Aldershot rose above the waves of discontent at the Recreation Ground to record a notable win over a strong Chesham side on Saturday.
A section of supporters – notably a vociferous bunch in the East Bank – have turned on manager George Borg, the man they idolised when he guided them to the Premier Division in 1998.
"I've done nothing wrong," insisted Borg who has been shaken by the abuse for both management and players from the East Bank, the very section where he has enjoyed his core support during four years at the club.
A banner proclaiming 'Borg must go' carried the same message as an unofficial club website which has savaged both manager and board.
"I've earned this club a lot of success and money and I won't be driven out by a minority," declared the manager. "Most of our supporters are lovely and very loyal. Some haven't got a clue. Their entitled to their opinions, but the booing and abuse from 50 or 60 supporters upset the players by half-time.
"They responded with a very solid performance against one of the title contenders. Chesham have an excellent record against the top sides and we wiped the floor with them. But the players didn't want anything to do with the East Bank at the end."
Borg says he has total support from the players. "They all gave me a hug at half-time. They respect me and what I've done. I may scream and shout, but I'm fair to them."
Assistant-manager Stuart Cash was typically blunt about fans' unrest. "The atmosphere was a bit morbid and there were some silences. All we can do is focus on our football and they might see sense. The best way to shut them up is to win games."
The Sack the Manager brigade always surfaces at the Rec – just ask former bosses Tom McAnearney and Len Walker from the Football League days and, more recently, Steve Wigley.
Memories are short and past achievements soon forgotten. Borg steered Aldershot to the Premier Division in his first season and they have reached the first round proper of the FA Cup three years running (second round in 2000), earning the club some handy cash.
This year, they lost 1-0 in a replay to Bristol Rovers who beat Premiership side Derby 3-1 on Saturday.
There have been successes in the lesser cups and Aldershot remain in three cup competitions this campaign, including the prestigious FA Trophy.
But a place in the Conference amongst the non-League elite continues to elude Aldershot and their failure to seriously pressurise the leaders has caused unrest, even amongst the most loyal fans.
And there is no doubt that Borg's abrasive style has made him enemies. While some love his up-front, aggressive, at times foul-mouthed, approach, others have taken the scathing comments aimed at sniping fans very much to heart.
Canvey Island remain promotion favourites after their win at the Rec last week and the main threat to the Essex side is coming not from Aldershot with their big support and Football League facilities, but from Gravesend.
With 19 games still to go, Borg says he is far from giving up the fight, but he will need more staunch performances from Aldershot, while also relying on the top sides having major blips in form.
Borg's public placing of Jason Chewins on the transfer list last month – a deliberate move to galvanise the player into his best form – infuriated the popular defender's East Bank fan club.
But this rather transparent ploy seemed to work because Chewins is showing the form of his life. He was quite outstanding on Saturday and with an assured display by centre-back Owen Coll and another classy showing from Mark Graham, the other wing-back, Aldershot had the armoury to overcome a tough Chesham side.
It was soon clear that front-runners Grant Payne and Stafford Browne would struggle to break down Chesham's tall, well-drilled defence and it was stinging shots from Chewins and Adam Parker that first brought goalkeeper Delroy Pressie into action.
At the other end, Wayne Andrews gave his former club a sharp reminder of his predatory skills with a rifle-shot into the side-netting and, on the half-hour, it needed a superb double save by Gareth Howells to deny the visitors the lead.
Richard Goddard, latching on to Vic Renner's perfectly weighted cross, saw his pointblank shot parried by Howells who then reacted well to block Lee Spiller's follow-up effort.
Soon after, Spiller's cracking 20-yard drive was flicked over the bar by the alert goalkeeper.
Aldershot looked nervous under the cold scrutiny of the near-silent 1,541 spectators and their attacks regularly foundered against Chesham's rugged back three.
It took the silky skills of Graham to fashion their best opening of the half. After cutting in from the right, he whipped over a dangerous cross, only for the diving Payne to head well wide of the target.
There were few chances from open play in a fiercely-contested second half, although Howells had to make another important save to foil the pumped-up Andrews.
On the hour, however, Aldershot scored a priceless goal from a set-piece and Chesham were left to chase the game.
Graham hit a trademark inswinging corner from the left and Ryan Kirby, on the near post, flicked the ball inside the far upright with a delicate, Sheringham-type back header.
It gave Aldershot something to sink their teeth into. Coll and Chewins made numerous vital interceptions, the latter often turning defence into attack with bold running, while Paul Harford provided the muscle in midfield.
A rare booking for Chewins underlined his dedication to the cause. Indeed, all the players seemed to play the second half as if their lives depended upon it. No wonder that Borg chose not to use any of his substitutes.
Aldershot: Howells, Gell, Chewins, Kirby, Coll, Adedeji, Graham, Harford, Payne, Browne, Parker. Subs (not used) Watson, Forrester, Protheroe. Booked: Coll, Chewins.
Chesham: Preddie, Watts, Renner, Hall, Wotton, Cooksey, Soloman (Graham 53 mins), Spiller, Andrews, Goddard, Pratt (Boyce 61 mins). Sub (not used) Corcoran. Booked: Soloman, Watts, Renner.
Referee: Irvine Woodward.
Attendance: 1,541.
Aldershot's Isthmian League Cup second-round match at Hendon on Tuesday night was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.