ALDERSHOT made a quick return to the top of the table, but were fortunate to bag all three points against Kingstonian's improved side on Tuesday night.
The former Conference big guns came within a whisker of taking a deserved lead straight after equalising in the 71st minute, only to concede a late set-piece winner as defender Dominic Sterling scored his first goal in Aldershot colours.
Terry Brown acknowledged Kingstonian's quality. "They are a very good side and I'm absolutely chuffed to beat them. They will take a lot of points off teams this season and I won't be surprised if they're up there at the end."
"It was close, but we deserved to win," added the Aldershot manager who was delighted to team Roscoe D'Sane and Lee Charles in attack for the first time in six weeks.
"Lee has that bit of experience and he and Roscoe caused them all sorts of problems."
Otherwise, it was a familar story of Aldershot's squad being ravaged by injury, illness and suspension. Dean Hooper, Lee Holsgrove and Paul Moody were notable absentees, while Dwayne Lee and goalkeeper Nikki Bull were injured during the game.
Lee lasted only 12 minutes, but Brown had Martin Kuhl up his sleeve and the wily veteran came on to do a fine holding job in midfield.
Bull's departure in the 68th minute with bruised ribs was more problematic.
Substitute goalkeeper Richard Hurst mixed brilliance with mediocrity – notably an inability to kick properly.
A prime example was the wild mis-kick that almost led to the Ks taking the lead. His error allowed Tim Sills, who had scored a minute before, to set up a golden chance for Dave Clarke who was then denied by Hurst's brilliant block. "That save was as important as our winning goal," observed Brown.
The manager was inclined to blame the referee for awarding a debatable free-kick that led to Kingstonian's equaliser, but that was taking away from Scott Steele's superb delivery and Tim Sills' towering header.
Former Woking stalwart Steele, still a class act, curled in a wickedly curling free-kick and Sills eluded a posse of markers to head inside the near post with unerring accuracy.
Aldershot's failure to handle the gangling Sills convinced Brown that his defence needs more height and he hopes to recruit a big centre-half in the next few days.
There is no doubt that manager Steve Sedgley, the former Ipswich and Tottenham player, has turned things round at Kingstonian. The Sills brothers, Tim and Julian, formerly of Camberley and Basingstoke, are shrewd signings, and Steele and skipper Peter Barnsby read the game particularly well.
The visitors had a narrow escape in the first minute when D'Sane, running on to Jason Chewins' return pass, shot wide when it seemed easier to score.
Aldershot, after a bright start, were disrupted by Lee's ankle injury, but took the lead after 26 minutes.
Richard Gell, after a bold run from the right, had his shot blocked, but the ball broke kindly for Lee Charles who, with great presence of mind, flicked it with the outside of his boot over the advancing Lance Key who then watched helplessly as it bounced gently into the net.
Kingstonian could have drawn level on the stroke of half-time when a mistake by Nick Roddis let in Bashiru Alimi, but Bull got a vital touch to deflect the shot for a corner.
The visitors enjoyed an excellent spell at the start of the second half and Aldershot were relieved to see headers from Barnsby and Tim Sills just miss the target.
At the other end, the all-action Paul Buckle combined nicely with Chewins whose skilful volley was riskily hacked over the bar by Julian Sills.
The game moved up a gear with Tim Sills' equaliser and Hurst's miraculous save, but Aldershot were looking anything but secure at the back and the Ks seemed more likely to snatch the spoils.
However, with five minutes left, good old-fashioned guts produced the winner for the home side.
D'Sane took a corner on the left, Kuhl muscled his way to the near post to help the ball on and Sterling crashed through a ruck of defenders to apply the final unstoppable header.
Substitute Jamie Taylor, true to form, almost scored in the late stages, while Kingstonian almost saved themselves deep in injury time, Phil Wingfield putting a free header over the crossbar.
Aldershot top of the table again and it sets the scene nicely for the FA Trophy second-round showdown at Worcester City on Saturday. City, 4-1 winners at Hastings last weekend, lead the Dr Martens Premier Division.
Aldershot: Bull (Hurst 68 mins), Gell, Chewins, Cousins, Sterling, A Charles, Roddis, Lee (Kuhl 12 mins), L Charles (Taylor 79 mins), D'Sane, Buckle. Subs (not used) Harper, Cooper. Booked: Roddis
Kingstonian: Key, J Sills, Alimi, Lampton 59 mins), Rocastle, Flitter, Barnsby, Pinnock, Clarke, T Sills, Steele (M Jones 79 mins), Wingfield. Subs (not used) A Jones, Hustwick, Lewington. Booked: Barnsby.
Referee: G L Ward.
Attendance: 1,956.