FORMER England star Nigel Clough was unable to stem the tide for his Burton Albion team at the Recreation Ground on Saturday.

But the scoreline did not tell the full story of a hard-fought encounter, with Aldershot owing much to second-choice goalkeeper Richard Barnard who stopped several close-range strikes.

During a highly charged opening quarter, Tim Sills received a yellow card after being adjudged to have dived under a challenge from Burton 'keeper Matthew Duke.

Home fans' blood began to boil, and they were only placated when Aldershot took the lead with a spectacular goal after 37 minutes.

Albion only half-cleared a Jon Challinor corner and Jason Chewins blasted a 30-yard shot past the helpless Duke.

Aaron McClean came close to adding a second, shooting into the side-netting after linking up with the increasingly confident Challinor.

Referee Ian Crouch, a late replacement for Fred Graham who had been stranded on the M25, and his officials were booed off the pitch after awarding a string of offside and free-kick decisions against the home side.

Aldershot gave themselves a two-goal cushion courtesy of 'super sub' Lee Charles who replaced a less-than-fit Roscoe D'Sane soon after half-time.

With his first touch of the ball, Charles effectively settled the game. Dean Hooper supplied a tantalising cross which Charles dispatched into the right corner of the net with a perfectly timed volley.

No doubt fearing a goal deluge as Aldershot peppered the Burton goal with several strong shots, player-manager Clough brought himself on for the last 25 minutes.

The languid skill was still there as he steadied his side, instigating a decent passing move that led to Burton's goal.

The ball fell to Gary Twigg inside the area and Chewins' clumsy challenge conceded an unarguable penalty, which Aaron Webster cleanly put away.

That was the only time Barnard was beaten, although Burton captain Steve Chettle forcing him to make a difficult save from a well-timed 25-yard shot.

The visitors made two more attacking substitutes in a bid to save the match, but inevitably left themselves exposed at the back.

On 76 minutes, Challinor beat the offside trap with a fine threaded pass and the quicksilver McClean, after leaving the defence for dead, calmly slotted past Duke in a one-on-one.

Moments from the end, McClean found himself in exactly the same situation, but failed to convert after delaying his shot, which Duke parried well.

Aldershot manager Terry Brown said: "It was a very open game which could have ended up about 6-4. Richard Barnard had a magnificent match, showing just how open it actually was.

"We had numerous chances to wrap it up, but if it was not for him, then we would not have won."

Aldershot face another tough test of their form and character this Saturday when they make the long journey north for a first ever meeting with Leigh RMI.

Aldershot: Barnard, Hooper, Chewins, Warburton, Rodwell, Roddis, Challinor, Hammond, McClean, Sills, D'Sane (Charles 52). Subs (not used) Sterling, Tanfield, Taylor, Nutter.

Burton Albion: Duke, Henshaw, Wassall, Chettle, Webster, Dudley (Anderson 60), Williams, Howard (Clough 65), Ducros, Moore (Talbot 78), Twigg. Subs (not used) Kirkwood, Robinson.

Attendance 2,687.