ALDERSHOT TN 1, MAIDENHEAD UTD 1

IT could still be a rocky path to promotion for Aldershot, judging by Tuesday's uninspiring draw with Maidenhead.

Instead of turning their game in hand into a seven-point lead over Canvey Island, Aldershot managed only one point, and will be keenly aware that, with 13 games still to play, the title race is still wide open.

But every side is entitled to a bad day at the office and, after a run of six straight wins, Aldershot will be looking to get back on track when they host rock-bottom Hampton on Saturday.

Although Maidenhead, always tough opponents, equalised almost with the last kick of the game in the ninth minute of injury time, Terry Brown acknowledged that the visitors didn't deserve to lose.

"It was very disappointing, but we got no more than we deserved," was the typically honest summing-up of the Aldershot manager. "That was the pre-Christmas Aldershot, nervous and edgy, not near the level of the last three or four games.

"I'm disappointed we didn't have the mental strength, that we were unable to seal the game in a positive manner. We gave Maidenhead space and time and they were strong and hard-working."

After the bonus of an early goal by Stafford Browne, his second in two games, the snap went out of Aldershot's passing. The ball spent too much time in the air, with the midfield often bypassed as, for reasons best known to themselves, they opted for route one.

It had started so well for Aldershot.

Roscoe D'Sane almost scored in the first minute and Maidenhead had another narrow escape when Nick Roddis released Browne who, with only Richard Barnard to beat, saw his shot deflected by the goalkeeper's leg.

But a slice of luck at the resulting corner gave Aldershot the lead after 15 minutes. An attempted clearance rebounded off Jeff Orlando's head straight to D'Sane who, having had his shot blocked, managed to cross the ball back in for Browne to head in at the near post.

Perhaps Aldershot became complacent after that early breakthrough because their game went into sharp decline and the rest of the half was a scrappy stalemate.

Maidenhead began to grow in confidence and after a couple of long-range shots from Andy Cook and Adrian Allen, they emerged for the second half with a spring in their stride.

Driven on by Cook, their influential midfielder, they seized the initiative and cashed in on Aldershot's puzzling inability to string together more than two or three passes.

Aldershot's errors gave the visitors ample opportunity to counter-attack and the home team were thankful for some vital interceptions and crunching tackles by Dominic Sterling.

Even so, substitute Ryan Ashe almost caught Aldershot napping with a snap 25-yard shot that Nikki Bull seemed to see late, the ball hitting the sidenetting before the goalkeeper had scrambled across.

Despite their shortcomings, Aldershot looked to be hanging on for a narrow win. But the match turned on an incident in the 87th minute when yet another ricochet exposed Bull and the 'keeper was injured as Lee Channell challenged hard for the loose ball.

Bull was stretchered off after a five-minute delay, resulting in the lengthy period of injury time.

As the final seconds ticked away, and with Maidenhead on the attack, a rare mistake by Ray Warburton presented the ball to Channell. His cross was cleared only as far as Andy Morley who hooked an unstoppable shot into the far corner, leaving the unfortunate Gareth Howells, a very able replacement 'keeper, to pick the ball out of the net.

Aldershot: Bull (Howells 87), Hooper, Chewins (Hammond 67), Cousins, Warburton, Sterling, Roddis, Holsgrove, Browne, D'Sane (L Charles 82), Buckle. Subs (not used) A Charles, Perkins.

Maidenhead: Barnard, Morley, Connor, Cook, Orlando, Durrant, Kelly (Channell 78), Yaku, Allen (Ashe 78), Glynn, Ulasi (Webster 45). Subs (not used) Boyce, Hunter.

Attendance: 2,013.

Mark Hammond, newly signed from Cray Wanderers, made his Aldershot debut when he replaced Jason Chewins in the 67th minute.

On Tuesday, Aldershot are home to Andover in the first leg of the Hampshire Senior Cup semi-final.