ALDERSHOT TN 0, WREXHAM 1

SO near, but yet again so far. Discipline has been a key factor in Aldershot Town’s season and it again loomed large last Saturday as Wrexham’s own fourth victory in a row consigned the Shots to a quartet of consecutive defeats.

The Shots once more found themselves on the wrong side of the fine margins which decide tight games such as this, but were ultimately the authors of their own downfall last Saturday.

A third red card in three starts for Jake Gallagher certainly didn’t help as his former Welling team-mate Dominic Vose – one of the National League’s stand-out players over the past 18 months – dictated the tempo for Wrexham and supplied the teasing delivery from which they snatched victory.

There was the typical strong start for Aldershot, but they faded after Gallagher and Sam Hatton blazed efforts over the bar and Charlie Walker saw a shot saved.

Adriano Moke fired just wide from 25 yards for Wrexham, but they too found chances in scarce supply as the game was fought with great endeavour in midfield, but with little penetration in either penalty area.

Connor Jennings, who spent much of the first half appealing in vain against offside flags, should have done better with a close-range header which Phil Smith saved with relative ease, before Blaine Hudson directed a diving header wide of goal.

Pace and verve returned in the second half. Charlie Walker’s shot was blocked by the legs of Cameron Belford and, as the rebound ballooned across the goalmouth, Richard Brodie fired wide on the follow-up.

Jim Stevenson flashed a volley just off target, but with half an hour remaining that was as good as it got for the Shots.

Wrexham waited patiently for an opportunity to cross from the left and when Robbie Evans floated in a delivery, Wes York’s glancing header was clawed away from underneath his crossbar by Smith.

Yet seconds after they had cleared that 62nd-minute chance to the halfway line, Aldershot were behind.

Jennings spread play out to Vose, still on the left, and as he danced with Cheye Alexander into the penalty area, his low cross into the six-yard box was flicked in by York, who had stolen half a yard on Chris Barker.

Gallagher then made himself the afternoon’s major talking point. On 66 minutes, he dived in unnecessarily, from behind, on Vose as the midfielder was being forced back into his own half. Six minutes later, a lazy swipe of his leg took out Jamal Fyfield to bring him a second yellow card.

“Jake has been warned about it,” lamented his manager. “He’s got to stay on his feet. He’s let himself and his team-mates down.”

Aldershot had no response to this familiar adversity, although substitute Rhys Browne briefly promised to rouse his team.

Barry Smith was soon venting his frustrations. “That’s been the story of the past few weeks and there’s no getting away from it – we’re not on a good run at the moment. But I’ve told the players that this is the time we knuckle down and stick together.”

Aldershot: Smith; Alexander, Beckles, Barker, McGinty; D Walker, Stevenson, Gallagher, Hatton (Browne 66); C Walker (Akinyemi 77), Brodie. Subs (not used): Thomas, Richards. Booked: Barker, Gallagher, McGinty. Sent off: Gallagher.

Wrexham: Belford; M Smith, Hudson, Fyfield, Newton; York, Evans, Moke, Carrington, Vose; Jennings. Subs (not used): Gray, Jackson, White, Sharpe, Caton. Booked: Newton, Evans.

Referee: Constantine Hatzidakis.

Attendance: 1,483 (215 away).