A young Chelsea XI earned a 2-2 draw at Aldershot Town on Saturday, courtesy of goals from Miroslav Stoch and Gaël Kakuta (pictured).

The side consisted entirely of reserve and youth team members, with the game providing the first competitive action of the new season.

In total, reserve team manager Brendan Rodgers was able to use 17 players, and was pleased with his side's efforts.

Slovakian under-21 international Stoch gave the Blues the lead just after the half-hour mark after Sergio Tejera played a clever through pass. Stoch kept his composure and side-footed home past Shots keeper Nikki Bull.

Tejera was in the thick of the action just before the break, dancing through a crowd of players before being denied with a desperate tackle just as he prepared to pull the trigger.

At half-time Rodgers made six changes, meaning Shaun Cummings, captain Liam Bridcutt, Carl Magnay and Patrick van Aanholt would play the full 90 minutes. Stoch was injured with 25 minutes to go, meaning the Blues would have to finish the game with 10 men as substituted players were not permitted to return to the pitch.

The home side pulled level after 51 minutes after a shot from Kirk Hudson rebounded off the post and in off the unfortunate Bridcutt.

Aldershot could have taken the lead when they were awarded a penalty, but substitute goalkeeper Stuart Searle pushed away Ben Harding's spot kick.

Kakuta looked to have won the game with seven minutes remaining, squeezing the ball in from a tight angle, but Aldershot again pulled level shortly afterwards, as Marvin Morgan poked home from close range after a corner.

'It was disappointing to concede at the end from a corner, but overall it was an excellent team performance,' said Rodgers.

'After the first week of training our main aim was to improve fitness and to do so in a game situation was excellent. It took us time to get going but we played some good football and scored two very good goals.

'There was some confusion when Miroslav was injured and we were unable to bring a substitute on, but to play 25 minutes with a man down was a terrific experience for the boys, and forced them to play in a different way, using counter-attacking football, which is how Gael's goal came about.'

Chelsea team: Rhys Taylor (Stuart Searle 46), Shaun Cummings, Liam Bridcutt (captain), Carl Magnay, Patrick Van Aanholt, Tom Taiwo (Michael Woods 46), Fabio Ferreira (Jacob Mellis 46), Sergio Tejera (Gael Kakuta 46), Morten Nielsen (Daniel Philliskirk 46), Ricardo Fernandes (Jacopo Sala 46), Miroslav Stoch.