WELLING UTD 0, ALDERSHOT TN 1

SO often this season, Aldershot Town have been the victims of the infamous small margins which decide many matches.

Now, in recording their fourth win in six games, the Shots have finally rediscovered the art of grinding out victories.

Until Ross Lafayette’s 76th-minute penalty snatched all three points in Bexley on Saturday, it looked as though struggling Welling might hold out for a valuable draw.

But this was a thoroughly deserved win for Aldershot who should have scored three or four in a resurgent second-half performance.

After claiming his first goal since joining on loan from Eastleigh, Lafayette was soon talking up his new team’s chances of making a late run towards the National League play-offs, but manager Barry Smith was more circumspect in his assessment.

“We knew it was going to be a battle here, but we’ve created a lot of chances and their keeper has made some excellent saves,” said Smith, who has now managed his team to seven away victories this season, one more than the club recorded in the whole of 2014-15.

“It was a disciplined performance. We didn’t come here to settle for a point and we said at half-time that we knew we could play better.”

So it proved as a cagey first half became the platform for a dominant display after the break.

Wings goalkeeper Marek Rodak was undoubtedly the hosts’ man of the match, but their strikers were found wanting at crucial moments.

Luke Wanadio’s shot was saved by Phil Smith after Adeoye Yusuff mis-kicked in front of goal and Welling’s lack of a cutting-edge was at times glaring as they relied all too much on set-pieces.

Put through by Joe Oastler, Lafayette attemped a lob that was parried by Rodak. Soon after, Lafayette ran onto Rhys Browne’s pass to bring another strong save, with the rebound narrowly evading Charlie Walker.

Tomi Adeloye directed a free six-yard header straight at Smith with the last touch of the first half. Welling’s profligacy later came back to haunt them.

At the other end, Browne forced a save from Rodak when he should have teed up Jake Gallagher. Walker should have scored from six yards, the keeper making another smart stop.

Gallagher twice went close as the litany of missed chances at both ends continued to build, while Jim Stevenson had a header cleared off the line and then a hooked shot scrambled away.

Another Stevenson header rebounded to Lafayette who volleyed wide, but the pair finally combined to telling effect on 76 minutes.

The midfielder’s angled free-kick from near the halfway line was nodded down by Omar Beckles and Lafayette reached the ball before Rodak. There appeared minimal contact as the striker went down, but referee Robert Whitton saw enough to award the spot kick and Lafayette got up to drive the ball over the diving Rodak.

It was 60 seconds which summed up the current fortunes of the two sides as Sahr Kabba almost immediately volleyed over from point-blank range. Welling’s hopes were extinguished in that moment.

Substitute Alfie Pavey could have settled any nerves from two late chances. Even so, this was a quietly impressive victory – Aldershot Town’s first ever at Park View Road and further evidence of the progress being made under Barry Smith.

Welling: Rodak; Williams, Lokko, Nortey, Chesman; Ferry, Harris, Kargbo, Wanadio; Yusuff (Kabba 29), Adeloye (Daniel 79). Subs (not used): McEntegart, Gayle, Vidal.

Aldershot: Smith; Alexander, Beckles, Oastler, McGinty; Browne, Stevenson, Gallagher, Ralph; C Walker (Pavey 56), Lafayette. Subs (not used): Thomas, Saville, Hatton, D Walker. Booked: McGinty, Browne, Alexander.

Referee: Robert Whitton.

Attendance: 704.