IF Aldershot go on to win the Ryman League, they will look back on this result as one of their outstanding displays of the season.

New Lodge has never been one of their happy hunting grounds and to beat Billericay on Saturday they had to crack the tightest defence in the division.

The Essex outfit lived up to their reputation in a hard-fought but clean contest, with no bookings. But the visitors had Roscoe D'Sane in their line-up and the ace marksman settled the contest with what manager Terry Brown called "a goal from another planet."

It came after just eight minutes and was ultimately worth three points to the league leaders.

Paul Buckle, latching on to Lee Holsgrove's headed pass, played the perfect ball to D'Sane who cleverly turned former Shots defender Ollie Adedeji before coolly slotting past Jerome John into the back of the net.

Billericay responded positively and pressurised Aldershot with a series of corner-kicks.

They should have equalised midway through the half after a mix-up between Dominic Sterling and Ray Warburton. The ball broke kindly for Lee Williams, but he side-footed the ball well wide when a goal was there for the taking.

Aldershot knew all about the dribbling skills of Mark Graham, another ex-Aldershot man, but he was comfortably contained by his opposite number, Jason Chewins.

Aldershot got to the interval with their slender lead intact and proceeded to play a masterful second half. Their defensive excellence limited Billericay to the odd half-chance, and now the visitors were looking more dangerous as well.

D'Sane almost added to his tally after again outpacing Adedeji and Holsgrove's 25-yard effort forced John into a diving stop.

John followed up with a superb one-handed save to prevent Anthony Charles' left-foot scorcher finding the top corner.

The impressive Buckle also brought the best out of John, while Nikki Bull, returning to the Aldershot side, had little to trouble him in this half.

"We were good value for the win, but we should have taken a higher percentage of our chances in the second half," said manager Brown.

Aldershot: Bull, Hooper, Chewins (Perkins 69), A Charles, Warburton, Sterling, Roddis, Holsgrove, Browne (Harper 87), D'Sane, Buckle. Subs (not used) L Charles, Howells, Hammond.

Attendance: 1,089.

It was an excellent day for Aldershot because Canvey Island, their nearest rivals, could only draw 1-1 at Maidenhead. Aldershot extend their lead to seven points, but they have no game this Saturday and Canvey can reduce the deficit if they beat Bedford at home.

Aldershot are next in action on Tuesday when they visit Andover in the Hampshire Senior Cup semi-final, second leg. Aldershot, the cup holders, take a 2-0 lead from the first leg.

Aldershot's next league game is on Saturday, March 29 when they travel to Hayes. But several of the players were due to have a run-out in the reserve match against Slough last night (Thurs).

George Borg, Brown's predecessor as Aldershot manager, resigned as Billericay's head coach days before the match.