Aldershot move closer to League return

Gary Waddock, collar of his black coat turned up, ginger hair artfully teased into spikes, stood beside his dugout, in field-marshal mode, and bellowed to his players: “Pass the ball, move the ball.” Aldershot Town have executed their manager’s instructions brilliantly this season and if they did not exercise their skills to maximum effect in taxing conditions on Saturday, they saw off Altrincham 2-1 to move 12 points clear in the Blue Square Premier.

Waddock remains resolutely in one-game-at-a-time mode, understandably as they are coming thick and fast, with matches away to Crawley Town today, Droylsden on Thursday and Stafford Rangers on Saturday. By then, even the manager might acknowledge that the club founded to win back the Football League place lost with the demise of Aldershot FC in March 1992, have their objective within their grasp.

The goal that cancelled the lead given to Altrincham by Colin Little in the fourteenth minute was a product of flowing Aldershot football, Anthony Charles sweeping in a cross by Junior Mendes. Their victory, was secured, however, by two other ingredients that have helped them this season: fine goalkeeping and menace from deadball positions.

Scott Davies struck a stunning free kick into the top corner in the 67th minute, which proved the decisive goal and ended a spell of dominance by an Altrincham side who played ambitious football that belied the threat of relegation that hangs over them.

Their ascendancy would have been rewarded when Chris Senior met a cross by Robbie Lawton with a fiercely struck shot but for a stupendous close-range save by Nikki Bull in the Aldershot goal. No wonder supporters are aghast at his intention to leave when his contract runs out in May.

WALTER GAMMIE