ALDERSHOT 0 CITY 0

THEY didn’t need to rake the leaves off the pitch at Stamford Bridge or the Madejski.

After the glitz and glamour of last season, City returned to the proper grass roots of the FA Cup at Aldershot yesterday.

The non-leaguers had requested volunteers turn up in the morning with their gardening gear to clear the surface from the trees behind one end.

It was a stark reminder that the Bantams were starting all over in the competition where they made waves across the world with their previous exploits.

That giant-killing reputation cut no ice in blustery north Hampshire for a first-round game being beamed to over 180 different countries.

But City made sure the TV audiences in far-flung outposts from Kyrgyzstan to Guatemala would not witness another first-round shock and they did not join the likes of Crewe, Barnsley and Notts County through the exit door.

The 51-place difference between the sides – one more than the gap separating the Bantams and Chelsea in January – was nullified by the uncomfortable conditions and a patchy performance and several players were below par.

But City still had enough of the ball in the second half to have avoided a replay at Valley Parade next week.

Phil Parkinson paid full respect to the hosts by naming a very strong team, which included a first start since his injury for Billy Clarke.

But his namesake Nathan, who probably had expected to play, found himself on the bench again as Reece Burke made a recovery from the hip spasm he suffered in the Blackpool win.

Aldershot is only 25 miles from Reading, where City’s Wembley dream had finally died in a quarter-final replay in March. But the opening skirmishes were more reminiscent of the early struggle at Halifax in last year’s first round.

Using the slope to the full, Dan Walker had some immediate joy against James Meredith. From one skidding cross by the winger, first Richard Brodie and then strike partner Charlie Walker had chances to ruffle the Bantams.

The Walker duo were causing plenty of concern. Charlie robbed Gary Liddle and slipped past Rory McArdle before Burke made a crucial covering tackle, then Dan whipped in another teasing ball that flew across the goal-mouth.

They were uncomfortable moments for the visitors without a real threat on Ben Williams’ goal. Charlie Walker nodded down for Jim Stevenson to have a pop from 20 yards but it bobbled off target.

City had not tested Shots keeper Phil Smith by this point. His biggest involvement was a confident low take from Tony McMahon’s cross after Clarke’s back-heel created the room.

But the visitors were sloppy in their play and there were too many loose passes and casual moments. Liddle, Kyel Reid and Billy Knott were all guilty of not taking enough care on the ball.

Finally the game produced its first real incident ten minutes before half-time – and not surprisingly it came from Aldershot. Stevenson let rip with a fierce half-volley but Williams was equal to it and superbly pushed the ball behind.

City felt they should have had a penalty for handball against Sean McGinty. McArdle’s set-piece header across goal appeared to strike the Aldershot skipper’s arm but ref Ben Toner was unmoved as Knott’s follow-up was deflected over the bar.

But that was the highlight for the visitors in a scrappy half that hardly made for gripping viewing for the travelling fans, let alone anyone watching in some of the far outposts of the globe.

Having emerged unscathed from playing uphill, City had the pitch in their favour after the break although the wind had kicked up.

City looked as if Parkinson had put the wind up them as they began with more conviction.

Clarke showed great control to turn away from Jack Saville just inside the Shots box and his shot was touched behind by Smith. It was a fine save to keep the ball out by a whisker.

Former York striker Brodie and McMahon then clashed in front of the dug-outs. Arms were raised and Brodie fell theatrically clutching his face but the official decided against showing a card.

The wind threatened to have a say when Damon Lathrope’s free-kick caught a gust towards the City goal. But fortunately for Williams there was no Fleetwood flashback as it bounced over his bar.

Clarke had looked bright in his longest run-out since the knee injury but his day was done after 70 minutes as Parkinson threw on Devante Cole.

City were looking for a winner and Hanson steered Reid’s cross into the path of McMahon but he skewed his shot wide under pressure. Then Cole did well to spin on another Hanson header but could not get enough power on his effort which bounced into the keeper’s hands.

There was plenty of huff and puff as City dominated the second-half possession. But Smith’s goal remained largely untroubled and the non-leaguers deserved their second crack after claiming a fifth clean sheet in their last eight games.

It was a third shut-out on the bounce for City so maybe the goalless scoreline should not have come as a real surprise.

And given the way the formbook has been ripped up over the weekend by the plucky minnows of Salford City, Eastleigh, Altrincham and Chesham, City will feel they safely negotiated a potentially hazardous hurdle.

Parkinson said: “It was a difficult game and the blustery, horrible conditions were a real leveller.

“I don’t think we played great first half and found it hard to adapt. A few players were below the levels we’ve set in recent weeks.

“But I thought we controlled it second half for large periods and we were the most dominant team.

“We’ll take a draw. It was such a big game in terms of Aldershot and they bigged this game up as you’d expect them to do.”

Referee: Ben Toner (Darwen)

Bookings: Brodie (Aldershot); Burke (City)

Attendance: 2,640

Shots on target: Aldershot 1, City 2

Shots off target: Aldershot 3, City 8

Corners: Aldershot 7, City 7

Fouls committed: Aldershot 8, City 6