Goals from Josh Barrett and Tyler Frost secured a 2-1 comeback victory for Aldershot Town against Southampton under-21s.

Jay Robinson had put the young Saints in front in this National League Cup tie at The EBB Stadium on December 3.

The Shots started very well and dominated possession for the opening few minutes. Adopting a patient approach, they were happy to wait for an opportunity to appear rather than force it.

They found joy down the right. Barrett and Aaron Jones both saw what would have been dangerous crosses blocked, and Barrett saw an effort from the edge of the box flash past the post.

But Southampton’s youngsters took the lead, as Robinson was played through and placed a shot past Jordi van Stappershoef against the run of play.

Aldershot continued to have the majority of the ball, but the Saints youngsters were quick and lively on the counter-attack, with good technical ability clearly on show and displayed by their attackers.

Van Stappershoef did well to keep out a header from close range as one of those counter-attacks found William Merry at the back post.

The Shots began to create more dangerous opportunities after the half-hour mark, and Jack Barham could have found the equaliser had it not been for an exceptional recovering challenge from a Southampton defender after he was played through by a sumptuous ball from Barrett.

Barham was then again denied not long later, but this time by Saints keeper Adli Mohamed having been played in by Ryan Jones after a spinning turn gave him space to break forward.

But Aldershot did draw level before half-time. Replays will need to be watched and the dubious goals panel consulted, as Barrett’s cross from the right appeared to be deflected, with Mohamed wrong-footed as the ball hit the net.

Southampton had the first chance of the second half as Baylee Dipepa broke through the Shots defence in the 50th minute, but van Stappershoef did really well to race out of his goal to win the ball.

Just a minute later the Shots took the lead. Olly Scott did fantastically well to win the ball back on the left and keep it in before delivering a brilliant looping cross to the back post for Frost who showed expert control to volley past Mohamed.

Aldershot continued to push forward as they looked to extend their lead, but Ryan Jones blasted an effort just over the bar after cutting in from the left and Theo Widdrington was close to turning in Barham’s cross either side of the hour.

It took until the closing stages of the game for a chance of note to appear again as Southampton looked to get a late equaliser. Princewill Ehibhatiomhan shot wide after Romeo Akachukwu did well to create space in the Shots box and flash a low cross across van Stappershoef’s goal.

Straight up the other end, Maxi Mullins perhaps should have done better after Kai Corbett kept the ball alive at full stretch with two neat flicks before finding Mullins, but the Shots youngster could only shoot straight at Mohamed after beating his man.

But with a few minutes remaining van Stappershoef pulled off a fantastic save to secure the win for Aldershot. Ehibhatiomhan headed down for Robinson but this time the Saints attacker could not find the back of the net as the Shots keeper denied him with his feet at full stretch.

Attendance: 272

Aldershot Town: 1. Jordi van Stappershoef, 6. Theo Widdrington, 8. Tyler Frost (27. James Henry 64), 10. Josh Barrett (24. Maxwell Mullins 71), 11. Ryan Jones, 17. Aaron Jones (C), 18. Olly Scott, 21. Ashley Akpan, 22. Jack Barham (9. Kai Corbett 78), 25. Rollin Menayese (2. Lachlan Byrd 46), 34. Dejan Tetek (7. Cameron Hargreaves 64). Substitutes not used: 28. Marcus Dewhurst, 33. Billy Walsh.

Southampton under-21s: 1. Adli Mohamed, 2. Derrick Abu, 3. Jonathan Moses Sesay, 4. Jayden Moore, 5. Nathanael Boot (15. Will Armitage 46), 6. Noel Buck, 7. Jay Robinson, 8. Joseph O’Brien-Whitmarsh (16. Romeo Akachukwu 46), 9. Baylee Dipepa (18. Princewill Ehibhatiomhan 65), 10 Rory Macleod (17. Brandon Charles 65), 11. William Merry (14. Joshua Lett 82). Substitutes not used: 12. Samuel Tabares, 13. Joshua McNamara.