THIS embarrassing league cup defeat was hardly the best preparation for an important match at Hendon on Saturday.
Aldershot fielded only half the current first team on Tuesday night and the Cheshunt pitch was awful, but assistant-manager Stuart Cash – in charge while Terry Brown was on scouting duty – refused to offer any excuses.
"It was a terrible pitch, but it's the same for both teams. It was the work-rate and desire that was lacking – we didn't want it."
The door was open for 'fringe' players to make an impression, but they failed to take their chance. "You always play to win, what ever the game," continued Cash. "To have two shots in the whole 90 minutes is just not acceptable. We let our fans down"
With a starting line-up containing such big guns as the two Jasons, Chewins and Cousins, Dominic Sterling, Paul Moody and Paul Buckle, Aldershot might have been expected to make short work of a side two divisions below them in the league.
But Cheshunt, the Division Two leaders, were eager to claim a big scalp and, in the end, they were well worth their shock victory.
It was poor entertainment for the 363 spectators at Theobalds Lane, but Cheshunt had what chances were going and Richard Hurst was forced to make a couple of smart saves in the Aldershot goal.
Richard Gell went closest for the visitors in the first half and, midway through the second period, transfer-listed Adam Parker, in a rare flash of skill, was denied by a goal-line clearance.
Cousins, by far Aldershot's best player, shored up the defence as best he could, but Cheshunt finally took the honours with a cracking winner in the 76th minute.
Ross White sprinted to the edge of the area and then curled a beautiful shot round the helpless Hurst and inside the post.
Aldershot's defence, now lacking the experience of Karl Ready, who has left the club, will need to be at its best for the trip to fourth-placed Hendon on Saturday.
Aldershot are home to Kingstonian on Tuesday.