MAIDSTONE UTD 1, ALDERSHOT TN 1

ALDERSHOT Town ended an enthralling game on Tuesday with bittersweet emotions, still unbeaten and top of the National League, but pondering Maidstone’s 95th minute equaliser which robbed them of a fourth consecutive victory.

Three points at the Gallagher Stadium would have represented the Shots’ best start to a season in 14 years, but once the disappointment had subsided, they will have reflected on a positive point hard won on Maidstone’s artificial turf.

“It’s always disappointing, conceding a goal so late in the game, but let’s not forget it’s a point away from home,” stressed manager Gary Waddock, who highlighted a few missed opportunities as crucial. “We could have been in a better position in the latter stages, had we been a little bit more clinical, but to get ten points from your first four games, you’d probably take that.”

Both goalkeepers made several superb saves, but it was the hosts – largely through the strength and pace of Joe Pigott – who looked more dangerous early on, Jai Reason shooting just wide.

Soon, however, Lee Worgan had to be quick off his line to smother the ball ahead of the darting Matt McClure. The Maidstone keeper again excelled midway through the half, flying to his left to parry McClure’s powerful header, and two minutes later repelled James Rowe’s 25-yard drive.

Not to be outdone, Jake Cole somehow clawed Delano Sam-Yorke’s point-blank flick away from the goal-line as the striker met a cross from Reason.

Sam-Yorke wastefully failed to find the target from Tom Wraight’s corner in first-half stoppage time, a miss that was matched by Rowe with a glancing header.

The Shots, though, were a resurgent force after the break, evinced by Bobby-Joe Taylor’s snap shot against his former side on 47 minutes, while Worgan again denied McClure.

Jim Kellermann, a dynamic presence in midfield, hit the crossbar on 67 minutes with a flashing drive in space created by Rowe’s astute pass, but Aldershot were again indebted to Cole when he reacted superbly to keep out another close-range touch from Sam-Yorke.

Waddock introduced Shaun Okojie and Jake Gallagher in search of a winner, and the man whose name adorns the arena – scorer of Aldershot’s second goal there in February – took just three minutes to beat Worgan.

After some quick footwork to beat a defender, Gallagher fired a low shot across the goalkeeper and in off the far post. One apiece in the 76th minute.

Rowe lifted a shot over the bar as the visitors sought to seal victory, but captain Callum Reynolds – on his 50th appearance for the Shots – took a painful blow in an injury-time aerial challenge which only served to add a few more precious seconds to the evening’s entertainment.

Sam-Yorke wasted a good chance, but there was still time for Maidstone to force a corner which saw Worgan join the attack, and as he lifted a cross back into the area, Josh Hare eventually squeezed a header inside the post.

United were exultant, the Shots crestfallen, but ultimately honours were rightly even.

Maidstone: Worgan; Hare, Okuonghae, Wynter, Anderson; Paxman (Phipps 81), Prestedge, Reason; Sam-Yorke, Pigott, Wraight (Richards 78). Subs (not used): Nana-Twumasi, Willard, T Taylor. Booked: Sam-Yorke.

Aldershot: Cole; Alexander, de Havilland, Reynolds, Arnold; Oyeleke, Kellermann (Gallagher 73); Fenelon, Rowe, BJ Taylor (Arthur 85); McClure (Okojie 73). Subs (not used): Lyons-Foster, Smith. Booked: Alexander, Kellermann.

Referee: David Rock.

Attendance: 2,524.

• Aldershot travel to Boreham Wood this Saturday. The Hertfordshire side are sixth in the table after winning two out of four matches, with one loss and one draw.