Aldershot pulled out all the stops for an emphatic victory over Maidenhead at the Rec on Tuesday night.

Considering the lashing rain and a slippery pitch, the game flowed well in a fast, frenetic encounter.

Proceedings got off to a lively start. On five minutes, a scorching Lee Protheroe free-kick from the halfway line floated into the box for Owen Coll to claim the first goal with a solid header.

A shellshocked Magpies struggled to contain the pace of front men Mark Watson and Stafford Browne, and the tide of the first half was largely in Aldershot's favour.

However, in a rare foray into opposing territory, Maidenhead's quick, tall striker, Paul Scott, fired a cracker from 35 yards out, forcing an alert Gareth Howells to tip the ball over the bar.

This signalled several minutes of pressure from the visitors and the Howells deflected another strike round the post, followed soon after by a strong shot from Barry Rake which the 'keeper athletically diverted.

By this time, a characteristically vocal George Borg, who later described the match as "not being a vintage performance" was barking expletive-laden orders at his men, who answered the calls well.

New signing Adam Parker, shaking off his recent troubles, proved an instrumental midfield force, impressing his new boss who said he "came through with flying colours."

Though starting cautiously, Parker weighed in with some neat passing and good movement off the ball, letting fly with a low volley which Richard Barnard did well to hold on to.

Shortly afterwards, Magpies utility player Chris Ferdinand, cousin of England man Rio, was booked for a wayward tackle on busy midfielder Richard Gell.

On 37 minutes, a well-worked break resulted in a strike from the in-form Coll, with a well-saved rebound falling kindly to Browne who bundled the ball into the corner of the net.

No sooner had the celebrations ended, when Gell put in a telling strike which cleanly beat a frustrated looking Barnard.

Maidenhead clearly hadn't read the script though, and made a bright start to the second half, livewire striker Lee Channell slotting home a left-foot shot in the 49th minute.

But the comeback ended there as the home team stamped their authority on the match through play-maker Protheroe, whose accurate passing and solid presence kept the team on course.

Borg later commented that Protheroe "was a much improved player – when he plays well the whole team play well."

In the 69th minute, Browne, who had caused Maidenhead trouble all evening, put the game beyond the visitors' grasp, tucking away a neat shot from an intelligent pass from Parker.

Both sides made substitutions in the closing quarter and, demonstrating Aldershot's' thirst for goals, a third striker, Scott Forrester, was sent on in a quest for an elusive fifth.

Borg, though not entirely happy, was pleased with the end product: "The quality of some of the play for the goals was nice to see, and this was a great result for us, though the performance was disappointing.

"The rematch with Maidenhead in the FA Cup will be a lot harder, especially as there is so much finance at stake," he concluded.

Adam Parker starts his six-week ban this Saturday and misses the big home game with Billericay. On Tuesday, Aldershot visit Harrow Borough.

Aldershot: Howells, Coll, Nutter, Kirkby, Townley, Protheroe, Graham, Gell, Browne, Parker. Subs (all used) Forrester, Adedeji, Chewins,

Maidenhead: Barnard, Rose, Connor, Kelly, Croxford, Ferdinand, Cook, Scott, Channell, Rake, Ulasi. Subs (all used): Ibe, Jarvis, Morley.

Attendance: 1,663.

Referee: M Russell.