ALDERSHOT TOWN 2, SOUTHPORT 1

A FORTNIGHT’S break from league action has come at an unfortunate time for Aldershot after a third straight win moved them to within four points of the play-off places.

Having worked up a promising momentum, Gary Waddock’s men would probably have preferred to stay in match trim. As it is, they have to wait until January 21 before taking their National League promotion credentials for a stiff examination at Gateshead.

After two uplifting wins against Woking over the holiday period, the Shots had to remain grounded for the visit of Southport on Saturday. They duly shut out the improving Merseysiders before conceding a goal in the 90th minute, but by that time the points were safely in the bag.

“It was a shame we didn’t get a clean sheet – we switched off right at the end,” said manager Waddock. “All in all, the performance was very, very good. We created a lot of chances, had a lot of possession, the negative was conceding a goal at the end. We did well defensively and I can’t remember Coley (Jake Cole) having to make a save.”

Aldershot were some way short of the dynamic form that had destroyed Woking on Boxing Day, but then they were up against a stoic, defensively-minded Southport who had clearly done their homework. Scott Rendell, in a rich vein of scoring form, found himself heavily leaned upon by centre-backs Aaron Jones and Josh Thompson.

However, fellow attacker Shamir Fenelon found space to break the deadlock just on half-time and a deserved goal for Jake Gallagher settled the outcome in the 70th minute.

Kundai Benyu – on loan from Ipswich – was a worthy man of the match, but fellow central midfielder Gallagher, elbows pumping, always prompting, often arguing, was the heartbeat of the team.

It was an error-ridden start for both teams. Rendell headed wide from an inviting Anthony Straker cross and Idris Kanu picked up a needless yellow card for simulation. But after half-an-hour, the Shots were getting into their stride. Fenelon had the ball whipped off his toe after Rendell’s pull-back and only a brilliant reflex save by Magnus Norman kept out a first-time shot from Bernard Mensah.

Fenelon headed tamely into Norman’s arms when a whipped-in cross from Cheye Alexander deserved a better result and Southport continued to live dangerously until, at last, Jake Cole was forced into action, Ruben Jerome bringing a sprawling save from the Aldershot keeper.

It needed a bit of quality to prise open Southport’s tight defence and Benyu supplied it with an enterprising run, taking Fenelon’s return pass and then crossing for Fenelon to place the ball high into the net.

Forced to emerge from their defensive shell, the visitors were more of an attacking threat after half-time. Almost immediately, Cole made a fine double save to deny Jerome who looked Southport’s best player before being withdrawn, apparently injured.

Aldershot thought they had doubled their lead when Alexander’s free-kick was deftly glanced in by Rendell, but the flag was up for offside.

Southport spurned a good chance at a corner, Andrai Jones stooping to head straight at Cole. At the other end, the persevering Mensah set up Rendell whose strong header was parried for a corner by Norman.

Another precision pass from Mensah led to the decisive goal with 20 minutes remaining. Gallagher, as usual, was leading the vanguard, anticipating Mensah’s angled ball from the left, and the England C player struck a shot that deflected off Rendell to beat the wrong-footed Norman.

Oxford United loanee Jonny Giles made his Aldershot debut in the flurry of substitutions that followed.

The Shots were coasting towards the finish and dropped their guard sufficiently to be punished when substitute Ben McKenna picked out an unmarked Adrai Jones who prodded the ball over the advancing Cole and into an empty net.

But there were no more slip-ups in the four minutes of injury time as Aldershot made a winning start to a year that could yet include a play-off encore.

Aldershot: Cole, Alexander, Conroy, Reynolds, Straker, Mensah, Gallagher, Benyu (Kellermann 83), Kanu, Fenelon (Giles 74), Rendell. Subs (not used): Evans, McClure, Smith. Booked:?Kanu, Fenelon, Rendell.

Southport: Norman, Ashton, Nolan, Thompson, Jerome (McKenna 58, Brewster (Onovwigun 75), Andrai Jones, Weeks (White 81), Aaron Jones, McKeown, Higgins. Subs (not used): Springthorpe, Whittle. Booked: Andrai Jones.

Referee: Anthony Serrano.

Attendance: 1,772 (90 away).