ALL was forgiven for Aldershot striker Stafford Browne who, after leaving the club six months ago, donned his old colours to score the decisive goal against Hitchin on Saturday.
Browne was roundly booed when he returned to the Rec with Grays earlier in the season, but the jeers turned to jeers when he popped up to score the vital goal in the 62nd minute.
For the second week running, Aldershot clung on to a slender lead and their reward was to open up a healthy seven-point gap at the top of the table.
Other results ran nicely for them, with St Albans drawing 1-1 at Ford United and Purfleet losing 1-0 to Maidenhead.
Terry Brown's men got a rapturous reception at the end of 90 gritty minutes, but had to sweat it out in this tough encounter.
The two on-loan signings again impressed. Ben Walshe's raw pace and accurate passing caused problems all afternoon, while centre-back Matt Langston again filled Karl Ready's boots admirably.
The three-pronged attack of Paul Moody, Browne and Roscoe D'Sane, the latter patrolling the right wing, was effective early on, winning several corners.
But Hitchin were not prepared to sit back and launched a fast move of their own, Carl Drew's thunderous shot only just clearing Nikki Bull's crossbar.
Aldershot were subjected to some very tight marking which hampered any creative play- making.
Bull was on fine form and made a superb diving save to to deny Matt Nolan, always a threat for Hitchin.
Still feeling the effects of a chest infection, a wooden looking Moody was booked for a high elbow.
Aldershot were struggling to find a rhythm and manager Brown, who spent much of the half on his feet, no doubt had plenty to say at the interval,
But it was Hitchin who emerged from the tunnel with the edge and Bull had to come off his line to foil Drew who looked certain to score.
The introduction of the whippet-like Jamie Taylor injected some drive into the home team.
Then, just after the hour, came the vital breakthrough. D'Sane left several players in his wake on an inspired charge down the right. Arriving at the byeline, he delivered a telling cross to Browne who bludgeoned the ball into the corner of the net .
With the bit between their teeth, Aldershot should have gone on to bury the visitors, but as has so often happened this season, they made life difficult for themselves.
Browne had at least three clear openings in the following 10 minutes, but missed them all, with James Robinson making a couple of fine saves.
The experience of Nick Roddis and the terrier-like Paul Buckle showed as they closed down Hitchin's attempts to feed their front men.
The visitors boobed tactically in not fielding any attacking substitutes. Even so, they managed to cause a few late jitters, but Aldershot battled through against a tough and disciplined side.
Terry Brown said: "I am always happy with three points, but I have been worried by teams coming here and putting a lot of men behind the ball and us not being able to break them down.
"Over the last nine or ten games we have got it right at the back and restricted teams to one or two chances. It's a shame we were not able to get a second, but it's all about grinding out results in this league."
Aldershot's next two games could well decide their destiny this season. On Saturday, they travel to St Albans who will be desperate to put a recent dip in form behind them. On Boxing Day, Aldershot entertain Sutton United who went second in the table after beating Hampton 3-1 at the weekend.
Aldershot: Bull, Buckle, Chewins, Langston, Sterling, A Charles, Roddis, Walshe (L Charles 89 mins), Browne, D'Sane, Moody (Taylor 59 mins). Subs (not used): Hurst, Gell, Cousins.
Hitchin: Robinson, Bone (Childs 70 mins), Williams, Burke, Ayres, Scott (Fraser 75 mins), Bass, Brennan, Drew (Barnett 63 mins), Nolan, Rydeheard. Subs (not used): Bridge, Grime, Rater.
Referee: S Creighton.
Attendance: 1,989.