Aldershot Town have an excellent chance of claiming their first Football League scalp after beating Hitchin Town in their FA Cup qualifier on Saturday.

In the first round proper, they are drawn at home to Bristol Rovers, managed by former England captain Gerry Francis and struggling at present in the Nationwide Division Three. George Borg's side will fancy their chances at what is sure to be a vibrant Recreation Ground on November 17.

"Rovers are not in the best of form, but it will still be a difficult game for us," said manager Borg. "Gerry Francis has been here several times and he knows it's an excellent venue – not like the usual non-League ground."

Aldershot FC, the former professional club, enjoyed some great cup runs, twice reaching the fifth round. They also suffered a number of embarrassing defeats at the hands of non-League opposition.

Aldershot Town lost to Exeter in the second round two years ago and last season, they again the first round proper before bowing out to Micky Adams' promotion-bound Brighton.

But Borg has assembled Aldershot's strongest squad yet and they should ask some serious questions of Rovers who are without a win in seven games.

Saturday was another good pay-day – Aldershot will receive £20,000 for reaching the first round. However, they made heavy weather of seeing off Hitchin, second from bottom in the Ryman Premier League.

Aldershot totally dominated two thirds of the match and should have been out of sight at half-time. Yet they contrived to let the visitors back into the match.

Taking heart from a soft goal, Hitchin had the better of the last 20 minutes and forced Aldershot to defend in depth, although seldom having a clear sight of goal.

The home team's defensive solidity was pleasing for Borg, as was the continuing excellence of Ryan Kirby in his new midfield role.

Positioned just in front of the back two, the Aldershot skipper was immense, continually breaking up attacks and then leading the counter-attack with strong runs.

Another 'form' player, Lee Protheroe, came close to settling the tie in the first 20 minutes. Goalkeeper Nick Webb made a good block when Protheroe blasted a free-kick through the defensive wall.

Then a cross from Jason Chewins broke kindly for Protheroe who slammed his shot straight at Webb when he had time for a more careful placement.

On 31 minutes, however, Protheroe was involved in the choice move that resulted in the sweetest of goals for Adam Parker who, six weeks before, had been sent off at Hitchin on his Aldershot debut, having just signed from the London club.

Kirby hit a sweeping ball out to Protheroe on the right; the cross was placed to perfection and the incoming Parker did the rest with a thumping header on the far post.

The half ended in a blur of action, laced with controversy. First, a cross from Mark Graham was cleared only as far as Kirby whose snap shot was brilliantly pushed on the post by Webb.

Protheroe's resulting corner found Kirby making a clever blind-side run and a bullet header flashed into the net, but a linesman's flag was up and the goal was disallowed because Grant Payne was judged to be interfering with play.

Aldershot looked in a different class at the start of the second half and it seemed that Hitchin must be overwhelmed.

With Protheroe again the provider, Stafford Browne saw his close-range header flicked over the bar by Webb. The same player had a goalbound shot charged down after being set up by Payne who was looking particularly sharp around the penalty box.

The goal, when it came, owed much to Payne's perseverance. Chasing Parker's through-ball, he managed to block Webb's clearance on the edge of the box and the rebound went straight to Browne who was able to score at his leisure into an empty net.

But a combination of Aldershot complacency and Hitchin defiance meant that the game was not quite over.

On 72 minutes, with Hitchin forcing the pace and the home team sitting back, a sprawling Gareth Howells failed to hold a cross and it was substitute Darren Sarll's turn for an easy tap-in goal.

Aldershot then closed ranks to quite comfortably contain Hitchin who threw men forward for the last 10 minutes.

Kirby's one mistake of the night let in Cliff Akurang, but no-one was fooled by the striker's theatrical dive when tackled by Owen Coll, least of all referee Geoff Russell who had a good game.

"We played well at times, but couldn't kill them off," said Borg. "We have to learn to be more ruthless."

Aldershot: Howells, Coll, Chewins, Kirby, Townley, Adedeji, Graham, Protheroe, Payne (Gell 83 mins), Browne, Parker. Subs (not used) Watson, Forrester, Nutter, Bentley. Booked: Townley.

Hitchin: Webb, Bone, Grime, Allpress, Cretton (Simpson 81 mins), Scott (Sarll 68 mins), Williams, Kean (Nolan 62 mins), Marshall, Akurang, McMenamin. Booked: Williams.

Attendance: 2,238.