ALDERSHOT took another tantalising step towards a return to the Football League, moving up to second in the Conference table after beating in-form Exeter City.
More than 4,000 fans packed into the Rec on Tuesday night to witness a combative encounter which lived up to expectations as something of a grudge match.
Aldershot avenged their FA Cup defeat by Exeter four years ago and, had they not conceded a late goal, they would have pipped Chester for top slot.
But, as is their fashion, they seem to take an almost perverse delight in keeping their fans on the edge of their seats with a tense final quarter.
This encounter started at a high tempo as two sides riding high in the table sought to stamp their authority early on.
Fresh from a call-up for the Non-League England team, Aldershot midfielder Jon Challinor came close to breaking the deadlock. After a well-timed run into the box, his clever chip struck the top of the crossbar.
Counter-attacking quickly, The Grecians unleashed an impressive move of their own. It culminated in a strong shot from Gareth Sheldon which hit the side-netting.
Regrouping, the home side pressed forward with good link-up play, retaining much of the possession. The pressure eventually told on 37 minutes when Adam Miller supplied 'form' striker Tim Sills with a golden opportunity he was in no mood to miss out on.
He duly claimed his 11th goal of the season after firing off a 20-yard shot directly at Martin Rice, who appeared to have made a fine block. But he was unable to clutch on to the ball and fell with it into the back of the net – definitely not one for his photo-album.
The pace never let up in the second half, with Roscoe D'Sane terrorising the City defence which included former Manchester City veteran Scott Hiley (their main playmaker) and slippery Brazilian Under-18 international, Santos Gaia.
D'Sane came close to giving his side a two-goal cushion after 60 minutes, but his shot was impressively blocked by defender Chris Todd.
Confusion reigned over exactly who claimed Aldershot's second score, but it was, in fact, an own goal by Alex Jeannin following a renewed spell of pressure with 25 minutes left on the clock.
Thereafter, Aldershot played with a cocky swagger, with well-deserved man of the match Lee Charles appearing to be everywhere on the pitch at once.
But as Aldershot took their collective foot off the gas, their display of exhibition football almost cost them dearly. Exeter were not prepared to lie down without a fight.
With seven minutes left, City launched a raid down the left channel. James Coppinger supplied a decent cross and Sean Divine neatly directed his header past a diving Richard Barnard, a goal that set up a gripping finish to a match full of incident.
Clearly chuffed by the result, Aldershot manager Terry Brown did his best Tony Blair impression in kissing his "lucky baby" (belonging to a family friend) as he marched off the field.
He said: "It was a very exciting game and they were probably one of the best sides we have played, so it could have gone either way. The second goal was quite fortuitous, but we had already missed a number of chances. It was end to end stuff. I'm really delighted, this was a big win for us."
Aldershot: Barnard, Hooper, Chewins, Warburton, Rees, Challinor (Sterling 45), Shields, Miller, Charles, Sills (McClean 75), D'Sane. Subs (not used) Bull (g/k), Taylor, Nutter,
Exeter: Rice, Ampadu (Taylor 68), Hiley (Moor 80), Gaia, Todd, Cronin, Sheldon (Coppinger 68), McConnell, Flack, Devine, Jeannin. Subs (not used): Bittner, Moxey.
Attendance: 4,112.
Referee: Dean Whitestone.