be. Aldershot then drew Horsham at home in the 4th Round, the side directly above Slough in the VNLS. 22/12/2026 - VNL v Torquay United (H) So far the only side to not taste defeat to a rampant Aldershot, Monster wanted to prove a point against Torquay, 19th in the table. After the opportunity to rest a few players, Monster named a strong line-up with Spencer up front and Wright in the shadow striker role after the Millwall manager had complained the striker was being used as anything but an advanced forward. Torquay made a good start to the game, and opened the scoring in the 16th minute. Adedokun broke down the left, driving a low cross across the area for Shorrock to slide in, Kilner at fault in not cutting the cross out. Monster was not impressed but remained in his seat to see how it played out. It took 15 minutes, but Aldershot found a breakthrough with Stewart. Forrester brought the ball out from the back, using Kinsey as a wall to bounce the ball to Wright, who flicked a first-time pass through to the leading scorer, who made no mistake from 12 yards, slotting the ball home in his usual fashion. Back in the dressing room, Monster told them all he expected better. Just because they had drawn back in August didn't mean they had to draw tonight in front of the highest crowd at The Recreation Ground this month. In the 59th minute, a move began with a Kilner throw-in on the right, the ball eventually falling to Wright in the area, who was scythed down from behind by Adedokun. Harris took the spot kick, slamming it high into the net to the keeper's left. Moses, Kinsey, and Spencer were substituted to save legs, or because they had been ineffective. Townsend, O'Connell, and Robinson came on, and Townsend and Robinson combined to create a goal in stoppage time as Torquay pressed forward. Townsend snuck in from the right and fed Robinson who produced an outrageous lob from inside the D that looped over the keeper and added a cherry to the result. 3-1 was the final score, with Harris named as player of the match. Monster had now beaten every side in the league. Now for the tricky Christmas period with two games in three days. 26/12/2026 - VNL v Boston United (A) 12th v 1st. A return to Lincolnshire for Monster too on Boxing Day. In the 10th minute, Kinsey continued his superb start at the club, running on to a Tydeman through ball to tuck home. Boston had their strongest period of the game before half time but couldn't find a breakthrough. After half time, Aldershot tightened their grip on the game when Moses benefitted from a Tydeman pass to cut in and curl into the far corner. Boston grabbed a goal back when Leahy's first time effort deflected past Brynn to set up a nervy finish, but Aldershot clung on to take the 3 points home and affirm their 15 point lead at the top. Tydeman's two assists saw him named as player of the match. Monster was starting to become concerned at the lack of clinical finishing in the side, having 26 shots, 12 on target, but only scoring twice didn't impress him. 28/12/2026 - VNL v Bromley (H) Two days later and Monster named a similar strength side against a side in decent form, Bromley 5th in the form standings prior to kick off. Always a struggle playing so soon and with 2nd-placed Notts County to face at the weekend, several rotation players had an outing. Luckily, the formation doesn't take it out of the strikers too much, so Stewart and Spencer continued up front. Aldershot had several early chances but couldn't take any of them, much to Monster's frustration. Spencer eventually forced a breakthrough in the 19th minute, breaking his goalscoring drought, with a powerful finish from inside the area which thundered in off the crossbar. However, Bromley levelled with the next attack of the game when Max Hunt missed Vallese's clearance allowing Sodje to run through and finish past Brynn. Before half time, Bromley took the lead when a nice passing move saw them break into the area with Tansley pulling the ball back for Sodje to add his second. Monster's temper was irked with another demonstration of poor finishing, having hit the woodwork on numerous occasions. Thankfully, Everitt scored with the first attack of the second half, sweeping home from inside the area with a gorgeous first-time finish from Tydeman's defence-splitting pass. Monster was after more, frequently demanding it on the touchline. They had the game by the scruff of the neck now and continued to pepper the Bromley goal. He made changes in an attempt to freshen up the side. It was two starters that combined to score the winner in the 77th minute. Tydeman found Stewart about 30 yards out, and the striker played a diagonal ball into the area to find Everitt's run. The left winger scuffed his shot in at the near post and Monster only felt relief. Bromley didn't offer any form of response and it ended 3-2. Monster patted them all on the back but internally he wasn't happy. However, they had made it through the tricky Christmas period. December 2026 Review Yet another perfect month, and if Aldershot could beat Notts County, they would also break their own winning run of 29 matches. However, that would be easier said than done. Kinsey won young player of the month with Tydeman second, while Monster picked up another manager of the month award. Ivan Hyjek then called Monster into his office and offered him a new 3-year deal on £1,300 p/w. Monster accepted it without a moment's thought. He was enjoying himself at the club and it was a no-brainer to extend his deal. Stewart was still top scorer in the league with 22, although he had struggled for consistent goals in December. Moses and Harris were in the top 3 for average ratings, as well as Moses and Tydeman in the top 3 for assists. It rounded off a memorable year for The Shots, after their FA Cup excursions, as well as being on course for a return to League 2.

November 2026 In a world where Andrea Pirlo is manager of Championship side Barnsley (Editor Monster: what is going on with managerial appointments in this world?), Monster hoped to continue the lead at the top of the National League as well as maintaining the long unbeaten run. 03/11/2026 - VNL v Radcliffe (H) 1st v 24th. Radcliffe were in rotten form with only 3 points all season. With the FA Cup tie coming up at the weekend, Monster rotated the side. He asked for the usual start to the game, asking them to go out and prove they deserved all the media praise they'd been receiving recently. In the 8th minute, Wright was fouled in the box from a corner and O'Connell stepped up to score his penalty down the middle, even if the keeper may feel that he should have done better. In the 15th minute, Stewart made it 2-0, timing his run to perfection to race on to Tydeman's through ball, and slot home in his usual measured fashion from 12 yards. In the 31st minute, some good work between O'Connell and Hayes on the right allowed the winger to cross to the far post where Wright was on hand to nod it in and make it 3-0. With the game nearing half time, O'Connell was tripped outside the area and Townsend stepped up left-footed to crash his free kick in off the underside of the bar to notch his first goal for the club in wonderful style. 4-0 at half time. Monster asked for more. It took the arrival of the substitutes to add to the scoreline. First Phillips scored from Flood's free kick from the left wing with a back post header, and then substitute Kilner scored a fortuitous goal when the ball rebounded to him off the post, his shot at a comfortable height for the goalkeeper spilled through his hands and dropped into the net at the far post. 6-0 with 6 different scorers. Thoroughly deserved. A clean sheet at home too. 07/11/2026 - FA Cup 1st Round v Grimsby Town (A) In some better form since the draw had been made, Aldershot made the journey up to Grimsby. Remembering the adventure from last season, Monster wanted to create more amazing memories to add to the ones he had captured on his wall at home. It was the first-choice side Monster put out against a defensive, men-behind-the-ball tactic. 0-0 at half time. Monster stretched the team wider in the second half, encouraging them to keep playing their normal game. Finally they made the breakthrough in the 55th minute when Robinson's shot from the middle of the box came back off the post and Stewart reacted quickest to turn it in with a suspicion of offside. Max Hunt was named as player of the match but it was a forgettable game. Monster was pleased to be in the next round with a minimum of fuss, Grimsby hardly troubling them defensively. 08/11/2026 - FA Cup draw Brackley Town (VNLN) or Burton Albion (L1) at home. Monster was relatively happy with that draw. 14/11/2026 - VNL v Exeter City (A) Having knocked Exeter out in their FA Trophy victory last season with goals from Robinson and Everitt, Monster hoped for more of the same, away at St James Park. Moses had been called up for the Nigeria U23 squad so Wilson, almost fully recovered from his injury, came in to replace him. Aldershot were off to their usual front-foot start and took the lead with a Robinson effort in the 11th minute. Clayton threaded his through ball through an eye of a needle, finding Robinson unmarked and onside in the box, and he clipped his effort into the bottom-right corner first time. They doubled their lead in the 23rd minute when Wilson was released down the right and his drilled cross ran through to Everitt to knock home first-time with his left foot from 14 yards. 2-0 at the break. After half time, Exeter grabbed a goal back with Digby's near post header from a corner which Brynn flapped into his own net. Thankfully, Stewart restored the two-goal advantage with a stroked effort from 8 yards in the 73rd minute. The break came through the middle, Robinson feeding Spencer, who played the perfect ball to the top-scorer. 2 minutes later it was 4-1. Wilson's corner, Hunt's header which came back off the post, and Robinson provided the close-range finish for his second of the game. Griffin grabbed a goal back for Exeter before the end with a header from a Wood cross but the 3 points belonged to Aldershot. Robinson grabbed the player of the match award, Monster pleased to see both him and Everitt on the scoresheet against Exeter again. 21/11/2026 - VNL v Ebbsfleet United (H) 1st v 17th. Monster named a strong side again, although the next few weeks would be a test of the squad with regular midweek games coming up. Aldershot started brightly once again, although Ebbsfleet did manage a lot of possession in their opponents' half. Aldershot are known for their hustle, and having poached the ball, they promptly made good use of the ball, Tydeman releasing Everitt down the left. The winger cut inside and made a beeline for the far post, shooting low across the keeper to find the net with his left foot. In the 16th minute, Hayes and Kilner worked a good opening on the right, the right back breaking into the box and chipping the ball across for Robinson to head at goal. The ball came back off the crossbar but hit the goalkeeper in the back, trickling over the line to make it 2-0. 7 minutes later it was another own goal, although in completely different circumstances. Tydeman broke forward and fed Everitt in the left channel. As he prepared to shoot, a slide tackle from Jonsson came in and deflected the ball into the roof of the net from close range. Monster couldn't stop giggling. Ebbsfleet had self-destructed. In the 60th minute, Stewart added to the score with a typical passed finish into the net, Hayes playing him through in the right channel. Ebbsfleet did try to grab a consolation goal, but the closest they came was an effort ruled out for offside. 4-0 was the final score and the Ebbsfleet manager was sacked shortly after the final whistle. Everybody in the Aldershot team had played well. Monster was thrilled. The tweak in mentality had seemingly made them stronger at the back and they were also scoring freely at the other end. 24/11/2026 - VNL v Eastleigh (H) A second home game in a row and Monster wanted a similar result, although without the opposition scoring the goals for his side. Eastleigh were 22nd in the league, battling against relegation. They hadn't won in their last 5 but Monster was bemused to see it described as unbeaten in their last 3. 3 draws. Another loan signing, George Gitau, a Kenyan international, had arrived on loan from Middlesbrough, having played in League 2 last season, and he started at right back in this match. Jack Wright started up front alongside Stewart with Robinson not being fit enough to play and Jones on his way back from injury. Monster wanted more of the same and they started alight again, opening the scoring after 7 minutes with classic Monsterball. Harris picked the ball up on the halfway line, finding Moses with a forward ball as the winger dropped deep into midfield. He was able to turn and knock a glorious diagonal pass over the top for Everitt to run through and square it to Stewart 3 yards out. He couldn't miss. In the 22nd minute, Harris doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Tydeman was tumbled inside the box. He blasted it down the middle, the keeper seemingly diving out the way. The match then became the Wright Show. In the 30th minute, Tydeman played a teasing ball around the corner for the forward to run through and smash in off the far post to make it 3-0. In the 34th minute, Stewart was released over the top and his low cross was turned in by his strike partner for the day, once again smashing in off the far post first time. A few minutes before half time, Wright made it a hattrick by smacking in the rebound after Moses's free kick came back off the crossbar and was missed by a Eastleigh defender. 5-0 at half time. Monster asked for more of the same. The second half was more even, but Eastleigh rarely threatened. Monster made changes to rest some of the bigger-name players, Wright switching out to the left flank to allow Jones to return up front. In the 87th minute, Elmi played a square ball across the area for Tydeman to have a shot. The ball ballooned up in the air off two Eastleigh defenders, landing on Wright's head, and he was able to cushion a header into the net from 8 yards out for his fourth goal of the game. A 6-0 win. Monster was thrilled with another clean sheet and with the performances from the reserve players. Jack Wright had arrived in the summer from the Manchester City academy at the same time as Moses but hadn't settled as well as the right winger. Monster hoped Wright would compete for a slot up front in the coming weeks, having been the first Aldershot player to score 4 in a competitive match. The FA Cup tie had also been decided and they would face Tier 6 Brackley Town after their triumph over League 1 Burton Albion. 28/11/2026 - VNL v Chester (A) The final match in November came away at Chester, 9th in VNL. Before the match, Monster announced the signing of a left back from Tranmere Rovers, Gerwyn Kinsey, who had been tracked by Football League clubs, having been transferred listed. For a small fee of £4.4k, albeit Monster's first ever transfer fee he had paid for a player, Monster was delighted to welcome the player as competition for Regan Clayton's spot in the side. It also gave Monster the option of playing Clayton in the middle if required, which would be useful with Max Hunt picking up an injury in training. Kinsey made his debut in this match with Phillips taking the centre back spot as Hunt's replacement. Something that had been a rare occurrence during Monster's tenure was falling behind, but Aldershot trailed after 7 minutes in this game thanks to a beautiful Sinclair free kick to the left of centre, curled over the wall and into the top corner. Could Aldershot respond? The goal had come out of nothing against the run of play. They were only behind for 10 minutes as it stood, Forrester winning a near-post header from Kinsey's corner to draw Aldershot level with his first goal of the season. 4 minutes later, some excellent work between Kilner and Moses down the right found Tydeman unmarked in the area and his tame effort squeezed in at the near post, with goalkeeper Webb only able to fumble the ball into his net. Robinson and Stewart had both had quiet games and Monster explicitly demanded more from them both in the second half. Chester rarely threatened and it took a triple substitution to inspire some life back into the game. In the 82nd minute, another Kinsey corner from the right was flicked on by Forrester but instead of tucking home Tydeman took the ball away from goal before laying it back to Wright, whose powerful effort deflected in off Stewart's ankle. Possibly the luckiest goal he would score this season but he would claim it. It had looked like a potentially tricky tie but The Shots proved they could be resilient enough to come back from behind and claimed the 3 points here. Forrester was the player of the match after his goal and constant threat from corners and in Kinsey they appeared to have a new set-piece threat. November 2026 Review Another perfect month with 5 league victories and an FA Cup 1st Round win too. More clean sheets than usual was also notable, thanks to Monster's tactical tweak. The side had been strengthened with two new signings, Gitau on loan and Kinsey for a small fee. Stewart was second in the player of the month award, and Tydeman runner-up in the young player of the month. Monster added to his growing collection of monthly manager of the month awards. (P.S. Please forgive the lack of screenshots at the end of the month - I was on a roll in game and forgot to capture them.)

October 2026 In a world where Ernesto Valverde's Liverpool side are 19th in the Premier League with 3 points after 6 games, just below Frank Lampard's Sheffield United in 18th, Monster was looking forward to playing in the FA Cup again this month, starting in the 4th Qualifying Round. 03/10/2026 - VNL v Yeovil Town (A) 13th v 1st. Opposition manager Gary McSheffrey had been quoted in the press as saying Monster was overrated. Monster may have had a a little more motivation to win this game as a result. With a lack of rotation starting to play on his mind, Monster gave Steve Flood an opportunity in the shadow striker role with Tydeman still not quite producing consistent performances. Brynn was restored in goal too. Aldershot, once again, made the brighter start. Max Hunt gave them the lead in the 15th minute with his standard near-post header from a corner routine. It was nearly the same outcome in the 28th minute. Hunt met Moses's corner again but Robinson couldn't quite turn it in at the back post. From the rebound he laid it back for Everitt, who made it to the byline, whipped it back across for Hunt who nodded it down for Moses to hook in on his weaker foot. 2-0 at half time, and Yeovil had barely threatened. Monster raised a curious eyebrow at McSheffrey as the whistle blew and they headed for the tunnel. Overrated? Had Yeovil been surprised by the dominant display so far? In the 58th minute, Clayton spread the ball out wide to Moses on the opposite flank. The winger cut inside, as he is asked to do, laid the ball off to Stewart, who made a break for the byline to square it for an unmarked Robinson to tap in from a few yards. Monster released the bench and they added to the scoreline late on. First, Tydeman and Jones combined through the middle for the on-loan forward to break his goalscoring drought with a simple finish from a few yards out, and then Tydeman's raking pass through the middle found Stewart's run, and the pacy forward took advantage of a mix-up between centre back and keeper to be presented with an easy tap in. 5-0 was the final score which didn't flatter Aldershot in the slightest. Hunt was the player of the match, against one of his former clubs, and Aldershot pulled 7 points clear with Notts County drawing at home to Torquay United. 04/10/2026 - FA Cup Draw Having been involved in 10 FA Cup draws last season, Monster was excited to see who they would draw this time round. As ever, he wanted a weaker side at home or a stronger side away. With VNL sides being the highest rank involved, he was thrilled to have a home tie, and lower league opposition in Cirencester Town or Salisbury were drawn out, both sides Monster had faced while at Hillingdon. 06/10/2026 - VNL v Scunthorpe United (H) 1st v 5th. Monster was always wary of former Football League sides and with it being midweek, he had to rotate a few players. Continuing with the balanced mentality at home to see if it resulted in a greater goal return, Aldershot were out of the blocks quickly as usual, although they didn't have a breakthrough until the 22nd minute when Robinson volleyed into the roof of the net from Phillips's flick on from a Wilson corner from the right. Robinson was the creator of the second goal, picking the ball up in his own half after a clearance from a corner, he turned and scooped a ball forward for Stewart. The league's top scorer controlled the ball on his chest and motored into the area to tuck the ball home from 14 yards. Stewart had a moment of good fortune in the 36th minute. O'Connell broke into the box with a mazy forward run and unselfishly looked for the pass rather than having a shot at goal. Deflecting off a couple of Scunthorpe players, the ball fell kindly for Stewart whose shot clipped the far post on its way in. Scunthorpe grabbed a goal before half time, Dodoo played through in the right channel by Rowe and he raced through to beat an onrushing Brynn. Little happened in the second half until Monster asked for more from his side, who had been tentative. They produced some of the best football Monster had seen to make it 4-1. Tydeman intercepted the ball inside his own half and broke forward, playing a neat one-two with Robinson before releasing Everitt down the left. Everitt cut back inside and played the ball to Barrows, who tucked it back to Townsend. Keeping the ball moving at all times, the trio played it between themselves before Townsend played a gorgeous lofted pass across the field to Kilner on the edge of the area. The right-back's volleyed pass went across the area to pick out Everitt who had made the run to the byline. His first-time cross was met at the back post by substitute Cian Hayes for a tap in. Monster was out of his seat, applauding the goal. Scunthorpe had been chasing shadows in that move. The game ended 4-1, with Stewart's brace earning him the player of the match accolade. 10/10/2026 - VNL v South Shields (A) A long trip up to the north-east saw Aldershot take on the side in 11th to take on Kevin Phillips's side (yes, the former Sunderland and England striker). In a game where the rain lashed down throughout the whole match, Aldershot asserted their dominance over proceedings but only took the lead 5 minutes before half time. Monsterball from the halfway line saw Kilner pushed up in the right-hand channel and he played a through ball for Stewart who was muscled out the way but the pass still found Tydeman, who finished first time into the bottom corner. In the 67th minute, Aldershot doubled their lead with a Stewart tap in at the far post. Hunt won the flick-on at the near post from Harris's corner and Stewart was all on his own and wasn't going to miss from there. Manni Norkett picked up a second yellow card in the 70th minute and South Shields played it safe from there. Monster was more than happy with a 2-0 win and a clean sheet to boot. Dropping Brynn for the match against Newport County seemed to have given him the proverbial kick up the backside and he now had two clean sheets for the month. 17/10/2026 - FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round v Salisbury (H) Monster was excited at the prospect of playing in the FA Cup again after the incredible journey of last season. Salisbury were from the SLPDS, two tiers below Aldershot, and hadn't had a great start to the season. Monster rotated the whole side to give some game time to those who needed it. Surely this would be a comfortable win? Monster thought so when Aldershot took the lead from kick off, Jack Wright scoring within 17 seconds. Spencer received the ball in the centre circle, knocked it forward to Jones, who played through Wright. The forward for the day timed his run to perfection to take the ball in his stride and sweep home left-footed. Monster's expression became sour when the referee inexplicably booked Townsend twice within the space of 3 minutes, producing the customary red card in the 14th minute. Monster was up in his technical area demanding an explanation but the referee wasn't going to change his mind. Monster reshuffled the pack, dropping his attacking midfielders back into midfield, hoping the physical size of Spencer would keep midfield ticking over. Salisbury sensed an opportunity and grabbed an equaliser when target forward Arnold climbed above the Aldershot defence to meet Lewis's cross. John got both hands to it but seemed to collide with the crossbar causing him to drop the ball which bounced over the line. Monster was furious with his side. Jones thought he had given Aldershot the lead a couple of minutes later when he volleyed in after the keeper could only parry Phillips's header from a Flood corner but he was adjudged to have been offside. In the 43rd minute, Spencer broke free down the right and played the ball back inside for Hayes to cross. Wright needed two bites of the cherry, his first shot blocked by a defender but with the keeper prone, Wright was able to volley in the rebound to curb Monster's ire. Salisbury had their best spell of the game after half time, equalising again when Pearce nodded home unchallenged from Sagaf's corner from the right. Monster tried his hardest not to react on the bench. He had faith they could still win, particularly with the physical presence of Spencer now playing up front, having swapped him with Wright. On the hour mark, Jones released Flood down the left, the youngster bursting to the byline and whipping in a fantastic cross on to Spencer's head in the 6-yard box, his header kissing the far post on its way in. Monster promptly rang the changes, making a triple substitution to see if Aldershot could see the game out. They did, shutting the game down expertly after that. 3-2 the final score but it didn't tell the story of the game. Monster was relieved to be in the hat for the next round. 18/10/2026 - FA Cup draw Grimsby Town away. 20th in League 2. Monster couldn't complain at that and had confidence they would have a realistic shot of reaching the 2nd Round. 24/10/2026 - VNL v Stockport County (A) An away game against one of the former Football League sides languishing in the relegation battle in 17th place. Monster named a strong line-up, Tydeman missing out to allow Spencer to play in the shadow striker role. The first half was a non-event, a rare stalemate for Monster. Aldershot created a few chances but the closest they came was a Spencer header ruled out for offside. Monster had nothing to say to the team at half time, glaring at them all in silence before ordering them back out to the pitch. Stockport had the best chance of the second half from kick off, fashioning a chance which saw Shepherd break into the box but his effort from 16 yards came back off the face of the post. From that, Aldershot built a move which ended with Robinson putting the ball in the net at the other end but he was ruled to be offside too. Robinson made amends a few minutes later, finding a yard of space in the box to tap home Kilner's cross from wide on the right. Just after the hour mark, Spencer made it 2-0, smashing home from close range after Stewart's effort was blocked. In the 77th minute, Spencer added his second, sweeping home Robinson's pull-back. In the 82nd minute, Harris added a free kick to the scoreline, curling home from left-of-centre via the post. In stoppage time, substitute Jones added a coat of gloss to the score, tapping home Stewart's low cross from the right. It finished 5-0, which didn't flatter Aldershot at all. With Spencer starting to find his feet in the team, there was plenty for Monster to enjoy in an attacking sense but also a third clean sheet of the month, all away from home bizarrely, meant confidence among the defence was growing too. 27/10/2026 - VNL v Woking (H) A clash against local rivals Woking was up next. Promoted with Aldershot last season, they had made a decent start in the league, sitting in 10th at the start of the game. Aldershot had won the home fixture last season and drew the final game away at Woking. Having not started brilliantly in the last game, Monster demanded a fast start from the side this time and they duly responded. Brynn's long clearance downfield was missed by James Jones allowing Harvey Jones to run through, using his pace to create an angle to slot past the keeper. His initial effort came back off the post but he was on hand to stick away the rebound. A minute later it was 2-0 as the inverted wingbacks led the charge out from the back, Clayton and Kilner were the furthest forward at one point, Kilner played through by Clayton but could only hit his shot straight at the keeper, who also made a mess of the save, palming it out straight to Stewart who swept home. It became worse for Woking as Aldershot were awarded a penalty in the 23rd minute when Forrester was shoved to the ground as Moses swung a free kick in from the left. Harris stepped up and smashed it high to the keeper's right to make it 3-0. The Shots went into containment mode after that, not needing to use anything higher than second gear, and even though Woking pulled one back in the second half when an unmarked Nicholls nodded home Bass's cross in the 62nd minute, they saw the game out to pick up yet another 3 points and continue Monster's unbeaten league run. 31/10/2026 - VNL v Boreham Wood (A) A tricky away game on Halloween and Monster hoped he wouldn't be in for any nasty surprises against a side in good form and 4th in the league. Monster had also been advised that Aldershot were on the verge of breaking the winning run in VNL, with one more win required to break it. Jack Taylor, Boreham Wood's star man, rated the best player in the league and being pursued by many Football League clubs, would be a thorn in their side. Max Hunt was the only regular player to miss out, Giles Phillips replacing him. Aldershot started the brighter of the two teams and made their early pressure count when Kilner played a nice one-two with Moses for him to finish first-time into the far corner from the edge of the area. A second goal came 7 minutes later, Harris beginning the move by spreading the ball out wide to Everitt. The winger's cross flicked off Stewart's heel as he attempted a volley and was volleyed in by Spencer behind him via the base of the post for his 5th goal of the season. Boreham Wood had a spell of pressure before half time but couldn't find a breakthrough. After the break, Aldershot continued to press but didn't add to the score. The game finished 2-0, Everitt being chosen as player of the match for an outstanding performance down the left. Monster was thrilled to see Notts County had slipped up away at Solihull Moors, so a win midweek against bottom side Radcliffe would see Aldershot's lead extend to 10 points. October 2026 Review A perfect month. A new league record for a winning run already. 4 league clean sheets (all in away games, which Monster thought was quirky). A lot to be pleased with going into a crunch November. The Boreham Wood fixture was especially pleasing as it was the first time they had played one of the playoff contenders away and had dealt with them relatively comfortably. The board were pleased with how everything was going too. Stewart was top of the league goalscoring charts with 16. Moses had 6 assists and was joint top of the assists charts, as well as being second in the average rating list. Monster was named manager of the month.

September 2026 In a world where Tony Mowbray is the England manager (Editor Monster: no, seriously, I had a double take at that one myself), Monster hoped to continue the good start they had made in the league with some tricky games coming up at home this month against the two counties, Notts and Newport. 05/09/2026 - VNL v Notts County (H) A first real test against the side predicted to finish above them, saw Aldershot take on an also unbeaten Notts County at The Recreation Ground to kick off September. Robinson gave Aldershot the lead in the 6th minute, nodding in from close range from Forrester's flick-on at the near post off Moses's corner. Notts County shredded the Aldershot defence to ribbons with a move Monster would have been proud of. O'Keeffe was provided with all of the space in the world down the right and his cross was turned in from 6 yards out by an unmarked Grant. Aldershot regained the lead with their next attack in the 16th minute. Stewart applied the finish, beating Schofield at his near post after some lovely build-up play from the back. Hunt nodded a clearance down to Tydeman, who found Robinson's chest with a clipped 30-yard pass. Robinson brought the ball down and played in his strike partner who did the rest. Aldershot went in at the break 3-1 to the good, thanks to a Tydeman goal. He sometimes drops deep, he sometimes pushes up as a third striker, and on this occasion, starting with a goal kick at the back, which went wide to Clayton and then inside to a rampaging Harris, the ball was delivered for Tydeman to run on to, and he once again tucked it past Schofield at his near post from inside the area. Monster wanted more of the same - they'd kept Notts County at arms' length so far. Tydeman made it 4-1 in the 69th minute with a close-range tap-in. Harris released Stewart, the referee waving play on as Moses was sent tumbling, and the striker ran into the box and blasted the ball across goal to find the shadow striker running in. Notts County made it 4-2 with 15 minutes to go with a Cover header from the middle of the area. It was an excellent performance except for Brynn but the team had played Notts County off the park and ran out deserved winners. 12/09/2026 - VNL v King's Lynn Town (A) 20th v 1st. King's Lynn had endured a tricky start to the season and Monster wanted to churn out more wins. No debut for Spencer still, but he was on the bench. Aldershot began the game the stronger side and Edward Moses gave them the lead in the 34th minute. He took the original corner from the right which was cleared but the ball made its way back to him and he cut inside on to his left foot to blast a curling effort in at the far post. Aldershot continued to play well and create chances but didn't score again until the 84th minute when Robinson, off the bench for the ineffectual Jones, tapped in from a few yards out from Everitt's low cross. A poor clearance from Brynn led to King's Lynn releasing Welch over the top and he beat the goalkeeper at his near post from a narrow angle to pull one back with a few minutes left. But Moses made it 3-1 in stoppage time with a fine finish from substitute Spencer's pass. The on-loan striker looked as if he was going to have a long-range effort when Robinson gave him the ball 30 yards out, but he disguised it as a great through ball for the right winger, who took a touch to create the angle and then slotted in at the near post left-footed. It finished 3-1, Moses the best player on the pitch, and Monster was happy as they began the trek back to Aldershot. 15/09/2026 - VNL v Crawley Town (H) The first midweek game of the season came against 6th-placed Crawley Town, another side Aldershot had a poor record against and were scrapping for a playoff spot in 6th. They had one of the strangest formations Monster had ever faced - a 5-2-2-1 where they played with a back 5 and then a pentagon in midfield and attack. He was intrigued to see how it fared against his 4-1-5. Spencer made his first start up front, Jones played as a left winger, and Ben Wilson started on the right wing. Barrows came in at left back too, as Monster rotated to keep the players fresh. Aldershot started well, as they so often do, and Monster was out of his seat in the 15th minute when Spencer announced his arrival with a stunning left-footed shot from 25 yards which cannoned in off the crossbar. A stupendous goal that had the Aldershot faithful wondering how they'd managed to find the giant striker. He was involved in the second goal, 13 minutes later, playing the through ball for Stewart to lash home from inside the box. A remarkable first half hour of the match. 2-0 at the break and all the talk was of the U19 international in the gangways. Crawley made a few tactical tweaks, trying to find an edge and were more positive in the second half, eventually capitalising on some tiredness at the back when Amario Cozier-Duberry was afforded time to control, turn, and finish in the 80th minute. Monster managed to shore up the defence and Aldershot saw the game out. 19/09/2026 - VNL v Solihull Moors (A) On the verge of completing 4 years as a football manager, Monster checked to see how Hillingdon Borough were getting on back in Tier 7. They still had the same manager, Burns, but they were rooted to the bottom of their league with 9 defeats out of 9. Monster tried not to feel any sympathy but there was a little part of him that couldn't help feel sad that he hadn't built a lasting dynasty at the club, having taken them from the bottom of Tier 9 into Tier 6. Maybe if Gareth Eaton had backed him, it could be Hillingdon sitting top of the VNL now. However, the side that had backed him, and given him a generous budget and decent facilities after a season in charge, were reaping the rewards. Intriguingly, Walsall, the side that had turned him down a year ago were 22nd in League 2. In this game, Monster found himself up against the same formation Crawley had put out in midweek. He hoped his side would manage a similar result. Aldershot were on the front foot early on but didn't find a breakthrough until after the half hour mark, when Stewart poked home from close-range after Tydeman's shot hit the keeper and fell to the in-form striker for his 9th goal of the season. 1-0 at the break. After half time, Everitt reached the byline and cut inside to break into the area but was hacked down Johnson. Harris stepped up to take the penalty and passed it into the bottom-right corner to double the lead. In the 55th minute it was 3-0. Hunt won a crunching tackle outside his own area, the ball looping up for Everitt to win the header and knock it forward to Spencer. The frontman took it on, breaking upfield, eventually finding his strike partner, Stewart, whom stroked the ball into the back of the net. A glorious goal. They still couldn't keep a clean sheet, though, surrendering a goal on the counter from a corner, the ball finding Taylor in space outside the D to drive home right-footed into the bottom corner, Brynn unable to get anywhere near it. 3-1 it finished with the result taking Aldershot 5 points clear with Notts County drawing 0-0 at home to Gateshead. 26/09/2026 - VNL v Newport County (H) Another side that had started the season well, saw Aldershot take on Newport County in 3rd, the only other side with a goal difference in double figures (although helped by having thrashed bottom side Radcliffe 7-0 a few weeks ago). Monster made some changes - John started in goal for his debut after a set of mediocre performances from Brynn. Monster also wanted to test a balanced mentality at home rather than a positive one. For some reason they seemed to be more clinical away from home, and Monster wanted to see if that worked here. Monster also wanted to get one over Newport County after his interview with them had been the worst interview he had attended so far, not even making it to the end of that one. With the ground almost half full, Monster's team weren't out of the traps as quickly as normal but wrestled control of the game in the 36th minute when Clayton's throw found Harris, and the deep-lying playmaker hit a sweeping cross over to the far post where Moses was lurking, managing to beat his marker in the air and direct his header into the top corner. An unlikely source for a headed goal, all 5ft 7in of him, but Monster wasn't going to complain. Aldershot missed some great chances to extend the lead but did manage to grab a goal in first-half stoppage time. Forrester and Harris exchanged some neat passes on the halfway line. Jones dropped deep to receive it, playing it forward to Clayton who had raided forward, and the left-back's ball through to Stewart was perfect, the forward able to smash home to continue his great goalscoring run. Newport created a few chances in the second half, using their good passing range but they couldn't find a way through the resolute Aldershot defence. Hunt headed clear to Moses, who cut inside to find Spencer in the shadow striker role still in his own half. Spencer managed to scoop the ball over the top for substitute Robinson to run on to, controlling the ball on his chest and using his pace to take the ball into the box and hit the ball hard and low past Day to make it 3-0. John managed a clean sheet on his debut. Spencer looked good in the shadow striker role, which gave Monster food for thought with Tydeman being mixed in there so far this season, but it turned out Spencer would be missing for 2-3 weeks with sprained ankle ligaments. All in all, a satisfactory result in celebration of Monster's 4th year as a football manager. And what a 4 years it had been. He had now gone 2 years without a league defeat, last losing away at Truro City in August 2024. September 2026 Review A perfect month in the league. Monster was named as manager of the month, and all in all, he was pleased with progress. Moses was named second in young player of the month. There didn't appear to be any ill-effects in the squad after promotion, all the new players seemed to be settling in, and Monster hoped he could keep the Aldershot train on its tracks towards another promotion and return them to the Football League. Monster was pleased with attendances, which were almost double on average what they had been last season, resulting in a boost to the finances.

August 2026 In a world where Spain have beaten France to win the 2026 World Cup, Arsenal have won the 2025/26 Premier League, and Manchester United have won the 2025/26 Champions League, a new season is about to kick off. 01/08/2026 - Vanarama National League (VNL) v Gateshead (A) The last side they'd played in a competitive fixture was the first of the season this time around. Monster was cautious. Surely Gateshead would be seeking some revenge? This season was the first time Monster had managed a side competing in a national division and they were faced with one of their longest trips first up. Monster would have to find something to do on the bus journeys. In terms of the team, Brynn and Forrester were the summer signings making debuts. Moses was on his first league start. Gateshead were predicted to struggle in the league whereas Aldershot were predicted to make a title challenge. As per the FA Trophy final, Aldershot made a fast start and opened the scoring after 9 minutes. Hunt played a long ball from the back towards Stewart, who managed to knock it down for Everitt to slot home on the half volley. Aldershot pressed home their advantage and added a second goal 4 minutes later with a lovely Monsterball passing move. Harris, Tydeman, and Stewart combined to release Moses into the right channel and the winger pulled the ball back from the byline to find Robinson lurking on the far side of the 6-yard box to knock the ball in. In the 19th minute, Moses was tripped on the edge of the area. There were calls for a penalty but the referee awarded a free kick. Moses swung it in and found Hunt at the back post who towered above everyone to head home. 3-0 with 19 minutes on the clock. Monster couldn't believe it. Gateshead came out for the second half like a completely different side. They pulled one back in the 56th minute when Thompson's cross to the back post was turned in by Gallagher with some help from the post. Husin scored with a shot from well outside the area that stayed low and flew in at the near post past an unsighted Brynn. Aldershot looked rattled. Monster responded with some changes and Aldershot seemed to settle, grabbing another goal when Moses on the right wing played Stewart into the channel and the striker hit his hot across the keeper and in at the far post. Gateshead weren't done and prompted a whole wave of nerves when they made it 4-3 in the 80th minute when Gallagher's cross from the left picked out Langstaff attacking the far post, and he was able to tuck home from a few yards out. Aldershot did manage to see the game out but some concerns for Monster after this performance. Moses looked impressive on the right with 3 assists. Brynn hadn't looked quite so convincing in goal. It was still early days and the most important thing was picking up 3 points. 08/08/2026 - VNL v Accrington Stanley (H) A first home game of the season against a side whom had also won their opening game of the season. Monster named a similar side; Jack Wright coming in for Tydeman the only change. After a calm start to the match with neither side taking the game to the other, another long ball forward by Hunt looped over the top of the defence and Stewart timed his run to perfection to pass the ball into the net on the half volley in the 33rd minute. Accrington Stanley continued to threaten in patches so Monster substituted both wingers in the 66th minute. A minute later, Clayton intercepted the ball on the halfway line and sprang a counter. He played a one-two with Robinson who had dropped deep before playing Wright through who smashed into the top corner from just inside the box. Not content with a 2-goal lead, Monster wanted more. In the 81st minute, some calamitous defending allowed Stewart to score a second of the afternoon for him, but only after Thomas had spilled his original shot, Robinson whacked the rebound off the near post from an acute angle, then pulled the ball back for Hayes to have a shot which was blocked, Wilson's shot was blocked too, and Stewart finally managed to smuggle the ball over the line to make it 3-0. It was a professional performance, and Monster hoped to have a similar record to last season at home, winning all but one of their league games at The Recreation Ground. Stewart was a deserved player of the match. 15/08/2026 - VNL v Torquay United (A) Aldershot travelled to the south coast to take on a Torquay side who were unbeaten in their first two games of the season. Monster named a settled side, Wilson coming in for the injured Moses. Torquay managed to find a way to nullify the game, making it difficult for Aldershot to settle into their normal rhythm and the match finished 0-0, the first time Aldershot hadn't scored in a match during Monster's reign. 22/08/2026 - VNL v Boston United (H) 3rd v 1st. Boston United were the early pacesetters in the league, winning their first three games. Monster made it clear to the team he expected better than the previous Saturday. A wonderful flowing move opened the scoring in the 35th minute. Clayton started it with a throw-in on the left, and eventually received it back via Hayes and Harris, before finding Kilner on the edge of the area in a central position. The right back took a couple of touches and found the bottom left corner with a shot through a crowd of players. 4 minutes later, Kilner was tripped just outside the D, slightly to the right of centre. Moses stepped up and curled an exquisite free kick into the top left corner, the keeper left flailing at air as it sailed past him. It had been a much better performance and Monster wanted more of the same after half time. In the 63rd minute, Tydeman broke into the Boston box but took it too wide to have a shot. Swivelling suddenly, he whipped a cross to the back post and Everitt rose above his full back to nod in from close-range. Boston pulled one back shortly after. Thorn played Keough in down the left channel with a ball over the top. Keough held it up long enough for Thorn to make a run into the box and found him with a perfect cross, allowing the striker to drive it in low off his laces. Aldershot restored their three-goal lead when Hayes was tripped chasing Clayton's through ball. Robinson stepped up and smashed the ball into the top right corner of the net from the penalty spot. A 4-1 win made up for the disappointment of the week before and showed that it was most likely a small blip. 29/08/2026 - VNL v Bromley (A) A 5th game of the month but without having played any midweek fixtures, meant Monster could name another settled side. Last season's keeper, McNamara had kicked up a stink in the summer, citing wanting to test himself at a higher level, and Peterborough United put £60k on the table for him. Monster snapped their hand off and with Brynn having settled between the sticks now, McNamara was allowed to leave to become the cup goalkeeper for the Championship side. Bromley had made a poor start to the season but were unbeaten against Aldershot in their last 4 meetings; could they make it 5 games unbeaten today? Aldershot set out to ensure that didn't happen when Stewart headed in from close range in the 6th minute. Tydeman's ball across the box from Clayton's throw-in saw shots from Moses and Kilner blocked before the ball sat up nicely for Stewart to head in. Bromley levelled in the 10th minute when Tansley twisted Kilner inside out and was able to smash into the top corner right footed from just inside the area. Aldershot regained the lead two minutes later when Monsterball triangles formed all over the pitch. The final one saw Jones and Moses exchange passes to release Stewart through the middle and he passed the ball into the bottom-left corner. 2-1 at half time. Stewart completed his hattrick 6 minutes into the second half. A beautiful move started with a goal kick, and the side exchanged a set of passes without Bromley getting near them. The ball moved from the left side of the pitch to the right, and Kilner played a wonderful ball over the top for Stewart to run on to, and find the far corner of the net with a low drive from inside the area. In the 81st minute, Stewart was pushed over trying to reach a Wright cross in the area. O'Connell took the penalty but was denied by an excellent save by Vallese, throwing himself to his right to palm it around the post. Bromley made for an interesting last few minutes when Sodje side-footed a volley home in the 88th minute but Aldershot held on to come away with 3 valuable points ahead of their game with closest rivals Notts County. August 2026 Review A great start to the season. Aldershot seemed to have settled back into life as a VNL club and were looking to regain a League 2 spot for the first time since the 2012/2013 season. The Torquay game had proved that they wouldn't have it all their own way and may prove to be a closer fight than last season had been. For Monster the task was simple: win games of football. Monsterball seemed to be effective. The new signings had slotted in well. And the Director of Football had managed to snaffle an England U19 international on loan from Millwall for the season. Paul Spencer was the new man who would give Monster even more of a selection headache up front with Stewart and Robinson both having started the season well.

I did try, more out of curiosity to see what level could be reached with those qualifications - but having earned £2.5m from the FA Cup run, it was a no-brainer to stay with the platform that had given the club. Not wanting to plot spoil too much, but it worked out rather well. (The posts are about a season behind where I am in game.)

2026/2027 Pre-season The vast majority of the first choice players were on deals for next season already. Monster offered new contracts to Harris and Barrows and hoped that some more loans could be found throughout the season. However, Monster still wasn't sure about signing a new contract with Aldershot. Having experienced the FA Cup run and knocked out 4 Championship sides, surely his brand of football would be successful at a higher level? He put his CV out to various clubs around Europe: Oxford United, Huddersfield Town, Pro Vercelli, Fortuna Dusseldorf, Empoli, FC Metz, and Stevenage were all on the list. The Aldershot chairman offered him a new deal on even less than the first contract. Monster refused. He was interviewed by Oxford United, Huddersfield Town, and Stevenage, but in having a look around those clubs and with the finances and structures on offer, he couldn't justify leaving Aldershot. With days left on his contract, Ivan Hyjek came back in with another offer, and Monster negotiated with him for a contract worth £1k p/w as well as requesting he could do his next coaching course. Ivan agreed. Monster was staying. There was an ambitious plan put forward by the board but Monster was confident they could reach the upper echelons of League 2 as requested, providing he could find the players who would work within his system. After four weeks off, pre-season training started on 22nd June. Oliver Kilner and Harvey Jones agreed to extend their loans. Monster wanted to win promotion and defend the FA Trophy. The FA Cup would be a great experience but it all depended on which sides they would face. However, the board told him what their expectations were and Monster told the team that's what they needed to achieve: a top half league finish and the semi final of the FA Trophy. After last season's performance, Monster couldn't see why another double wouldn't be on the cards if he could make a couple of improvements. Pre-season fixtures A decent pre-season, beating some second-string French sides as well as U23 sides in Bournemouth (12-0!) and Everton, as well as League 1 Rochdale. Various trialists came in but only a few were signed up, most demanding ridiculous wages. Transfers In terms of new signings, along with Edward Moses and Jack Wright who had joined prior to the FA Trophy final, there were only 5 other additions before the start of the season. Defensive midfielder Kyle Townsend, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur's academy. Sol Brynn, goalkeeper, from Middlesbrough. Cian Hayes, winger, from Fleetwood Town. Will Forrester, centre back, from Crewe Alexandra. And back-up goalkeeper Andre John from Barnsley. The only major departure prior to the season starting was left winger Andreas Kontoulis leaving for Newcastle Jets in Australia. He had agreed the move in January, despite Monster being more than happy to keep him. Squad Monster was thrilled with the squad. A year older, strengthened in key positions, and playing at a level that they had proved they could compete at, Monster was hopeful they could reach the Football League with it. He would allow Terry Brown to try and bring in some loans for areas that he thought would need covering but Monster had faith in the youngsters who would be scrapping on the fringes of the squad. Steve Flood had recovered from his injury and would hopefully fulfil his immense promise. Staff No real changes to the staff. There had been a change in goalkeeping coach and Monster had filled in the available slots at the club. League Season Preview Aldershot were predicted to finish 2nd with only Clayton in the Media Dream XI. Interestingly, Woking, promoted with Aldershot, were predicted to finish 4th, a sign of the strength both sides had from last season.

2025/2026 Season Review The end of season party had the league title and the FA Trophy side by side to show what a fantastic season it had been. Predicted to finish 2nd and only reach the latter stages of cup competitions, Monster's team had blown those expectations away breaking record after record on the way. Ivan Hyjek, Chairperson, congratulated everybody for a fantastic season. In terms of finances, the club was in extremely healthy shape, mostly thanks to the FA Cup run and the competition prize money that brought in. All other aspects of finance had improved or remained the same. In terms of merchandising, the club had sold 427 shirts with Stewart, Harris, Robinson, Wilson, and Everitt being the top requested names. In terms of moments to remember, the biggest win was the FA Cup Quarter Final match against Swansea City. Monster had to check through the fixtures - surely beating a Championship side away hadn't been the largest scoreline of the whole season? They had scored 7 once, 6 five times, and 5 five times but the 5-goal margin came in that remarkable quarter final match. The match to remember was the 6-3 win over Stevenage in November in the FA Cup First Round tie. The goal of the season also came in the FA Cup and was Kontoulis's extra-time equaliser against Coventry City in the 3rd Round replay where he ran from his own half and scored from 25 yards. The team of the season looked rather strange and Monster chose to disregard it. Having used so many players, it was difficult to narrow it down. All players had contributed in some form. The reserves and youth players had stepped up when needed when the cup competitions were still going on, and the first choice side had dominated. Club Awards: Fans' Player of the Season: Jayden Harris - a remarkable season for the deep-lying playmaker, the conductor of the side producing assists and key passes galore from the base of the midfield. Young Player of the Season: Ben Wilson - at 24, a strange choice in Monster's eyes, but before dislocating his shoulder, Wilson had been a mainstay of the side on the right wing. He never made it back to full fitness before the end of the season, though. Signing of the Season: Max Hunt - the giant centre back scored key goals from set pieces this season, had put in excellent performances throughout, and was a real rock at the back Goal of the Season: Kontoulis's effort against Coventry City Top Goalscorer: Zach Robinson (43) - an excellent season for the striker, who did have a goal drought at one point but regularly had goalscoring spells in the side finishing joint top scorer with 34 goals in the league Most Assists: Kian Tydeman (19) - a surprising chart-topper, but provided plenty of assists through to the strikers from the shadow striker position Most Player of the Match Awards: Jayden Harris (10) - if he played well, the team played well. He played well a lot. Highest Average Rating: Jayden Harris (7.8) Records Broken: Most overall goals by a player in a season: Zach Robinson Most league goals by a player in a season: Zach Robinson Most goals by a player in a match: Zach Robinson (3) Most goals by a player in a league match: Zach Robinson (3) Most assists by a player in a season: Kian Tydeman Youngest player: Dmytro Kozlov (15y 238d) Youngest goalscorer: James Loader (16y 89d) League Records Broken (taken from VNLS records page): Most points in a season (130) Most league wins in a season (42) Fewest league defeats in a season (0) Most matches won in a row (18) Most matches without losing (46) Most team goals (145) Youngest player: Dmytro Kozlov (15y 238d - against Tonbridge Angels 14/04/2026) Youngest goalscorer: James Loader (16y 89d - against Tonbridge Angels 14/04/2026) Competition Awards: Vanarama National League South Player of the Season: Zach Robinson Vanarama National League South Players' Player of the Year: Max Hunt Another season done. Monster headed home, not knowing where he would be starting his pre-season. He had completed 4 seasons as a football manager and after having the brush factory team photo on his wall for so long, he had to take it down to make room for the FA Cup semi final photo from Wembley. In terms of the Hall of Fame, Monster was now on 39 points. Still barely a dot in terms of catching Pep Guardiola (5230) or Sir Alex Ferguson (5380) but he was putting in the building blocks. The system seemed to be successful. It was now seeing if he could find a club that could bring in the best players available to win the trophies that would catapult him up that leaderboard.

May 2026 02/05/2026 - VNLS v Weymouth (H) 1st v 14th in the penultimate game of the season and final home match. Monster was determined to savour it. He didn't know if he would be back next season. Everitt gave Aldershot the lead in the 21st minute with a back post header from a Hammonds cross. Robinson continued his quest for the golden boot with a 54th minute penalty, smashing it into the top right corner after Jones had had his heels clipped in the box. Harris had an opportunity to make it 3-0 in the 61st minute with a free kick on the right side of the box. He curled it around the wall and ran off celebrating as the net bulged. Brown pulled one back for Weymouth when his original shot inside the area was blocked but the rebound fell kindly for him to tuck home from 12 yards out. A 3-1 win in the final home game of the season, and Monster sent the team out to applaud all of the fans for their support in a memorable year which had taken them to Wembley twice. 09/05/2026 - VNLS v Woking (A) The final game of the season away to the side in 2nd. Avoid defeat and be written into history as the Invincibles. However, Woking had had a fantastic season of their own. Prior to this season, Newport County had held the record for number of points with 103. Woking were on 100 and hadn't guaranteed themselves promotion yet. Any other season and they would have been champions. In the 12th minute, Woking were awarded a fortunate penalty, Fellahi tumbling after a clean tackle by Kilner but the referee pointed to the spot. However, Green could only shank his penalty into the Aldershot fans behind the goal. Aldershot broke the deadlock in the 35th minute with a Robinson back-post header from a Harris free kick out wide on the left. They extended their lead after half time with a Hammonds volley from a Kilner cross. Woking then fought their way back into the game with two late goals. The first was a back post volley from Shade, hooking it home from a narrow angle. The equaliser came in the 87th minute from Fellahi, nodding home unmarked from 6 yards out. It was a deserved equaliser and Monster had no complaints. His Aldershot side had remained unbeaten throughout the 46 game season; a remarkable feat. 11/05/2026 - some of the loan deals came to an end, which was of some surprise to Monster and left him struggling to work out what team he would be picking for the FA Trophy final. He had made offers for youth players being released from their contracts from Premier League clubs, and they joined the squad as the transfer window reopened. The club also offered Monster a new one-year deal with a slight payrise. He left the meeting and walked out. The offer was pitiful. After restoring the club's finances, reaching the FA Cup semi final, and the FA Trophy final, he had hoped for more faith and more commitment. He would wait to see if they came back with another offer but if not, he would leave when his contract ended at the end of June. 17/05/2026 - Friendly Monster arranged a friendly against Finchampstead to keep some football in the legs, to check his line up for the final, and to have a look at the new signings. Fortunately, he had managed to extend Kilner's loan, and Jones's and Hammonds's loans weren't due to end until June anyway. Aldershot won 13-0 with Moses impressing on his debut and Layton Stewart scoring a hattrick. Newcastle United went on to win the FA Cup final, beating Manchester City 2-1. At least Aldershot could say they had been beaten by the winners. 24/05/2026 - FA Trophy Final v Gateshead (N) A second trip to Wembley to take on the side that had finished 20th in the National League, narrowly missing out on relegation. New winger Moses started on the right, while top scorer Robinson was on the bench. Wembley wasn't as full as it had been for the FA Cup semi final but there was a trophy to be won this time and Monster wanted to win it. It was the first time Aldershot had featured in the final of this competition. Monster wanted there to be another cup in the trophy cabinet to sit next to the league title. It was also the 3rd season in a row he had reached an end-of-season cup, having won one and lost one so far. Gateshead began the better of the two teams, creating some decent chances but it was Aldershot who broke the deadlock when Hammonds escaped down the left, swung in a low cross from the byline and new-signing Moses tucked in from a couple of yards out. 4 minutes later, Aldershot had a huge stroke of luck when Moses found the run of Clayton, and the full back's shot hit the defender, rebounded off another defender and looped over the goalkeeper and into the net. Gateshead had some decent opportunities to get on the scoresheet but found the Aldershot in formidable form. With time running out, Everitt put in a cross from the left to find Moses and the new signing's shot deflected in from close range off Baggott, the goal going down as Baggott's for another own goal. In stoppage time, Aldershot put together their final attack of the season. Harris played it to substitute Wright, who knocked it forward to Stewart. The striker took a couple of touches, drifting out wide, allowing Wright to run into the space Stewart had vacated. Stewart gave him the ball back and the other new signing finished into the bottom corner from inside the area to make it a very flattering scoreline. It wasn't a 4-0 game; Aldershot had taken their chances whereas Gateshead hadn't. Monster didn't get involved too much with the celebrations, preferring to let the players enjoy the moment by winning at Wembley.

April 2026 04/04/2026 - FA Trophy Semi Final v Boreham Wood (H) Monster's Hillingdon Borough side had been knocked out of this competition by Boreham Wood last season and Monster wanted to set the record straight against the side 14th in the National League. Having knocked out Exeter City and Southend United, two sides at the top of the National League in this competition, as well as 4 Championship sides in the FA Cup, surely Aldershot wouldn't have any trouble reaching the final to play either Gateshead or York City? The match also marked Monster's 200th game as a manager. Monster encouraged the team to keep the run going and then told them all he had faith in them. It was another game. They had proved they could win matches all season in whatever weather against any opposition. Why would this match be any different? Aldershot started on the attack and were awarded a free kick when Clayton had his shirt pulled. A free kick in the D. Harris territory. And so it proved as the deep-lying playmaker stepped up to curl his shot over the wall and kissing it off the post and into the net. Boreham Wood looked shell-shocked. Aldershot kept them pinned back and created several early chances. In the 13th minute, Clayton played Hammonds through and the left winger found the bottom corner with a low finish from the angle. 3 minutes later it was 3-0. Everitt played Harvey Jones in, and rather than shoot on his weaker foot, the shadow striker played it square to find Stewart who couldn't miss from 8 yards out, tapping the ball into the corner. Aldershot thought they had made it 4-0 inside 20 minutes but Stewart was ruled to be offside when Jones played the ball through to him. Boreham Wood found a foothold in the game after that and created a couple of chances of their own but it was 3-0 at half time. Aldershot had dominated. Monster wanted more of the same. On the hour mark, Boreham Wood found a breakthrough. Smith played a long ball over the top for Olomola who managed to beat two Aldershot defenders and then launch a shot into the top corner from 22 yards. Monster's heart sank. Surely they couldn't throw it away from here? He told the team to focus more on retaining the ball and made a triple change to combat tired legs. It shored things up and Boreham Wood gradually began to lose players to injury, 2 players coming off before the end. In injury time, Hammonds grabbed his second goal of the game to make it 4-1, playing a neat one-two with Stewart and scoring with a right-footed effort which clipped off the far post from inside the area. 4-1 was the final score and ensured Aldershot would have a second match at Wembley before the end of the season. They would face Gateshead who had destroyed York City 4-0 in the other semi final. 07/04/2026 - VNLS v Chippenham Town (H) The first of 3 home games remaining, Aldershot faced off against Chippenham Town, battling against relegation in 23rd in the league. Monster sent out the fittest side he could scrabble together. Chippenham's manager had criticised Monster's playing style in the build-up to the game. Monster had given a professional response in the press conference but wanted to demonstrate to a manager fighting against relegation that a quick-passing game was far more effective than lumping the ball downfield all the time. Monster was also hoping Robinson could stake his claim for the league top scorer award having led the way for large parts of the season, he had recently fallen behind Joe Wilson of Dulwich Hamlet. Harvey Jones started up front alongside him. It was Jones who opened the scoring in the 8th minute with an incredible effort from 22 yards. Tydeman intercepted the ball midway inside his own half and sent the ball through for Jones to run on to. The defence managed to hold him up but using his marker as a screen, he cut back inside on his left foot and launched his effort into the top left corner. Chippenham equalised in the 23rd minute when Soleman was gifted an opportunity on the break, left unattended to tap in with an effort McNamara will be disappointed to have let squirm underneath him. Jones restored the lead 5 minutes later with a tidy finish from inside the area, beating Dearnley at his near post having been played through by Tydeman. A minute later, Jones grabbed his hattrick when a clearance from Hammonds's low cross was drilled into his shins and the ball found its way inside the far post. Monster substituted him straight after to rest him up and Cannon replaced him. Elmi then gave away a penalty which Munroe converted to make it 3-2 but Aldershot were also awarded a penalty when Robinson was tripped inside the area and he found the bottom-right corner with a confident finish. 4-2 at half time. Monster wanted more to pile on the misery and Robinson grabbed his second when Sproule produced a cross from the left wing for the forward to turn in from 8 yards out, the ball having landed in front of him. He also grabbed his hattrick shortly afterwards, sliding in to meet Hammonds's low cross from the left to make it 6-2. Chippenham did show some fight when Yakubu headed in a corner and Smith tapped in from a cross from the left but Aldershot ran out winners with both strikers grabbing hattricks. It took Robinson on to 30 league goals for the season and back above Wilson. 11/04/2026 - VNLS v Hemel Hempstead Town (A) A top half side hoping to sneak into the playoffs were the next opposition for Aldershot. With a week until the FA Cup semi final, Monster put out his fittest side again. As ever, Aldershot started on the front foot but only took the lead after the half-hour mark when Everitt played through the forward run of Kilner who shot across the keeper and in at the far post. After half time, Hammonds was fouled in the box, and Robinson scored low into the bottom-left corner from the spot. Hemel Hempstead scored shortly after when Alcock was allowed to roam into the box unchallenged and his effort slipped between Tsurilkin and McNamara and ended up in the far corner. Kilner scored his second of the game, once again played through by Everitt, shooting low and hard into the far corner in the 68th minute. Stewart scored on the break in the 88th minute, Jones playing him through, and Stewart stroked home from just inside the box. A professional 4-1 win to keep the dream of an invincible season alive with Oliver Kilner, an unsung hero at right back, named as player of the match. 14/04/2026 - VNLS v Tonbridge Angels (H) A side that had held Aldershot to a draw in the first meeting, Monster did want to gain some revenge for that but also with the semi final against Newcastle due at the weekend, he wanted to keep his star men fresh for that game too. Wilson was scheduled to make an appearance after being out for several weeks due to dislocating his shoulder in the Swansea City match, but Monster also wanted to give some of the new youngsters an opportunity to impress. Steve Flood was out with a hip injury but a new youth intake had produced some good talent. Dmytro Kozlov started on the left wing and James Loader as the deep-lying playmaker. It was Loader who opened the scoring after 4 minutes, nodding in from close range after Cannon's free kick was kept out by a combination of keeper and crossbar. A minute later Kozlov provided the low cross for Olushola to score from close range. Before half time, Milner-Smith scored with a penalty after Barrows had been pushed trying to meet Elmi's cross, and the centre back found the net with a low finish into the bottom-right corner. It remained 3-0 until the 86th minute when Olushola scored again. Kontoulis's through ball for him was only half-stopped by the defence and and the striker joyfully lashed home as the ball sat up kindly for him. Tonbridge Angels scored with two goals on the break before the end; Mannai with the first with the run and finish to smash past McNamara, and then Fielding with a header from close range after Jenkins's run to the byline. However Cannon restored some gloss to the scoreline with a goal in injury time, tapping in from the middle of the area from Kontoulis's excellent low cross from the left. 5-2 it finished with the youngsters having enjoyed a run out. Loader at 16y and 89d became the youngest club scorer as well as in the VNLS. Kozlov also became the youngest player to ever feature in the VNLS as well as for Aldershot at 15y and 238d. 18/04/2026 - FA Cup Semi Final (?!) v Newcastle United (N) The unlikeliest of fixtures in one of the most unlikeliest runs in footballing history saw Tier 6 side Aldershot Town walk out alongside Newcastle United, currently 7th in the Premier League, and whom had been playing Champions League football earlier in the season (knocked out in the First Knockout Round by Bayern Munich). Whatever the result, the Aldershot players and coaching staff would never forget this trip to the national stadium, having already booked a place against fellow north-east side Gateshead at the end of May to contest the FA Trophy Final. The most Monster could hope for was a goal. Could he see his side score against a Premier League team at Wembley in front of 90,000 fans? Monster went for a balanced approach but kept the rest of his tactics the same. He knew Newcastle would want the game won early so as to kill the game off and reduce any chance of an upset. It was exactly as he predicted. Newcastle came straight out of the traps and took the lead after 3 minutes with an Edozie header from a corner. After 6 minutes it was 2-0 when Evanilson couldn't miss from a yard out after good work in the box from Suddick. Monster managed to settle the team down and hoped the scoring wouldn't continue at the same rate. In the 30th minute, Aldershot were able to celebrate something when Clayton broke down the left and after a couple of bites of the cherry managed to find a cross through to Jones who sent the Aldershot end into raptures with a low finish. It proved to be the highlight of the game. Newcastle took a stranglehold from there, adding two goals after half time, Suddick with a header from a Willock cross and a Digne free kick from 20 yards to condemn Aldershot to their first defeat of the season in all competitions. In April! The dream was over. But what a dream it had been. Monster was philosophical afterwards. How was a Tier 6 side expected to compete against a Premier League side? The sheer physical prowess of the Premier League players had been noticeable from the outset. But nothing could take away the Jones goal or the run to this stage. It had been incredible. And Monster wanted more. 25/04/2026 - VNLS v Hillingdon Borough (A) Wembley one week, a trip to his former stomping ground the next. Hillingdon had already been relegated some weeks ago and were only playing for pride. Paul Burns, the Hillingdon manager, had borne some ire from Monster throughout the season after changing a winning system to revert to a 3-5-2. After suffering their first defeat of the season, Monster was keen to ensure it didn't turn into two in a row. Returning to the club where he had cut his managerial teeth made him nostalgic. Wandering down the corridor where the dressing rooms were made him remember some of the greatest matches he had experienced as Hillingdon Borough manager. It had been a miserable season for his former side, though, with only 3 wins so far. Aldershot soon slotted into their usual groove and took the lead in the 13th minute with Tsurilkin nodding in at the near post from Harris's corner. He doubled the lead 11 minutes later with a back post header from Harris's free kick wide on the right. Harvey Jones then made it 3-0 just after the half hour mark, Tydeman knocking it through for the forward to use his pace to pick up the ball and then tuck it past Agboola. Hillingdon then had a spell of pressure, Ihionvien going close with a shot that came back off the bar, and then Rose finding the bottom corner from 25 yards with a low bobbling strike. Robinson had had a poor game on the right, so Monster introduced Everitt, pushing the top scorer up front. It paid almost immediate dividends as Everitt won a header at the back post, Agboola could only push the ball out and Robinson was on hand to tuck home from a yard out. Tsurilkin completed his hattrick with another header from another Harris set piece in the final few minutes. It finished 5-1 but Monster couldn't take a great deal of pleasure from the result. His mind was starting to wander elsewhere again. All the memories from last season's betrayal by the board around this time of the season had come tumbling back to him. The Aldershot board still hadn't offered him a new deal and he was starting to wonder if it was time to move on again. A bigger club? Better facilities? He had no idea. With 3 games left in the season, surely the board would want him to stay? April 2026 Review An unsurprising defeat at Wembley in the FA Cup semi final but otherwise wins all round in the other games. Monster had used the full depth of his squad to great effect and he hoped to have more to celebrate come the end of May. Harvey Jones was named as player of the month, as well as finishing second in the goal of the month with his stunning effort against Chippenham.

March 2026 04/03/2026 - FA Cup 5th Round (!!!) v Sunderland (H) The Wednesday night match of the season, saw Monster's Aldershot take on Steven Gerrard's Sunderland. Sunderland were without a win in their last 5 games and were certainly hoping to set that record straight, whereas Monster wanted his side to keep on winning. The Recreation Ground was packed again for a night they would never forget. Tydeman picked up a knock in training ruling him out for a week so Monster named Harvey Jones in the shadow striker role. Aldershot made the better start to the game and created all of the early chances. In the 12th minute, Hunt went close with a header from Harris's corner from the right, the ball clipping the top of the net. From the goal kick, Sunderland broke upfield but couldn't quite find a way through, the well-marshalled Aldershot defence repelling any balls into the area. Kilner cleared out to Wilson, who broke down the right, cutting back inside to find Harvey Jones who played Robinson through. Sunderland managed to cover but left Stewart unattended, Robinson finding him just inside the area and the former Liverpool player stroked the ball into the bottom corner to send the delirious fans into raptures. Monster celebrated on the bench. The first goal was always going to be key and Aldershot had drawn first blood. He was keen to keep everyone's feet on the ground, Sunderland still posed a threat, and with their second shot of the game, they drew themselves level. Robinson couldn't win Jones's ball forward in the air, and a ball from deep found the run of White who made it to the byline, only to pull it back for the inrushing Embleton to stroke in the equaliser. They had barely applied any pressure and Monster couldn't hide his disappointment. The two sides went in level at the break. Monster told the players that they had to keep going. They had been the better side on the stats in the first half. Monster was considering changes as Wilson broke down the right in the 68th minute. Wilson's cross was blocked out for a corner allowing Harris to swing it in from the right. On to the head of Hunt attacking the near post! The net bulged. The fans roared. The bench were nearly on the pitch. Monster immediately made the changes, taking off the tired legs and ineffectual performers of Jones and Everitt. Now they had to hold on with a quarter of the game remaining. Within a few minutes, Sunderland managed to put their clearest move of the game together when McNamara's clearance fell straight to Cirkin and the Sunderland left back's through ball found Bishop, who smashed into the net from 7 yards out. Monster had his head in his hands, on the edge of his technical area preparing to tell his players to up their game again. But as the Sunderland fans began cheering, Monster noticed the referee with his arm in the air. The assistant on the near side had his flag up! The goal was ruled out. Joy in the Sunderland end turned to despair. Monster immediately reduced the team's tempo, asking them to be more disciplined, hold their shape, and keep the ball. Opponents can't score goals without the ball, as he'd told the journalists in the press conferences on several occasions this season. Monster was fully expecting Sunderland to apply pressure and in injury time, Stewart lost the ball on the halfway line, Bryan intercepting and giving the ball to Embleton. The Sunderland goalscorer immediately looked for Bishop's run and he had the edge over Tsurilkin, the Estonian caught on his heels. Bishop ran into the box and pulled the trigger. Monster fully expected to see the net bulge and it did. But it was only the side netting. Bishop's shot had gone wide. Shortly after, the referee blew his whistle and the Aldershot players sank to the turf. As FA Cup Quarter Finalists. Hunt was named as player of the match after a dominant display at the back as well as the winning goal. 05/03/2026 - Aldershot were joined in the Quarter Final by Championship sides Swansea City and Brentford, as well as Premier League sides Brighton & Hove Albion, Leeds United, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Norwich City. As ever Monster hoped for smaller team at home or big side away. Swansea were drawn first and Aldershot came out second. An away trip to a Championship side in 9th. It was probably the best they could hope for, and once again, the Aldershot players had nothing to fear, having knocked out three Championship sides already. That tie would take place on 21st March. 07/03/2026 - VNLS v Hayes & Yeading United (H) 1st v 11th. Monster's next game on the horizon was the Southend game in the FA Trophy but with two league games before then, Monster knew there were still points on offer which could help towards the league title. The side he named was flooded with youngsters, Derek Richardson making his league debut at left back. Aldershot had the better of the early chances and won a corner in the 26th minute. As Flood swung the ball in, Sproule was sent tumbling by a push in the area and the referee pointed to the spot. O'Connell stepped up and smashed the penalty into the top-right corner to give Aldershot the lead. 2 minutes later, another corner from Flood on the left found Sproule this time, and the other on-loan centre back met it with his head and found the back of the net. In stoppage time at the end of the half, Squires won the ball in midfield with a sliding tackle but the ball ran to Mingi, who took it on, ran into the box, and looped it over McNamara. After half time, Hayes & Yeading found an equaliser within 10 minutes when Chin's low cross from the left found Daniels at the back post who tapped in first time. In the 85th minute, Aldershot found a goal when Kontoulis's through ball found the run of Hammonds, who had the composure to tuck it past the keeper at the near post and win the game for Aldershot. Youngster Steve Flood was named as the player of the match, impressing in the shadow striker role, which gave Monster some hope for the rest of the season, having struggled to find a rotation option there so far. On returning to the dressing room they discovered Dover Athletic had won away at Woking and the lead had been stretched to 18 points with 11 games remaining. 11/03/2026 - VNLS v Cray Wanderers (A) Monster used the squad again to take on 18th-placed Cray Wanderers with the FA Trophy match against Southend coming up at the weekend. It was an even game throughout the first half, the rotated side unable to find a breakthrough. Aldershot came out and applied more pressure after half time but found themselves behind in the 70th minute when Currie's long ball from the back found Campbell's run and Petrie couldn't keep the ball out. It shocked Aldershot into a response. MIlner-Smith nodded them level with a powerful header from Everitt's corner from the left within two minutes. In the 78th minute, Stewart was tripped in the box and Tsurilkin found the bottom-right corner with his spot kick. Cannon, still at the club but still on the transfer list, scored a curling free kick from right of centre, curling inside the near post from 22 yards. It was a good turn-around from the team, and took them to 102 points for the season with the unbeaten run continuing. It was also the 33rd win of the season, a VNLS record. 14/03/2026 - FA Trophy Quarter Final v Southend United (A) The highest-ranked side left in the competition, Southend United, top of the Vanarama National League, welcomed Aldershot to Roots Hall. Still in two cup competitions in mid-March, Monster still hadn't tasted defeat as Aldershot manager in any competition. Monsterball was well and truly on display in this game too, having proved to be so successful so far, although Southend did take the lead 7 minutes in when Paterson's run was found by a looping ball from the right and he was able to knock the ball home with a controlled volley from near the penalty spot. Aldershot had come from behind in their last game and would have to do so again if they wanted to make it through to the semi final. Aldershot were only behind for just over 10 minutes, Harris drawing them level with a low effort from outside the box somehow squirming through a crowd of players and past an unsighted keeper. It was 1-1 at the break. Southend rarely threatened and it was Aldershot who broke the deadlock in the 69th minute when Robinson smashed into the top-left corner from the right side of the box, Wilson with the pass into his feet. In the 84th minute, Harris chipped a free kick into the box towards Hunt, whose header looped over the to the back post where Robinson was on hand to smash home and provide some daylight between the two sides. In the 89th minute, Stewart added some gloss to the result, running on to O'Connell's through ball and although his original effort was saved by the keeper, Stewart responded quickest and was able to tuck home and condemn Southend to their heaviest home defeat of the season. Woking also slipped up at home to Dartford meaning Aldershot were still 18 points clear with a game in hand. The title (and promotion) could be sealed before the end of the month. Aldershot had set a record for the number of goals scored in the competition, beating the record Monster had set with Hillingdon Borough the season before. In the semi final, Aldershot will take on Boreham Wood, the side that knocked Hillingdon Borough out the season before. Another revenge mission for Monster. 17/03/2026 - VNLS v Farnborough (H) A match which had been rearranged multiple times due to cup exploits saw 1st take on 16th. With the FA Cup Quarter Final (!!!) taking place on the Saturday, Monster rotated the side yet again against the side that treated Aldershot as a rival despite Aldershot not feeling quite the same way. Farnborough were a route-one, physical side, with man mountain Reyon Dillon up front. Aldershot had the better of the first half and eventually took the lead when Hammonds scored at the second attempt from Olushola's cross from the right wing. His header was well saved but he reacted quickest to turn the ball home from a narrow angle. Sproule doubled the lead after half time, nodding in Flood's corner, the diminutive shadow striker proving to be a threat from set pieces. Farnborough responded from kick off, playing in Dillon who smashed his shot past Petrie and in off the crossbar. Layton Stewart had a goal ruled out for offside from a free kick, before he finished from a yard out in a mad scramble with a shot that deflected in off the post and keeper. Farnborough had a goal ruled out before the end as well for offside, although it was a narrow decision that they could feel hard-done by. Overall, a good job for the reserves, meaning the first choice side would be fit for the game on Saturday. 21/03/2026 - FA Cup Quarter Final v Swansea City (A) Surely the unbeaten run would end here? A Tier 6 side had no right to reach a Wembley semi final in one of the most prestigious cup competitions in the world. However, with Monster in charge, anything seemed possible. As a football fan working at the brush factory, he had watched plenty of the FA Cup on TV. He had reached the 2nd Round with Hillingdon Borough. Never had he dreamt of reaching the quarter final stage without managing in the Premier League and managing in the Premier League was an impossible dream when he was submitting his CV to any club he could apply to back in September 2022 when he arrived at work to find the brush factory had been closed. To be at this stage felt like an impossible dream. He was determined to enjoy it and he told the players as much. They had nothing to fear. He pumped his fists telling each individual player that he believed in them. In the 5th minute, the referee blew for a foul on the left side of the pitch. Free kick to Aldershot. In Jayden Harris range. He stepped up, curling his effort around the wall, but the ball dipped just wide of the near post with the keeper beaten. So close. 2 minutes later, Tydeman tried to play through Robinson, but Cabango intercepted, nodding the ball to Grimes who turned and knocked the ball out wide to Ng. The wing back played a ball forward for Capone to run on to, and his electric pace was too much for Tsurilkin to keep up with. Capone had a free run into the box and clipped a finish past McNamara into the far corner to give Swansea the lead, slightly against the run of play. Monster kept the faith in the system, having sent the side out to be balanced in their approach. His faith was rewarded as Harris whipped in a corner from the right and centre back Max Hunt was able to force his header in for the equaliser in the 32nd minute. The away corner were ecstatic. Could they hold on until half time? There were no more goals but Wilson was stretchered off in the 41st minute, Hammonds coming on to replace him. Monster encouraged the team at half time, they had kept the ball well so far, having dropped the tempo to ensure the priority was maintaining possession. Swansea came out firing all cylinders in the second half and Monster ended up telling the players to not look too far up the field and concentrate on defending for a while. Swansea brought on former Aldershot loanee (and previous record goalscorer) Pablo Bangerter and he wasted several good one-on-one opportunities, McNamara making three excellent saves at the start of the half to keep Aldershot in it. They had created nothing. Fed up with letting Swansea have the ball and dominate, Monster told the players to be more positive, hauled off an ineffective Tydeman and sent on Layton Stewart with Harvey Jones dropping back into the shadow striker role. There was a shift in the play. Swansea were on the back foot as Aldershot pinned them back, the inverted wingbacks pressuring much higher up the pitch. From one such move beginning on the right, Kilner worked the ball across to Jones in the D, who squared it to Clayton, and the left back found Hammonds's run. The substitute winger brought the ball under control and flicked it into the far corner to silence the home crowd and send the away fans absolutely mental. Swansea kicked on and won a corner in the 84th minute. Grimes whipped it in but could only find the head of Hunt who headed it clear to Stewart. Rather than play the ball through for Robinson to run on to, he played it to Robinson's feet, and he allowed the defence to pull up. He gave it to Everitt and the ball worked its way across the pitch to Clayton, tucking inside, almost as a wide defensive midfielder. From there, the ball made its way through the lines back out to Everitt on the right, who applied a through ball to Robinson in the right channel and he ran through to finish into the far corner. Monster could only watch on in disbelief. From Hunt's headed clearance it was 14 passes between the side without Swansea getting near the ball before Robinson had stuck it in the net. Monsterball at its finest. He was full of praise for the side, now 3-1 up away at a Championship team. 3 minutes later, Kilner was sent flying on the edge of the area by a Bangerter trip. Monster looked over at the referee, pleading for a penalty. The referee signalled a free kick. Harris stepped up and curled an absolute beauty into the top corner to make it 4-1. Monster could only slump on the bench, not able to understand what was going on. How was this happening? He had told the team to keep the ball. They didn't need to attack any more. They could keep it and keep it and as long as Swansea didn't have it, they couldn't score. In the 89th minute, Everitt broke into the box on the right and with a cheeky flick found Robinson whose cross was blocked. The rebound fell to Everitt who squared it to Kilner up in support and he tucked the ball away from the edge of the 6 yard box to make it 5-1 in a ground that was starting to resemble a library, apart from the corner where the Aldershot fans were. In stoppage time, Kilner, who had been instrumental in the last 15 minutes of the game with more licence to get forward, sprayed a pass up the field to Robinson who gave it back to him. Having switched to a back four, Swansea had nobody covering the shadow striker role and Kilner's pass found Jones's run. He made it unimpeded into the box, clean through, and finished into the top corner left-footed to make it 6-1. The fans that were left looked on in disbelief as the Aldershot fans sang their hearts out. 6-1 was the final score. Away. At a Championship side. Having been 1-0 down. With 6 different scorers. Monster wondered when he was going to wake up. He attended the tunnel interview after the game in a daze. He wasn't much better for the post-match press conference. They were through to the semi final. At Wembley. As a side from the Vanarama National League South. 23/03/2026 - FA Cup Semi Final Draw Yet again, the screen was rolled out. All the players and the coaches stood arms linked watching the draw. They were in the hat with Leeds United, Manchester City, and Newcastle United, and would play one of them at Wembley. Manchester City came out first. Leeds United followed. Everyone then knew they would be facing off against Newcastle United but there were still great cheers around the training ground as their name was read out. The match would take place on Saturday 18th April when a Tier 6 side would be totally destroyed by a Premier League side at Wembley in front of the whole nation. 24/03/2026 - VNLS v Dover Athletic (A) Despite all the cup runs, Aldershot still had league business to take care of. Regardless of whom they played at Wembley, if they didn't get promoted or win the league, it wouldn't be a successful season for Monster in his bid to top the Hall of Fame. Could they do it on a Tuesday night in Dover? For large parts of the game it looked like they wouldn't. They dominated possession as usual. They had plenty of efforts. Tydeman and Jones looked out of sorts. With time beginning to tick on Hammonds played Stewart into the left channel where the striker held the ball up, waiting for some support. He played it back to Hammonds whom had made the run from deep. Taking a touch to control and then use his speed to burst past his man, Hammonds whipped a cross over into the middle from near the byline on to the head of Zach Robinson whose bullet head found the net from 6 yards out. Stewart thought he had a second goal on the break, played through by Robinson and tucking into the corner but it was ruled out for offside. Still, it was 3 points and a clean sheet, and after the cup game on Saturday, Monster had been keen to ensure they didn't fall back to Earth with a bump. Hammonds was named player of the match with another excellent performance. Since arriving on loan from Exeter City in January, he had averaged 8.09 in the league, scoring 3 goals and providing 5 assists. It was looking like a masterstroke from the Director of Football, Terry Brown. 28/03/2026 - VNLS v Weston-super-Mare (H) In one of the most cliche jokes of all time, Monster hoped Aldershot wouldn't have a super mare against their opposition when one point would guarantee them the title. At home against a side battling relegation, albeit in decent form, Monster wanted his side to dominate the ball and score goals - Plan A going into any match. In the 8th minute, Everitt's corner from the right was whipped in left-footed and Hunt was on hand to nod in his 8th league goal of the season, and 12th overall. A fantastic return for the centre back. Aldershot continued to create chances but couldn't find any further goals. Jones and Sproule were hoiked off in the 66th minute with Robinson and Milner-Smith taking their place. Within seconds, Robinson was challenged from behind in the area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. The substitute stepped up and found the bottom-left corner with a tidy finish. The goal seemed to give Aldershot another burst of confidence and they continued to pour forward in search of more goals. In the 80th minute, Clayton sent a raking ball out to the right-hand side to find Everitt. The winger cut inside on to his preferred left foot and whipped a cross to the front post where Stewart managed to direct his header into the top-left corner of the net. Robinson thought he had scored again a minute later but was correctly adjudged to be offside when Hammonds played the free kick in. A 3-0 win for Aldershot meant they wrapped up the title in March. Promotion achieved. Now to see whether they could keep their invincible season going. 31/03/2026 - VNLS v Dartford (A) 6th v 1st. Apart from the away game against Woking on the last day of the season, this was the most difficult fixture left in the list. Monster wanted to rotate with the FA Trophy Semi Final coming up at the weekend. Dartford were looking for points to confirm their playoff place. Dartford had a goal ruled out in the early exchanges, the referee spotting an offside from a corner. In the 6th minute, Sproule was pushed in the back contesting a corner, and the referee gave Aldershot a penalty. Charlie O'Connell, the penalty taker at the start of the season, couldn't press a claim to be the regular taker again as he shot straight at Berman and did the same with the rebound. Dartford thought they would reach half time with the score intact, but Prodger brought down Sproule 25 yards out and forgotten man, Tom Cannon, stepped up to curl a beauty into the top left corner. In the 51st minute, Jones extended the lead with a leaping header 8 yards out to meet Simpson's cross from the right wing, the header clipping the base of the post on its way in. In the 68th minute, Aldershot put the game to bed with their third goal. Squires received the ball from Simpson and clipped a gorgeous pass into the area which bounced off a defender's head as Cannon challenged. The ball fell to Olushola who crashed his volley into the roof of the net from the edge of the box. Dartford did have some pressure towards the end but weren't able to grab a consolation. Harvey Jones was the player of the match in the shadow striker role after his goal and excellent link-up play. With their 3 goals in this game, Aldershot set the record for VNLS goals in a season with 6 games remaining. March 2026 Review An unbelievable March. To still be in three competitions at this stage didn't seem real. The 6-1 win at Swansea City to send The Shots to Wembley would live long in Aldershot folklore, as well as be a personal highlight in Monster's own history. The month had begun with the 2-1 win over Steven Gerrard's Sunderland, coming up against a manager Monster remembered as a player on the TV. It had been a surreal season. Promotion had been confirmed and it was now time to see if they could turn their season into a great one by adding some more silverware as well as enjoying themselves at Wembley in their match against Newcastle United. However, one cloud on the horizon was Monster's contract. Nothing had been offered so far by the board and Monster was starting to wonder if he should start looking higher than National League football for next season.

February 2026 04/02/2026 - VNLS v Billericay Town (H) The tricky list of fixtures continued against Billericay, 5th in the league and in a good run of form. The Derby match was next up after this and Monster decided to rotate. It looked like a decision that would backfire when Billericay took the lead. Knott escaped down the right and his low cross evaded all of the Aldershot defenders and found Tanner at the back post to tuck in from 8 yards. Would this be the first defeat of the season? Monster's faith was starting to waver. However, O'Connell's ball over the top found a pocket of space for Harvey Jones and having recovered from injury, he swept in left footed from just inside the box. And that was it. A point rescued rather than two points dropped, in Monster's eyes. Hopefully it wouldn't backfire for the FA Cup tie at the weekend. 07/02/2026 - FA Cup 4th Round v Derby County (H) Yet another huge match in Monster's relatively short coaching career. When talking to the players it was just another football match. It was a sell-out at The Recreation Ground. All the talk beforehand was of Derby County being too strong and Aldershot making up the numbers. Monster wanted to instil the belief in his side that trust in the system would bring results. Monster knew Aldershot wouldn't play Derby off the park but could they stay in the match long enough to hit them when needed? He asked the side to remain balanced in their approach to start with but as Derby made the better start to the game, he quickly asked them to be more positive. There weren't many chances in the first half, Derby shading it but rarely testing McNamara. Monster told the team there was nothing to fear. Derby hadn't exactly blown them away in the first half. Derby started the second half better too, Jones having a free kick from a central position tipped over by a flying McNamara save. Monster noticed his players beginning to tire and made a triple substitution in the 70th minute. Neither side had created many clear cut chances, but Everitt came on for Wilson and had a great chance cutting inside from the right wing and curling a shot just past the far post. Monster thought that was it. The chance had gone. A few minutes later, a long ball downfield found Everitt again. He brought the ball down, exchanged passes with Stewart and managed to find the net this time with his curling effort. The stadium erupted with 6 minutes left on the clock. Could Aldershot hold on? Derby surely weren't going to roll over and let them win. Monster pulled everyone back behind the ball, telling them to focus on keeping possession, and see the game out as best they could. There was one moment towards the end where Derby broke through but the assistant referee raised his flag. The clock ticked down and the stadium erupted again when the referee blew his whistle! A famous FA Cup victory for Aldershot Town of the Vanarama National League South. A Tier 6 side had knocked out two Tier 2 sides to reach the 5th Round of the FA Cup. The penalty shootout victory against Coventry had been lucky. This was professional. This was refined. It was a little against the run of play but nobody could deny it was a fluke. £91k was the prize money and with the gate receipts, Aldershot had nearly half a million in the bank. Monster went out to look at the pitch afterwards, trying to burn the memories into his brain. Could his philosophy really have turned a non-league side into one capable of competing in The Championship? 08/02/2026 - Monster considered having a large screen installed at the training ground, not expecting it to have been used three times this season so far. They had to wait a long time for their name to come out. The last four sides were Aldershot, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Sunderland. Liverpool came out and everybody could picture stepping out at Anfield. The ball number was for Newcastle United. So Aldershot would face Sunderland. Aldershot were then drawn at home. Sunderland were 12th in The Championship, one place below Derby County and also below Coventry City. Once again, nothing to fear, as far as Monster was concerned. 10/02/2026 - VNLS v Maldon & Tiptree (H) 3 days after the remarkable scenes in the FA Cup, Monster was expected to field a side in the league against the 19th-placed side. It was another rotated team featuring several loan players. Toby Hammonds had arrived on loan as left wing cover from Exeter City and played a key role in this game. After a goalless first half, Monster questioned the motivation of his players and they responded in the second half. Layton Stewart opened the scoring from a Hammonds free kick which was inexplicably allowed to bounce inside the penalty area and Stewart couldn't miss from a few yards out, the keeper caught in no-man's land. Shortly after, Sanders was shown a second yellow card for a crunching tackle near the corner flag. Aldershot eventually scored a second goal with 10 minutes remaining, Hammonds scoring on his debut after a lovely flowing Monsterball move released him on the left wing and he was able to tuck it in at the near post. However, Maldon & Tiptree responded, Napa allowed the freedom to run in on goal and tuck the ball past McNamara. It proved to be only a consolation goal as Aldershot managed to hold on for another win. With another 16 games left, they were only just over two-thirds of the way through the league season. 14/02/2026 - FA Trophy 5th Round v Exeter City (H) Another home cup draw, this time against 2nd-placed Vanarama National League side Exeter City in a competition Monster hoped to go far in. He hadn't expected to still be competing in the FA Cup at the same time but wasn't going to complain. Could his unfancied Shots side cause another upset against one of the strongest sides left in the competition? Hammonds wasn't able to play against his parent club but former Aldershot player Dion Pereira, someone Monster had unceremoniously shown the door in the summer, having been a fringe player on a ridiculous wage, was on the bench for the visitors. Monster named a strong line-up but they couldn't find a breakthrough in the first half, despite creating more chances. They dominated the ball again in their usual fashion and Monster encouraged them to keep going. Everitt gave them the lead in the 56th minute with a low finish from Tydeman's pass after some great build-up play again. Tydeman had the space to pick a pass and he found Everitt who finished with aplomb. Zach Robinson put the icing on the cake in the 88th minute to settle the tie, volleying home with a cushioned, side-footed finish at the back post from Everitt's drilled cross from the left. It was his first goal in over 10 hours of football and he was delighted to break his duck. Exeter had barely created a decent chance in this game and it gave Monster hope that, if promoted, Aldershot could cause some issues next season in Tier 5. No TV screen for the Quarter Final draw in this competition, but Monster wasn't surprised to see Aldershot draw the side top of the National League, Southend United, joint on points with Exeter. An away tie at Roots Hall too. If they were going to win a trophy, they would have to do it the hard way. 17/02/2026 - VNLS v Hungerford Town (A) Their first away game of the month took Aldershot to 9th-placed Hungerford Town. Before the cup games in March were some potentially tricky fixtures and Monster was keen to ensure focus was kept on the league as well as dreaming about further progress in the cups. Using the full extent of the squad has been a key to Aldershot's performances this season, having been told he had now used 28 different players in the VNLS this season. The newest player, Hammonds, was involved in the opening goal in this game. His free kick from the left was nodded home by Tsurilkin attacking the back post in the 10th minute. Hungerford hit back and equalised in the 19th minute when Viggars played a one-two with Nallo, using his pace to escape the Aldershot defence and toe poke past McNamara as he rushed out to block. Aldershot were awarded a sketchy penalty in the 35th minute when Howley thought he had made a clean tackle on Hammonds, winning the ball but catching Hammonds in the process. The home fans were incensed as the referee pointed to the spot and Robinson was able to convert in front of the away fans, Calmey getting a hand to it but unable to keep it out. Howley, booked for the tackle which gave away the penalty, was then shown a second yellow card in the 44th minute for chopping down Kontoulis and was sent back to the dressing room. Aldershot couldn't increase their lead until stoppage time in the second half, a low Hammonds cross picking out an unmarked Robinson in the 6-yard box who turned the ball home for his 24th league goal of the season. New loanee Hammonds produced another player of the match performance with two assists. 21/02/2026 - VNLS v Hampton & Richmond Borough (A) 11th v 1st. A mid-table side who had given Aldershot a good game earlier in the season. Monster was starting to look ahead to the end of the season now, ticking the games off. It was the first time he had had such a large lead, though. 15 points clear with 15 games to go means 11 wins would still be required to guarantee the title. Could they grab the first of those wins in this game? Robinson was rested, showing some signs of fatigue, so Stewart and Harvey Jones were chosen to play up front in this game. In the 27th minute, Tydeman played the ball forward to Stewart from the centre circle, the former-Liverpool man taking a touch to control and then looking for Jones's run with his next touch. Chakawa intercepted with a slide tackle, but Jones adjusted his run to collect the ball, burst into the area, and blast a finish past Bilboe at the near post. Aldershot were the superior side throughout, but couldn't find a goal to prove their dominance until Stewart scored with a crouched header in the 80th minute. Hammonds, on as a substitute, whipped in a cross from the left, and the striker was on hand in the 6-yard box to nod into the corner. Another deserved win, and the side were starting to put a few clean sheets together. 24/02/2026 - VNLS v Dorking Wanderers (H) 1st v 13th. Another mid-table side but with a manager under considerable pressure, according to the pre-match press conference. Monster never dared to comment on the situations at other clubs in the same league, having never considered him to be qualified. He was a manager, not a pundit. A relatively first-choice side started this game with the FA Cup match against Sunderland coming up in a week's time. In the 17th minute, Aldershot broke through down the middle, Wilson and Jones combining to send Jones through but Brown intercepted and booted the ball behind for a corner. Harris whipped the corner in from the left right-footed to find Tsurilkin attacking the near post, forcing his header inside the far post to give Aldershot the lead. In the 63rd minute, Robinson had an effort from the edge of the area tipped over by Shelvey and once again the Harris-Tsurilkin combination produced the second goal, the centre back nodding in at the near post this time. Aldershot continued to create the better chances and grabbed a third in the 85th minute when Robinson lashed home from the edge of the box. Tydeman had tried to break into the area on a run, Hefzalla had timed his tackle to perfection but the ball ran straight to Robinson who hit his shot with power to find the back of the net. 3-0 on the night and Monster could tick off another match towards the title. With that, Aldershot confirmed that they would at least finish in the playoffs this season. 28/02/2026 - VNLS v Horsham (A) 21st v 1st. A must-win. A nice game to have with an FA Cup tie to come in a few days. Monster made 11 changes, sending out a reserve side without a recognised shadow striker. Everitt, playing as the left winger, found the net with a thunderbolt from outside the box in the 19th minute, finishing a lovely flowing move that started on the halfway line with the ball working through the different zones before falling at the feet of Everitt to lash home. On the stroke of half time, Barrows's throw in on the left went to Stewart, who crossed to the far post. The ball bounced a couple of times in the area before Cook was able to stab home on the stretch. 5 minutes after half time, Cook scored again at the back post. Everitt with the cross this time, the keeper flapped at it trying to go through a crowd of players and Cook was able to apply the finish with the keeper flat on the ground. Aldershot did let Horsham back into the game from there, though. Saunders scored on the counter in the 62nd minute, played through by West and using his acceleration to take the ball around McNamara to slot in. West scored in the 87th minute to make it a nervous last few minutes, picking up the ball on the edge of the box with Godwin caught out of position, and applying the finish off the far post. The 3 points was the most important thing for Monster and the attention once again returned to the FA Cup. February 2026 Review A famous month in the history of Aldershot Town. The win against Derby County would live long in the memory, and the only blip in the league was the draw against Billericay Town. The club finances were looking healthy, the mood around the club was generally positive on all fronts, and all that remains to be seen over the next 3 months is what Aldershot could win.

January 2026 01/01/2026 - VNLS v Woking (H) 1st v 2nd. A local derby. The two stand-out sides in the division. Injuries were starting to take their toll. Star man Harris was ruled out for a week with a twisted knee so Squires had to play in the defensive midfield role. Could Monster find a win to take Aldershot 12 points clear of their nearest rivals? Woking had only dropped points in 4 games, two early defeats in the season having cost them the lead in the title race. Woking actually started the game the better of the two sides when a short free kick routine released Hamblin on the left side of the area when everyone was expecting a cross but his shot was tame and McNamara gathered easily. McNamara's clearance was poor, Tydeman was beaten in the air and Shade was released in the right channel but McNamara dived to his left to turn the ball around the post. In the 20th minute, Squires lost the ball in the Woking half, Shade stealing the ball of his toe and embarking on a run into the area but his shot curled wide. Aldershot finally managed to put the Woking goal under some pressure when Kontoulis and Jones played a neat one-two, the striker running through to produce a flying save from Patterson when a more composed finish may have opened the scoring. In the 27th minute, Jones was sent clear once again, Patterson tipping the effort over. From the corner, Wilson's cross found Hunt at the near post and the giant centre back flicked his header over Patterson and it dropped in at the far post to give Aldershot the lead. In the 35th minute, Woking tested McNamara again, the keeper flying off his line to try and claim a cross but only managing to palm the ball into Windsor's path. Fortunately the defence held firm, producing two quickfire blocks to spare the keeper's blushes and the ball ran out for a corner. Windsor then went close with a back post header that McNamara did well to claw out before Hunt clipped the crossbar with a header of his own a few minutes later. Woking continued to press and an unmarked Fellahi saw his header from Green's corner smack off the post in the 43rd minute. 1-0 at half time and it was safe to say Aldershot had ridden their luck. In the 52nd minute, Jones was played through again for his 3rd one-on-one opportunity of the game but could only pass the ball straight at Patterson. A minute later, Aldershot won the ball back in their own half, smuggling the ball back to McNamara whose clearance found Robinson on the halfway line. He found the run of Jones who had the composure to square it to Tydeman whose run had gone unnoticed. The shadow striker kept his composure and clipped the ball into the far corner to spark wild celebration on the terraces at The Recreation Ground. Could they hold on for a vital 3 points? Woking responded immediately, Fellahi hitting the post again with an effort from outside the box. Woking struggled to create many chances after that, sensing it wasn't going to be their day. Hunt had another header from a corner ruled out in the last few minutes, the referee spotting a push as the centre back powered his header home but it didn't affect the result. Woking had another effort before the end of the match, Shade played through on the right wing but McNamara got a strong hand to the shot to turn the ball behind from a narrow angle. A hard-fought 2-0 victory. The final day fixture between the two sides may not matter if Aldershot can sustain their lead at the top. 04/01/2026 - VNLS v Maidenhead United (H) With Maidenhead doing better than expected, currently in 4th in the league, the draw on the opening day didn't seem quite so disappointing. Monster remembered having dominated that day but unable to find a breakthrough. There were some tired faces noticeable at the pre-match briefing so Monster's side did contain a few rotated players with the FA Cup tie at Coventry City coming up in 6 days time. Aldershot made the better start but weren't able to find an early breakthrough. They managed to break the deadlock after 38 minutes when Layton Stewart hit a low half-volley from 22 yards which flew past an unsighted goalkeeper. Robinson had a goal ruled out shortly after due to being offside from a free kick. It was 1-0 at half time. Aldershot came out after the break meaning business and were awarded a penalty when Stewart was shoved over in the area as a free kick came in. Robinson stepped up and found the bottom corner, sending the keeper the wrong way, for his 21st league goal of the season. Maidenhead did manage to find the net late on, Mallett with a well-timed run from the left wing allowing him to curl the ball past McNamara from inside the box. But Robinson restored the two-goal lead a moment later when O'Connell broke into the box on the right, ran to the byline, and squeezed a ball across to the unmarked striker in the 6 yard box who couldn't, and didn't, miss. 3-1 it finished and all the attention was now going to be on the trip to Championship side Coventry City. 10/01/2026 - FA Cup 3rd Round v Coventry City (A) 5th in the Championship v 1st in Vanarama National League South. A complete mismatch. Surely a nailed on Coventry City win? The crowd was 15,000+ so certainly the biggest crowd Monster had ever managed in front of and the largest crowd many of the players would have played in front of too. To Monster's disbelief, Everitt gave Aldershot the lead after 20 seconds. Tydeman played through Robinson, whose shot was saved, but Everitt smashed in the rebound, the ball bouncing to him as he followed in. Jones was taken off down the tunnel in the 7th minute, and Coventry capitalised within 2 minutes, Sam Greenwood running on to a long ball over the top and turning the ball past McNamara for the equaliser. Aldershot refused to give up, though, and Wilson converted an Everitt cross in the 23rd minute with a back post header. A 2-1 lead away against a Championship side. Monster was dreaming. They held the lead going into half time and Monster tried to temper the expectations and excitement in the dressing room, fully expecting a Coventry response. The response came after 57 minutes, Willock running through and smashing the ball into the bottom corner with a low drive from within the box. But that was it. Aldershot managed to restrict Coventry to two more efforts while having several efforts themselves but a 2-2 draw seemed fair. The replay would be in a couple of weeks. At home. The 4th Round was still a possibility. 11/01/2026 - technically still in the draw, Aldershot watched on in training again. Derby County. At home. But Coventry to get past first. 13/01/2026 - VNLS v Wealdstone (A) Another side having a promising season, Wealdstone were 4th going into the game. Monster saw the tired faces yet again and knew he couldn't risk going with a first choice side. He went with whoever was mostly fit, a chance for the reserve players to stake a place. With Wilson struggling for fitness, Monster asked Everitt to play on the right wing and he repaid the faith with an outstanding display. Everitt gave Aldershot the lead after 19 minutes, meeting Barrows's cross from the left with a bullet header at the back post. It was a similar story in the 56th minute, Stewart with the cross this time and Everitt met the ball with a downward header at the back post. Everitt went on to grab a hattrick with a curling effort from outside the box which flew in over the keeper. A professional 3-0 win with a number of youngsters playing, and Everitt seems to be going from strength to strength having overcome his struggles at the start of his Aldershot career. Woking stumbled to leave the gap at a whopping 13 points with the same number of games played. It also made it 26 games unbeaten in the league, setting a new league record. 17/01/2026 - FA Trophy 4th Round v Hampton & RIchmond Borough (H) Another opportunity to play the full reserve squad with the FA Cup replay due in midweek. Injuries were starting to stretch the squad further so Monster hoped the reserves would relish the opportunity to impress. It didn't look like going to plan in the pouring rain when Graham gave the away side the lead in the 8th minute, being played through the middle and scuffing his shot into the bottom-left corner. Milner-Smith equalised with a great header from a Tydeman corner 5 minutes later and then Olushola found the net with a tap in from 6 yards out from Kontoulis's knockdown. In the 37th minute, Chapman equalised with a tidy finish, once again running on to a through ball through the middle. Left-footed, he found the far corner past a helpless Petrie. Monster wasn't impressed with the standards set and asked the team for more at half time. It took substitutions to change the match. Hunt was sent on and his flicked header from a Tydeman corner found Olushola lurking at the back post and he tapped in from close-range. Hunt himself scored 3 minutes later, his header from a corner this time finding the target. In the 77th minute, the referee awarded a harsh penalty when Simpson broke into the box from the right and the defender slid in and took a good chunk of the ball. However, the referee pointed to the spot and Milner-Smith scored to the keeper's right with a powerful effort. A convincing win to meet expectations in this competition to reach the last-16. 20/01/2026 - FA Cup 3rd Round Replay v Coventry City (H) A sell-out at The Recreation Ground. Knowing that they had gone toe-to-toe with their Championship opponents in the first game meant Monster had hope that they could provide a shock. It was a goalless first half where Aldershot had the better of the play but no end product. After the break, Coventry took the lead when an umarked Kyereh looped a header into the top corner from Namli's free kick from the left side of the box. Aldershot responded immediately when O'Connell's raking pass found Robinson in space and the striker had the composure to knock the ball back to Stewart in the D who toe poked an effort from 20 yards into the bottom corner to send The Recreation Ground rocking. Wilson had the ball in the net in the 74th minute with a back post header from Robinson's cross but was adjudged to have been offside. Neither side could find a late breakthrough and the game went to extra time. Coventry took the lead in the first half of extra time when Lewis's low cross from the right was turned in by Lang, unmarked in the middle. Did Aldershot have anything left in the tank to respond? Early in the second half of extra time, Sproule headed Willock's cross clear to second-half substitute Kontoulis in the middle of his own half. He ran forward unchallenged deep into the Coventry half before toe-poking a shot from all of 25 yards into the bottom-right corner of the goal to send The Recreation Ground into raptures. A memorable strike that could well be a contender for goal of the season. Could it be the catalyst for the home side to find a winner? Neither could and after two barnstorming games, the tie would be settled on penalties. Aldershot went first in front of their fans, Robinson stepping up to side-foot the ball into the bottom-left corner. Walker hammered his penalty to McNamara's left to make it 1-1. Harris also went to the keeper's left, kept it low, and found the bottom corner. Lewis's penalty went straight down the middle to make it 2-2. Wilson was next and his penalty found the right corner with plenty of power. Bidwell was next for Coventry and McNamara would have been disappointed to get so close to it but it seemed to go through him. Stewart was next for Aldershot and blasted it straight down the middle, the keeper doing well to avoid it. Willock went to the McNamara's right and found the top corner. 4-4. Tsurilkin was next for Aldershot and the on-loan centre back powered it home with his laces into the bottom-right corner. Belkebla had to score for Coventry and he did, beating McNamara's dive to make it 5-5 and send the tie to sudden death. Sproule side-footed his penalty into the net to make it 6-5. All Aldershot needed was one miss. A save. Something. Doherty stepped up for Coventry's 6th penalty, sent McNamara the wrong way, but saw his shot come back off the crossbar. They'd done it! The Aldershot players went to mob McNamara and celebrated wildly in front of the home crowd. Monster gazed around the stadium, taking it all in. He didn't know if he would ever experience reaching the 4th Round of the FA Cup with a non-league side again. The effect on the club from this cup run could be felt for years. That night in the clubhouse he asked the board if they would approve him doing his next coaching badge and they immediately agreed. He would be studying for his National B Licence which should be completed by the end of the season. Another step on the road to the top. While only winning trophies would increase his score in the Hall of Fame, a cup run like this might attract the attention of some bigger clubs. To have reached January and not suffered a defeat in any competition would surely be making some league clubs take notice too. 24/01/2026 - VNLS v Dulwich Hamlet (H) The month of tricky games continued with another match against a playoff chasing side. Dulwich Hamlet had been on a good run themselves, having established themselves as the 3rd-placed side for several weeks. With no midweek game, Monster felt confident with keeping with some of the more fatigued players ahead of the game against Truro City the following weekend. That decision seemed justified within the first minute as some neat triangles across the pitch saw Robinson lay the ball off to Tydeman to scuff home from the edge of the area. Hunt's ball forward in the 8th minute was missed by the Dulwich defence allowing Stewart to turn his man and steer the ball home from inside the area. The goals continued to flow as a cross from out wide by Robinson from the left sailed over to Wilson at the back post to side-foot home from a few yards out. 3-0 with not even 10 minutes on the clock. The away side managed to hold out until stoppage time, Wilson feeding Tydeman who burst into the area and smashed into the roof of the net. 4-0 at the break and Monster had to ensure they kept their concentration. Maybe it was tiredness kicking in, maybe it was complacency, maybe Dulwich Hamlet had a roasting from their manager at half time, but Aldershot couldn't get going in the second half. Gyamfi shoved Hunt over in the area in the 50th minute and Monster instructed Tydeman to have the penalty to see if he could score a hattrick. Unfortunately his shot was too close to Murray-Jones and the chance had gone. It seemed to inspire Dulwich Hamlet and they pulled one back in the 63rd minute, Keogh nodding in unmarked from a Wilson cross. 5 minutes later they made it 4-2, Wilson turning his man and running on to a long ball from the back to stroke past McNamara into the bottom-left corner. With time running out, Keogh managed to flick a cross on to Wilson to score a second, side-footing home from 8 yards to set nerves jangling on the bench. Surely they couldn't throw away a 4-goal lead? Thankfully for Monster, Aldershot managed to hold on to grab another 3 points. Woking had dropped points, drawing 0-0 against Hungerford Town. The gap was now 15 points. Surely the title would be heading to Aldershot? 31/01/2026 - VNLS v Truro City (A) The last side to beat a Monster-managed side in a league game was Truro City in August 2024. Having been promoted via the playoffs with Hillingdon, Truro had had an exceptional season so far, comfortably mid-table and having flirted with the playoffs at one point. Monster wanted to put that behind him and had the luxury of naming a first choice team with most of the injuries having healed. After 19 minutes, the two centre backs combined to give Aldershot the lead. Robinson clipped a free kick into the box from near the centre circle but Hunt's first touch took him away from goal. He turned, tried to cross, but it looped up into the air and over the keeper, on to the head of Tsurilkin at the back post who couldn't miss. Truro only had one shot on goal in the first half but it remained 1-0 at the break. Shortly after half time, Hunt doubled the lead with a header from a Wilson free kick, rising above a couple of markers at the back post to find the net. Stewart made it 3-0 just before the hour, Tydeman the creator after some impressive passing and movement working the ball up the field, to find the run of the striker who deceived everyone by looking to pass the ball into the far corner, managed to flick the ball in at the near post instead. In the 70th minute, Wilson made it 4-0 as the ball was worked along the edge of the box to him, he had enough space to squeeze his shot in at the near post past the despairing dive of Osborn. The defence surrendered their clean sheet bonuses in the 86th minute, allowing Hurford to pick the ball up in the final third, stride forward, and smack the ball past McNamara from 25 yards. Woking dropped yet more points in a draw away at Maldon & Tiptree, the lead stretching to 17 points. Surely it was now a case of when and not if the title would be going to Aldershot. How many records could they pick up in the process? January 2026 Review Aldershot fans must be wondering when the dream will end. Some great results to finish the month unbeaten and the only thing that could possible stop them would be themselves. Monster vowed to do everything not to let that happen. The FA Cup 4th Round tie was looming too.

December 2025 02/12/2025 - VNLS v Dartford (H) 1st v 3rd on a wet Tuesday evening in Aldershot. Dartford had been performing above expectations and Monster was wary of them turning up and causing an upset. Tydeman was on hand to put the finishing touch to Hunt's flick on in the 28th minute and give Aldershot the lead. Tydeman was involved again 7 minutes later when his defence-splitting pass found Robinson in the area, and the striker kept his composure to slot home. On the stroke of half time, the referee spotted a push in the area as Wilson crossed the ball in from the right and it allowed Robinson to step up again to beat the keeper low to his left and make it 3-0. Dartford had a man sent off before the end but managed to prevent Aldershot from scoring again. Another result that highlighted Aldershot's dominance but attention was all on the FA Cup tie on Saturday. Would they make the 3rd Round? 06/12/2025 - FA Cup 2nd Round v Scunthorpe United (H) Scunthorpe had slipped to 23rd in League 2 so Monster was hoping Aldershot could provide an upset and make the 3rd Round, not only good for the club's bank balance but to test himself against a side at a higher level. Now in his 4th season as a football manager, the highest level team he had faced was League 1 Milton Keynes Dons while at Hillingdon. Now at a professional club, in good form, the sky seemed to be the limit. Wilson had picked up an injury the day before the game so Robinson played on the right wing allowing Stewart to start up front. A new loan signing in from Crewe Alexandra, Mihkel Tsurilkin started at the back after O'Connell had suffered a twisted knee during the week. Aldershot started in their usual rambunctious fashion, breaking the deadlock in the 6th minute. Everitt did well down the left to leave his marker on toast, and his whipped cross was missed by Taft and Stewart contesting it in the middle, falling kindly for Robinson to tuck in on the bounce. A couple of minutes before half time, Hunt made it 2-0. Harris free kick from the right. Hunt header into the bottom corner. Simple. Scunthorpe rarely threatened but managed to keep Aldershot quiet in the second half. It didn't matter and Monster celebrated in front of over 4,000 home fans in taking the Tier 6 side to the promised land of the FA Cup 3rd Round. With the prize money and gate receipts, the bank balance was back in the black since December 2024. Monster promised the players they would all watch the draw at training. 07/12/2025 - There was a real buzz at the training ground as Monster brought the tactics screen out and they streamed the draw live. Coventry City away. Having had 20,000+ attendances for recent Championship matches, Monster was hopeful of attracting that sort of amount for an FA Cup tie. 7th in the Championship would prove to be a difficult ask, 4 tiers above them, so the run would most likely be at an end. Monster wondered how many of the former brush-factory workers would recognise him in the newspapers as the manager at Aldershot. Kidderminster Harriers were the lowest side left in the competition and had earned a home draw against Swindon Town. 10/12/2025 - VNLS v Hemel Hempstead Town (H) 1st v 11th. After the FA Cup exploits some injuries had started to mount up. Harvey Jones would be missing for a few weeks now with a knock picked up in training. However, with the squad performing well as a whole, Monster had faith in whomever he selected. As if the script had already been written, Aldershot dominated the match. Tydeman opened the scoring in the 24th minute. Clayton spread the ball out wide to the right and Everitt outwriggled his marker to send a cross in which Tydeman tapped in at the near post. The second goal came from the right side too. Everitt was once again the provider, crossing on his weaker right foot this time, and Stewart was able to find the bottom corner through a crowd of bodies. In the 39th minute, Robinson had time and space to hold the ball up, lay it off to Kilner, and then receive the return pass as the full back played him through. He finished right-footed, low to the keeper's left, to continue his goalscoring form. He scored a second before the half time whistle too. Harris's free kick from thirty yards was tipped on to the crossbar by the keeper but Robinson had kept himself onside and reacted quickest to turn in. 4-0 at half time and 4-0 at full time too, the only incident of the second half being a red card for Granger, lunging in two-footed on Tydeman near the halfway line. Another professional performance from The Shots and Monster couldn't contain his excitement for what the future might hold if the side keep playing this well. It was also the first time they had kept 3 clean sheets in a row since Monster's arrival. 16/12/2025 - VNLS v Tonbridge Angels (A) Monster wanted to keep winning - Woking were hot on their tails, 9 points behind but with a game in hand. Tonbridge Angels were in mid-table and Monster couldn't see much of a threat from them. Harris opened the scoring in this game with a wonderful curling free kick which sailed in at the near post. Aldershot continued to press for the remainder of the half but gave up an equaliser just before half time when the defence were caught out by a quick one-two, allowing Mannai to run through and smash past McNamara. Aldershot went in behind at the break as Tonbridge scored in first-half stoppage time. Price tied Kilner in knots and put over a tantalising cross that Close nodded in at the far post, rising about Clayton to power it home. Robinson found an equaliser in the 70th minute, Monsterball finding its way into the area with neat one-touch passing, and Robinson the beneficiary, stroking the ball home from 14 yards. Tonbridge were more than happy with a point and Aldershot dropped points for only the second time all season. It was another game they should have won, though, such was their dominance in the stats. Monster had to accept he had been complacent but insisted in the press conference that the next winning run started now. 20/12/2025 - FA Trophy 3rd Round v Brackley Town (A) Another away game in a cup competition found Aldershot travelling to VNL North side Brackley Town, 21st in their division. Monster put out the rotated side again with a packed Christmas and New Year schedule looming. Terry Brown, the director of football, had been using his connections in the game to source free loans, and the latest find, Conor Sproule, made his first start for Aldershot in this game. The plan didn't look so great when Brackley took the lead after 8 minutes, a whipped cross from the right finding Rolt all on his own in the penalty area and he slammed the ball home to the home supporters' delight. Aldershot were level before half time as Kontoulis went on a rampaging run down the left and crossing to find Stewart in the middle who couldn't miss with his header from 6 yards out. Tsurilkin missed a penalty shortly after half time, hitting his shot from the spot straight at Brackley's keeper, and Monster then started to worry if sending out the reserves had been such a good idea. In the 64th minute, Elmi was found out wide and he twisted and turned to find space for a cross which Harvey Jones managed to convert from near the penalty spot, tucking the ball first time into the bottom-left corner. Aldershot finished the stronger of the two sides but didn't add to their lead. Still, they were back on the winning trail and Monster hoped the rest for the first-choice eleven would bode well with 5 league matches coming up in the next 14 days. 23/12/2025 - VNLS v Welling United (A) Welling were a side that had struggled so far this season and were below their predicted spot in the league. They had given Aldershot a decent game in the first meeting between the sides and were hoping to do the same today. In the 7th minute, Kilner played a fantastic ball over the top to find Jones's run, and the on-loan striker kept his composure to finish, although the keeper did get a hand to it but wasn't enough to stop the ball going in. It was a similar story for the equaliser. Addo-Antoine held off the attentions of two Aldershot defenders and squeezed a cross over from right on the byline. Yeates stole a march on O'Connell and met the ball with his head, McNamara getting two hands to it but the momentum still took it past him and into the net. It was Welling's first shot of the game. Monster wasn't amused. Despite dominating the second half it looked as if it was going to be another draw on the road. That was until a long ball forward from Sproule looked certain to be going down the keeper's throat. However, Everitt made a late run to appear from nowhere and put the keeper off, controlled the ball, and tried to hook it inside the far post. The ball came back off the woodwork but fell kindly for transfer-listed Tom Cannon who tucked the ball away with relish from 3 yards out. It turned out to be a deserved winner and with Woking drawing away at Wealdstone, Aldershot increased their lead at the top of the table. 26/12/2025 - VNLS v Hillingdon Borough (H) 1st v 24th for Monster's first Boxing Day fixture. Hillingdon had had an awful season so far with 1 win and 3 draws in 20 games. Monster was mixed as he shook hands with some of the players as they came out to warm up. Ihionvien, Ward, Fensome, Martin, and Casey were the only survivors from Monster's last named team. Hillingdon had actually beaten Aldershot on their last visit to The Recreation Ground when Monster was in charge, so he hoped that they wouldn't pull off a shock again today. Hillingdon, now playing a 3-5-2 formation rather than the 4-1-3-2 which had brought them so much success during Monster's spell in charge, and now also playing the direct, counter-attacking football the board had so desperately craved, made life difficult for Aldershot in the first half until the 27th minute when Clayton picked the ball up in midfield and whipped a wonderful ball over the top for Stewart to run on and clip the ball past Agboola into the far corner. It was 2-0 when Kontoulis was sent tumbling in the area and Zach Robinson stepped up to leather the ball into the bottom right corner of the net. Coughlan managed to pull one back in Hillingdon's first shot of the game, hitting them on the counter attack as Aldershot chased more goals, and placing the ball inside the far post. 2-1 at the break and Monster demanded more from his side. A Harris corner early in the second half found the head of Tsurilkin and he made it 3-1. With a lot of football left to be played in the next 7 days, Monster eased off the pressure and the game petered out after that. Not the routing that everyone had anticipated but another 3 points for Aldershot, while Hillingdon slipped to their 9th defeat in a row. 28/12/2025 - VNLS v Weymouth (A) As expected with only two days between fixtures, the match against Weymouth saw Monster name a rotated side with the Woking match due a few days later. Weymouth had been relegated from the National League last season but had struggled in this season so far, languishing in mid-table rather than challenging for a return. In a first half of little incident, Kilner went off injured in the 45th minute. Then Aldershot intercepted the ball from a throw-in, Clark-Pye found Robinson inside the area and his deft touch found strike partner Harvey Jones to sweep home on his weaker foot. A corner undid Weymouth for Aldershot's second goal. Sproule was unmarked in the middle of the area as Everitt's cross came in, and the on-loan centre back was able to power the ball home. Everitt then left the field due to injury too but shortly after, Cannon found the forward run of Tydeman and the shadow striker took a touch to create the angle and slotted home. A 3-0 win away and at the halfway stage of the season, Aldershot were 9 points clear having only dropped points in 2 games all season. December 2025 Review Not quite the third perfect month in a row, the draw away at Tonbridge Angels the only blemish. January would prove to be a defining month with fixtures against the other sides in the top 4 as well as the FA Cup 3rd Round fixture against Coventry City. The team had set a club record of 30 games without defeat.