ALDERSHOT TN 1, SUTTON UTD 0

ONE moment of genuine quality sent Aldershot Town past past a spirited Sutton United into the first round proper of the FA Cup.

The Conference South outfit actually made more of the running at the EBB Stadium last Saturday and Aldershot had to rely on another disciplined defensive display to secure a third clean sheet in four games, while Rhys Browne’s 71st-minute strike spared them a potentially hazardous replay at Gander Green Lane.

Aldershot had sparkled against Portsmouth in a first-round shock victory last season, but this tie was more reminiscent of their humiliation at the hands of Shortwood United two years ago.

Older fans will remember a 3-0 Cup defeat to Sutton back in 1987, when Aldershot were a Football League club, and for two thirds of this match Paul Doswell’s side had a decent chance of repeating that success.

Their lanky, awkward, very hard-working players had the better of a scrappy first 30 minutes and had they brought their shooting boots with them, the in-form Shots would have been in trouble.

Sutton’s shots at goal were more of a danger to the floodlights, however, while other promising attacks foundered against Omar Beckles and Jack Saville who were outstanding in the centre of the home defence.

Kevin Amankwaah and Tom Bolarinwa combined to good effect on the right and directed some excellent crosses into the area, but experienced Football League striker Craig McAllister was crowded out by the commanding centre-backs, while former Shots player Dan Fitchett barely had a sniff of a chance.

Aldershot, who replaced the injured Sam Hatton with Dan Walker before half-time, offered little in attack and were fortunate not to concede late in the half.

A blistering free-kick from Ross Stearn moved in the air like a James Anderson outswinger, curving just past the far upright.

A deflected cross from the nimble Stearn then dropped to Bolarinwa who, presented with the best chance of the half, volleyed well over the top.

Just as they had done the previous week against Bromley, Aldershot raised their game in the second half. An early Dan Walker free-kick almost gave them the lead, Ross Worner’s judgement proving sound, although he probably had his heart in his mouth as the ball bounced inches past the far post.

Worner, a local boy who grew up in Hindhead, played 26 matches from 2011-12 as Aldershot’s regular keeper, including the plum League Cup home meeting with Manchester United, before a back injury disrupted a promising career.

Ominously, Worner was feeling his back after a beefy clearance early in this game, but continued after treatment and showed his shot-stopping ability with a spectacular late save.

Aldershot’s passing was sharper now, but too many mistakes invited Sutton to have a generous share of the possession.

And so the game remained wide open until, at last, some slick first-time passing unpicked Sutton’s previously tight defence and Jim Stevenson laid the ball back for Rhys Browne to side-foot high into the net.

The Shots continued to live dangerously, though. Saville made a brave headed clearance from an Amankwaah piledriver and only a miraculous block by Cheye Alexander denied McAllister an equaliser as he darted in to get the final touch to a driven cross from Bolarinwa,

Charlie Walker should have put the game to bed after being released by Dan Walker, but his weak shot was cleared for a corner. Soon after, Alexander’s fearsome drive was flicked over the crossbar by an airborne Worner.

Going into added time, Sutton had a golden chance to force a replay. Another Bolarinwa cross picked out an unmarked Craig Dundas, whose header flew wide when he should have at least got it on target.

“We’re happy to be in the first round,” said Barry Smith, “especially when you see the number of National League teams going out to lower league opposition – it shows how tough it is.

“It was all about being in the hat for Monday,” continued the Shots manager. “We’ve had four clean sheets in the past month. The whole team has been working hard – people don’t see the work-rate put in.

“But we have to do better on the ball when we’ve got it. That was the biggest disappointment today.”

Aldershot: Smith; Alexander, Beckles, Saville, McGinty; Browne, Lathrope, Stevenson, Hatton (D Walker 33); C Walker, Brodie. Subs (not used): Oliver, Barnes-Homer, Richards, Thomas, Barker, Mavila. Booked: C Walker.

Sutton Utd: Worner; Amankwaah, Beckwith, Collins, Wishart; Bolarinwa, Eastmond, Gomis, Stearn (Fleetwood 69); McAllister, Fitchett (Dundas 79). Subs (not used): Cooper, John, Shaw. Booked: Gomis.

Referee: Richard Martin.

Attendance: 1,471 (211 away).