BRAINTREE TN 2, ALDERSHOT TN 0

ALDERSHOT Town gave their first genuinely sub-standard performance of the season in the National League and deservedly incurred Gary Waddock’s wrath – but yet again it was a match from which they should have taken at least a point.

Waddock declared his team’s lack of creativity and cutting-edge “unacceptable” after the Shots dominated possession, but lacked the necessary guile to open up Braintree’s solid defence.

The visitors still had ample opportunities, particularly in the first half, to have denied the Iron their first win of the season, only to fall to a set-piece and counter-attacking sucker-punch at each end of the game.

Although able to name only three substitutes due to a lengthening injury list, Waddock offered no excuses for his team. “We had long periods of possession and didn’t create anything. They allowed us to have the ball, but we couldn’t find the solution to break them down. We moved the ball around well and I’m disappointed that we didn’t cause them more of a problem. They had limited chances in the game, but took them.”

Nick Arnold had already fired a shot over the bar for Aldershot when the Essex side took the lead from an entirely predictable situation on eight minutes.

With long throws and set-pieces offering the hosts a ready route into the penalty area, an inswinging corner invited former Shots loanee Jake Goodman to force a downward header over the line.

Scott Rendell should have equalised with a 22nd-minute header of his own, guided wide of the far post after Matt McClure’s fine cross found him in acres of space.

Jake Gallagher had a shot parried by Jamie Butler, Jack Saville saw a header fly wide of goal and, five minutes into the second half, McClure was played in by Rendell, only to have his shot saved by Butler’s feet.

Aldershot had been neat on the ball and lively in both their thinking and movement, but once McClure had missed that good chance, all such positivity rapidly disappeared.

Although the Shots pushed forward and enjoyed plenty of territorial advantage, they lacked the spark which has illuminated much of their early-season play.

In contrast, Braintree grew stronger and, led by the indomitable Goodman in defence and last season’s top scorer, Michael Cheek, in attack, they sealed the victory on 77 minutes.

Rendell was twice robbed on halfway as he tried to kick-start another move, but once he had tumbled over, Cheek was able to break into space down the right.

With fine awareness, he timed his pass perfectly into the path of the onrushing Simeon Akinola who swept a 15-yard shot over Mark Smith into the far top corner.

It crushed Aldershot’s resolve and, although McClure nearly bundled in a chance that would have set up a grandstand finish, ultimately the Shots had not so much been defeated by superior opposition, but had beaten themselves.

The EBB Stadium is currently a fortress, but Aldershot’s travel sickness could undermine a season which still carries promise and optimism.

Braintree: Butler; Williams, Gayle, Goodman, Okimo; Midson (Gordon 73), Lee, Isaac (Corne 73), Akinola (Braham-Barnett 83); Cheek, Barnard. Subs (not used): Maybanks, Fagan.

Aldershot: Smith; Alexander, Reynolds, Saville, Arnold; Allen (Kellermann 63), Gallagher, Wakefield, Mensah; Rendell, McClure. Subs (not used): Straker, Evans. Booked: Saville.

Referee: Dean Treleaven.

Attendance: 677 (187 away).

Aldershot host North Ferriby this Saturday. They travel to Dover Athletic on Bank Holiday Monday.