Lee Holsgrove, the forgotten man of Aldershot in the early stages of this season, scored a classy goal to start the destruction of highly-rated Braintree at the Rec on Saturday.

Holsgrove got his chance because of a spate of injuries and suspensions, and showed the sort of form that could force George Borg to keep him in the team.

"I've told Lee that I won't change a winning side," said the manager. "It's up to him now. His goal was pure class, the way he picked up the cross and dinked it over the 'keeper. It takes a lot of skill to do that."

Stafford Browne, also called into the starting line-up, was on target too. "I was chuffed for both of them, especially Lee because he can be a bit up and down," added Borg.

"We had done our homework and worked hard on our system to make it work right. I knew we were capable of opening them up like a can of beans, and we did."

There were plenty of plusses for Aldershot, following the Bank Holiday home defeat against Gravesend. Grant Payne scored another goal from open play and Mark Graham is looking every inch the player who once commanded a first-team slot for QPR.

And the defence closed ranks to completely shut out the menace of promoted Braintree, the promising Essex side who had won three of their first four matches.

As Borg points out, players like Ryan Kirby, Owen Coll and Leon Townley, to say nothing of Ollie Adedeji, are "tough customers" and when they are operating on the same wavelength, not many opposing strikers are going to get through.

Former Aldershot forwards Leon Gutzmore and Robbie Reinelt certainly had a return to the Rec that they'll want to forget in a hurry.

Holsgrove's skilful finish to a Graham cross put Aldershot ahead after just five minutes.

Braintree defended staunchly after that setback, but their resistance was gradually worn down. Eight minutes before half-time, Payne rocketed the ball home after some smooth build-up play by Jason Chewins and John Nutter.

The visitors were rattled and, 13 minutes into the second period, Aldershot again breached their defences.

Graham cunningly drew 'keeper Paul Catley out of position before chipping a cross towards an open goal and Browne shook off his marker to prod the ball over the line.

With 16 minutes left, Borg sprung a surprise by introducing French triallist Ivan Mballa.

The newcomer was a livewire all right, but missed a couple of decent openings.

Fellow substitute Scott Forrester also wasted an excellent chance, but made amends in injury time when he got on the end of a Lee Protheroe corner to make it 4-0.

Aldershot: Howells, Coll, Nutter (Mballa 74 mins), Kirby, Townley, Protheroe, Graham, Chewins, Payne, Browne (Forrester 84 mins), Holsgrove. Sub (not used) Adedeji.

Attendance: 1,752.

Braintree bounced back with a 1-0 win over Billericay on Tuesday night, ending the 100 per cent record of their Essex rivals.

Aldershot travel to Hitchin Town this Saturday and, on Tuesday, they are home to Purfleet.