HOPEFULLY, Aldershot will have a chance to avenge this defeat next season – when both sides are in the Conference.

For the present, Aldershot have to give best to Worcester City, the Dr Marten Premier League leaders, who clinched their place in the lucrative third round with a superb goal by Adam Wilde.

It was a disappointing outing for Aldershot, the Ryman League front-runners, who continue to under-achieve in non-League football's equivalent of the FA Cup.

They carved out some good chances in the first half, only to concede a vital goal seven minutes before the interval, and never regained their spark in a less eventful second period.

"We had great chances to score three or four goals, but the abiding memory is that their goalkeeper never really had to make a save," said manager Terry Brown.

"We lacked a cutting-edge – someone with the self-belief to turn the game. Our forwards were poor in the second half."

Both sides, in fact, had early opportunities to take the lead. Paul Carty and City 'keeper Danny McDonnell combined to deny Lee Charles, who again looked sharp for Shots, while at the other end Anthony Charles sliced the ball over his own bar under pressure from Wilde and Darren Middleton.

Worcester got stronger as the half wore on, although the chances continued to come at both ends.

Carl Heeley forced a fine save from Richard Hurst, again deputising for the injured Nikki Bull.

McDonnell resorted to his boot to block a hard-hit shot from the lively Lee Charles and Aldershot followed up with their best effort of the game. Dominic Sterling rose highest for a corner-kick, only to see his header knocked off the line by Pat Lyons.

A goal then could have swung the balance. Instead, it was Worcester who got the breakthrough on 38 minutes.

The impressive Wilde, a £7,500 bargain buy from Cambridge City, picked up David Holmes' clever ball and delicately chipped the advancing Hurst for a brilliantly taken goal.

The home side lived dangerously at times in the second half, but Aldershot failed to apply any sustained pressure.

Roscoe D'Sane once tested McDonnell's reflexes and the City goalkeeper was relieved to see an Anthony Clarles long-range shot fly narrowly past the upright.

As the minutes ticked away, Jason Chewins missed a glorious chance to square the match, blasting the ball over the crossbar after Worcester had failed to clear their lines.

However, only a brave save by Hurst prevented substitute John Snape making it 2-0 in the dying seconds.

Aldershot: Hurst, Gell (Cooper 85 mins), Chewins, Sterling, Cousins, A Charles (Kuhl 85 mins), Roddis, L Charles, Harper (Taylor 61 mins), D'Sane, Buckle. Subs (not used): Holsgrove, Sowden.

Attendance: 1,562.

Worcester have been drawn at home to Newport County in the third round of the Trophy.