IT took Roscoe D'Sane just 20 seconds to break Aldershot's troubling goal drought at the Rec last Friday.

But although Aldershot went on to collect three valuable points, D'Sane's strike failed to settle team nerves in a tough clash with strugglers Ford United.

The night nearly turned sour, despite Aldershot's lightning response to 297 minutes without a goal.

In fact, they appeared to go into shock at taking the lead, inviting the visitors to regroup in a match that should have been wrapped up by half-time.

With almost the first kick of the match, Lee Charles threaded a neat ball to D'Sane who wasted no time in firing off a shot which sailed sweetly into the net.

But the home side, operating a 5-3-2 system, were unable to hang on to the ball and their play was characterised by inaccurate passing and a lack of attacking ambition in midfield.

Assistant-manager Stuart Cash's remark that Aldershot looked scared to play at the Rec seemed to be born out in this 'must win' match.

Ford's experienced captain, Alex Fiddes, led by example with a 25-yard shot that whipped narrowly over the bar – they had definitely not come to make up the numbers.

It was against the run of play, when a ragged Aldershot increased their lead on 37 minutes. A shot from D'Sane was blocked and defender Dean Hooper latched on to the rebound and unleashed a left-footed firecracker of a shot into the top right-hand corner.

No doubt aggrieved by the half-time score, the Sky Sports sponsored visitors hit back soon after the restart.

From Richard Halle's delivery, John Buffong, a goldsmith by trade, fashioned a jewel of a goal, taking advantage of hesitancy between Dominic Sterling and Nikki Bull to loop a shot over the man between the sticks.

Aldershot retained enough poise to keep the visitors at bay. Bull certainly had a busy afternoon and was equal to several decent shots from Glen Poole.

Anchormen Jason Cousins and newly installed Ray Warburton played solidly to ensure that Aldershot held out.

A clearly elated and relieved Terry Brown punched the air at the close of play. He said: "It was a fantastic start, but we never really built on it. I thought we looked nervous throughout the game. We were lacking in the first half until we got the second goal.

"We gave away a goal after some confusion in defence which got them back in the game and led to a nervous finish."

Chairman Karl Prentice's decision to switch the game to Friday was vindicated with a healthy attendance of 1,848.

Aldershot: Bull, Hooper, Chewins (A Charles 78), Warburton, Cousins, Sterling, Holsgrove, Charles, Browne (Taylor 85 mins), D'Sane, Buckle (Roddis 45 mins). Subs (not used) Moody, Howells. Booked: Holsgrove, Bull.

Ford: Newell, Collis, Halle, Lewis, Perkins, Fiddes, Buffong, Rainford, Bejada, Poole, McLeod. Subs (not used): Morrish, Watson, Bourcedis, Chapman, Perkins. Booked: Rainford.