TORQUAY UTD 0, ALDERSHOT TN 0

ALDERSHOT may have relinquished top spot in the National League, temporarily they hope, but a hard-won point at Plainmoor and a fifth game unbeaten still represented a step in the right direction.

Billy Heath’s resurgent Gulls side are proving themselves to be far sterner and athletic opposition than earlier in the season.

A fourth consecutive clean sheet for loanee goalkeeper Lewis Ward illustrated the solid defensive platform on which Aldershot’s own upturn in form has been built.

Both teams could highlight several excellent opportunities in their claims for having deserved the victory, but Shots assistant manager James Rowe agreed that a draw was about right.

“Both teams gave it a right go and I think a draw was fair,” he said. “We created enough chances in the first half to have scored at least once, but in the second half we didn’t really work their goalie enough. When the testosterone calmed down a little bit in each half, we controlled a lot of the play and looked dangerous.

“This was our third game in a week and I’m sure that affected the energy levels at some points during the match, but the lads have given their maximum effort and come away with a creditable point. You always want more, but you can’t really ask for more than four clean sheets in a row.”

In the absence of Scott Rendell and Shamir Fenelon – both unexpectedly missing through injury – Matt McClure made his first start in two months and, for the second season in succession, found a Torquay goalkeeper in fine form.

McClure’s sixth-minute shot was parried at close range by Vincent Dorel and the keeper then pounced in the six-yard box as McClure tried to dribble the loose ball round him and into the net.

At the other end, Josh McQuoid endured a similarly profligate afternoon, directing a free header over the crossbar from six yards and then firing an angled drive too high from just inside the box.

Jake Gallagher went close from distance for the Shots, before McQuoid’s rising shot was claimed by Ward as ample endeavor again failed to be matched by clinical finishing.

The Aldershot defence switched off as Torquay took a quick free-kick in the right channel, allowing Ruairi Keating to hit a shot which took a partial deflection off George Fowler on its way to rebounding off the post. Liam Davis shot just wide after immediately winning back possession.

McClure’s low drive was superbly smothered by Dorel on 30 minute and the striker then latched on to midfielder James Rowe’s inswinging free-kick, only to see his glancing header fly wide.

Second-half chances were much more scarce. Luke Young lashed a free-kick inches wide and Fowler brilliantly foiled McQuoid, who was apparently set to score with an easy far-post header until the defender intervened.

Bernard Mensah could have snatched a late victory, hooking a volley over from 15 yards, but before the end both teams’ ambitions were tempered by fear of a defeat which would have been harsh on either side.

Torquay: Dorel; Efete, Davey, McGinty; Barnum-Bobb, Young, Lathrope, McQuoid (Gnabouyou 83), Davis; Reid, Keating. Subs (not used): Clarke, Higgins, Myrie-Williams, Murphy.

Aldershot: Ward; Alexander, Evans, Fowler, Reynolds; Kellermann, Gallagher (Oyeleke 61); Rowe, Robert (Taylor 45), Mensah; McClure. Subs (not used): Cole, Lyons-Foster.

Referee: Adrien Quelch.

Attendance: 1,851 (299 away).

• Aldershot are home to FC Halifax Town this Saturday. The Shaymen are 17th in the table after losing 1-0 to Barrow last weekend.