Sunday 9 November 2014 18:32, UK
Aldershot manager Andy Scott saluted his players for giving Portsmouth a "fright" as they held the 10-man hosts to a 2-2 draw.
The clubs meet again on November 18 after failing to settle the first-round battle of Hampshire's military towns on Remembrance Sunday. Pompey's Craig Westcarr earned his side a penalty after 15 minutes when he was felled by Shots' Glenn Wilson. Jed Wallace sent former Blues keeper Phil Smith the wrong way to put the hosts ahead. But the visitors levelled when Jordan Roberts side-footed home Dan Holman's cross from the right in first-half stoppage time. Kieron Forbes dispossessed Pompey substitute Ben Close to square for Mark Molesley, who put the Shots ahead after 66 minutes. But Danny Hollands nodded in Ricky Holmes' cross nine minutes from time to spare the Blues blushes, before Pompey's Paul Robinson was dismissed for a second yellow card. Scott was content with a money-spinning replay at the Recreation Ground, but admits the Shots could have polished off their near neighbours at Fratton Park. He said: "I'm proud. In the second half, we were the dominant side by a long stretch. We just pounded away, got ahead and I think the third goal would have killed it off. "The board will be pleased with a replay and the fans will be I'm sure. So we have to be pleased too. We enjoyed it. We thoroughly enjoyed the day and all the attention. "They had a heck of a fright. We kept their fans very quiet and we gave ours something to cheer about." Pompey boss Andy Awford was frustrated his side did not finish off their rivals with a dominant start to the tie. But he is hopeful the Blues, who are yet to win an FA Cup tie since reaching the final in 2010, can break that run and continue a more positive record. He said: "We've never lost to a non-league club either. So is your glass half empty of half full? I know what mine is. "I'm a bit annoyed, if I'm honest, that we let them off the hook in the first half. If we went in 1-0 up, I think we'd have won that game. But they went in with their tails up. We should have been two or three up before we even scored. We had some great chances. "For the first 20 minutes of the game, we were very good. For the last 10 or 15 minutes of the first half, we weren't. We didn't turn the screw like I wanted us to. That's the disappointing thing. "But I have to give the players massive credit for the way they came back from behind again."
