ALDERSHOT TN 2, BRAINTREE TN 1

BRAINTREE, chasing a first promotion to the Football League, were knocked off course by Aldershot who recorded their first win in six matches.

Aldershot also completed an unlikely double, having won in Essex by the same 2-1 score back in August.

Since then, Braintree have established themselves as genuine promotion contenders, but they conceded their first goal in 531 minutes when Omar Beckles headed home powerfully and the Shots went on to deservedly win the Easter Monday match at a windswept EBB Stadium.

It’s been a strange spell for Barry Smith’s team: the Shots drew two of their previous four games 0-0, while conceding 12 goals in losing the other two.

“Braintree have had an exceptional season and I thought we showed a real desire to get back into the game after conceding a soft goal,” said Smith. “The boys worked so hard and they (Braintree) only had a couple of half-chances in each half.

“We set up in a way to frustrate them, but then you concede and you have to decide whether to change the system or stick with what you think is best for the game. We stuck with it.”

This eye-catching result could be just the spur for Aldershot to make a late-season surge into the top half of the National League table.

‘The Iron’, fresh from a win over Bromley on Good Friday, took the lead in impressive style, but never came to terms with the swirling wind and rarely tested Phil Smith in the home goal.

Aldershot, after a scrappy start, dominated play, particularly in the second half when they kept the ball on the deck and used the full width of the pitch.

On a day of dazzling sunshine, buffeting wind and heavy showers, neither goal was remotely threatened for 30 minutes and the main focus of interest was the remarkable industry, all over the ground, of Jake Gallagher, Aldershot’s England C player.

Eventually, in the 33rd minute, the home fans came to irate life when referee Adam Bromley waved play on after Ross Lafayette seemed to have his leg hooked back by Mark Phillips inside the area.

A minute late, the angry din increased as Braintree skipper Kenny Davis knocked a beautiful ball over the top and Simeon Akinola ran through to beat the advancing Smith with a delightful lob.

But that sublime goal was the high point of the visitors’ afternoon.

Five minutes before half-time, Nathan Ralph took a free-kick on the right and measured it perfectly for centre-back Beckles, stealing in unmarked from the left, to head firmly inside the far post.

One apiece at the interval and a tight second half seemed to be in store. But a different story emerged as Aldershot unleashed Ralph and Giorgio Rasulo on the flanks.

Straight from the kick-off, a Ralph cross almost resulted in a goal and with Braintree forced into panicky defence, Rasulo drove in an angled shot that Tom King saved with his outstretched boot.

Braintree lost the plot in the strong wind, continually over-hitting their passes and conceding numerous free-kicks.

Lafayette was unlucky not to score when another wind-assisted Ralph corner bamboozled Braintree’s defenders.

But Lafayette, who never stopped running up front, was heavily involved when Aldershot took the lead in the 69th minute. The on-loan striker’s shot was charged down by King and the eager Ralph was there to fire the rebound back into the net.

A lucky ricochet offered Braintree a way back into the game and lone striker Harry Cardwell – on loan from Reading – worked the ball cleverly onto his left foot, only to see his on-target shot deflected for a corner.

Thereafter, Aldershot never looked like surrendering the lead and there were no mistakes as lashing rain returned for the final minutes.

Lafayette got a rousing ovation when he was replaced by Alfie Pavey, but it was Ralph, on loan from Newport County, who emerged from a crowded field to be named man of the match.

Aldershot entertain Barrow this Saturday and their run of home games continues on Tuesday with a re-arranged fixture against Grimsby, currently third in the table.

Aldershot:?Smith; Alexander, Oliver, Beckles, McGinty; Hatton, Stevenson, Gallagher; Rasulo, Ralph, Lafayette (Pavey 77). Subs (not used): Saville, C Walker, Thomas, D Walker.

Braintree: King; Brundle (Edgar 77), Habergham, Phillips, Fry; Davis, Sparkes (Miles 64), Woodyard, Powell (Isaac 55); Akinola, Cardwell. Subs (not used): Gardner, Cheek. Booked: Phillips.

Referee: Adam Bromley.

Attendance: 1,539 (82).