ALDERSHOT TOWN 2, SUTTON UTD 0

EVEN manager Gary Waddock was unsure quite how Aldershot escaped with victory against a lively Sutton United on Saturday in the increasingly frantic chase for the play-offs.

The Shots were again indebted to goalkeeper Jake Cole for a man-of-the-match performance as United belied their status as the side with the worst away record in the National League to create several superb chances which could easily have seen the game won by half-time.

“How we got away with it I don’t know,” admitted Waddock as his team clung to a 17th clean sheet of the season. “I thought we were poor today – you’ve got to give credit to Sutton for the way they stopped us playing, but our levels were nowhere near what we’ve reached this season.

“The lads went to the 95th minute, but the scoreline could have been a lot different if it wasn’t for Jake. He’s made a number of really good saves to keep us in the game. We were due a bit of luck and the first goal summed that up,” he smiled, referring to the hugely unfortunate own goal Sutton conceded in the 42nd minute. “But when you wake up in the morning, it’s three points and another clean sheet.”

Slack defending gifted former Shots winger Keiron Cadogan a long-range opportunity on eight minutes, which Cole parried around the post, and soon Adam Coombes burst through a hesitant back four to hit a shot across goal which Cole got his fingertips to.

The best, though, came on 32 minutes as Roarie Deacon’s corner was nodded back into the six-yard box by Simon Downer, only for Coombes to see his instant shot-on-the-turn superbly parried at point-blank range by the goalkeeper.

Aldershot then launched a rare raid into the visitors’ half and Jake Gallagher slid a pass through to Idris Kanu whose shot was parried by Will Puddy. Shamir Fenelon was lurking with intent and Nicky Bailey, attempting to clear his lines, could only drive the ball into Puddy’s chest and the ricochet flew into the net.

The half-time introduction of Scott Rendell and Waddock’s switch back to a 4-4-2 formation helped redress the flow of play somewhat and the Shots steadily exerted their own authority on the game.

Clear chances, though, were still at a premium. Kanu, Fenelon and Bernard Mensah had shots blocked and Kundai Benyu’s free-kick was saved by Puddy.

Cadogan fluffed an opportunity to equalise, pulling his shot well wide, before Aldershot sealed victory in the fourth minute of stoppage time after the best move of the game.

Benyu’s back-heel sent substitute Anthony Straker breaking down the left and, side-stepping a tackle and running onto a return pass from Rendell, his cross invited Mensah to finish with ease.

‘Winning ugly’ is not a quality usually associated with Gary Waddock, but this was a most welcome exception to the rule.

Aldershot: Cole; Alexander, Evans, Reynolds, Buckley (Rendell 46); Gallagher, Arnold; Kanu (Straker 89), Benyu, Mensah; Fenelon (McClure 75). Subs (not used): Giles, Smith. Booked: Evans, Benyu.

Sutton: Puddy; Downer (Amankwaah 69), Collins, Beckwith, Bailey; Gomis, May (Biamou 60), Eastmond, Cadogan; Deacon, Coombes (Fitchett 75). Subs (not used): Dundas, Jebb. Booked: Gomis.

Attendance: 2,197 (216 away).

Referee: Neil Hair.