DOVER ATH 1, ALDERSHOT TN 2

IN earning a first ever victory at The Crabble on Monday, Aldershot Town served notice of their growing quality and a renewed ability to combine stylish football with indomitable spirit.

The Shots cruised into a two-goal lead and snatched total control of a game which many had expected to be their toughest test of this nascent National League season, only for Ross Lafayette to score a brilliant free-kick against his former club and spark a second-half Dover onslaught which the visitors repelled with magnificent defending.

This fixture had brought only comprehensive defeats for Aldershot in the last four editions, but Gary Waddock’s side showed both how far they have come in under a month and how far they can go.

“I’m delighted with the effort the players put in over the weekend,” said the manager, whose game-plan allowed his team to nullify Dover’s renowned direct approach and physical strength. “All credit to them – our first-half performance was very good, and then we showed different qualities in the second half.

“I think tactically we got it right today. It was a very similar situation to our game at Bromley, where the opposition scored just before half-time (after the Shots went 2-0 up), but today we have managed the game better. The team have to learn quickly and today every man stood up and was counted in very difficult conditions.”

Former Aldershot midfielder Jim Stevenson should have given Dover the lead on 10 minutes, slicing a shot over the bar from just eight yards after Lafayette won a towering header, but it was nonetheless a highly promising start by the Shots.

And they were rewarded with the first goal in the 21st minute. Jack Parkinson misjudged a bouncing ball on the edge of the penalty area and Shamir Fenelon pounced to lash his shot into the net.

Aldershot pressure continued and Liam Bellamy – signed from Dover in July – added the crucial second goal on 42 minutes, cushioning a header into the far corner of the net from Cheye Alexander’s cross.

From nowhere, however, Lafayette gave the hosts hope in injury time, by winning a free-kick off Callum Reynolds and caressing a 25-yard shot beyond the diving Jake Cole.

Dover were further galvanised by the introduction of Ricky Miller at the break, but Cole and his defence withstood a 45-minute barrage.

Miller fired in an impudent shot which the goalkeeper tipped over and then diverted Stevenson’s shot inches over the bar.

The game, though, was an increasingly open and breathless affair and Aldershot came within a whisker of sealing victory when Matt McClure’s header hit the crossbar and bounced down back into play.

At the other end, Miller brought another fine save from Cole and Stevenson found the net on the follow-up, but from an offside position. Cole’s best moment came on 74 minutes when he flew to his left to tip Miller’s header round the post.

Aldershot survived five minutes of stoppage time and finally escaped with three points which represented not just a first away win of the season but potentially a major step towards a successful season.

Maximum points from the holiday weekend takes Aldershot into the top five as they prepare to defend their perfect home record against league leaders Tranmere Rovers this Saturday.

Dover Ath: S Arnold; Magri, Parkinson (Marsh 86), Grimes, Thomas; Stevenson, Kinnear (Moore 78), Orlu; Modeste, Lafayette, Emmanuel (Miller 46). Subs (not used): Sterling, Pinnock. Booked: Stevenson, Thomas, Orlu.

Aldershot: Cole; Alexander, Evans, Reynolds, N Arnold (Straker 71); Fenelon, Gallagher (Rendell 71), Kellermann (Wakefield 51), Bellamy, Mensah; McClure. Subs (not used): Smith, Allen. Booked: McClure, Reynold.

Referee: Constantine Hatzidakis.

Attendance: 1,093.