ALDERSHOT Town’s quest to go back to the future continues to gather momentum with a pre-season full of promise under returning manager Gary Waddock.

The man who led the Shots to the 2007-08 Blue Square Premier title has been quick to rebuff suggestions that he could again achieve miracles in his first season back at the EBB Stadium. However, after 13 new signings and the retention of just four players, quiet optimism abounds around a young squad blessed with ample pace and creativity.

That was demonstrated in the first half of their final friendly of the summer against League Two Crawley Town. It ended 0-0 as Aldershot again rose to the tough challenges posed by Football League opposition following a draw against MK Dons and victory over Wycombe.

They created several excellent chances – particularly through Bernard Mensah who had a shot hacked off the line – and should have been ahead at the break, only for the predictable slew of substitutions to rob the game of its momentum, save for another impressive impact from winger Iffy Allen.

Crawley goalkeeper Yusuf Mersin was perhaps the busiest player of the opening 45 minutes, saving shots from Liam Bellamy, Matt McClure and Cheye Alexander. Red Devils winger Enzio Boldewijn missed an open goal late in the first half, and soon Joe McNerney cleared Mensah’s goalbound shot after good work from Jake Gallagher.

Mark Connolly should have won the game for Crawley in the second half, putting a free header wide, but the Shots were again happy with their display.

Confidence is high as Aldershot begin their Vanarama National League campaign with their longest trip of the season, to resurgent Barrow AFC.

Manager Paul Cox has built upon a strong finish to 2015-16 with ten signings of his own and appears to be building a team specifically designed to succeed in a division where strength and height often prevail over guile and craft.

“It’s a difficult test, but it’s one that we’re looking forward to,” said Waddock. “The games mean something now – it’s all about results, not preparation and fitness. It’s about picking up points.”

“It’s given me food for thought, these three games, in terms of formation and personnel,” admitted Waddock, who will be without striker Charlie Walker for the immediate future after scans revealed ankle ligament damage suffered against MK Dons.

“I’ll probably have one or two chats with James (Rowe, assistant manager) and decide the best way forward.“But I’m very pleased with the group that we’ve assembled, having had to rebuild near enough the entire squad. We’re in a good place at the moment – the players have done extremely well and worked very hard on the training ground. There’s been a lot of meetings and hard work over the summer, but I’m very happy. I’m delighted to be back and really enjoying the job.”

Many teams will harbour similar ambitions of pushing towards the play-off places in an increasingly competitive division – with some big-spending clubs perhaps needing promotion to justify their extravagance – but Aldershot Town appear well equipped to surprise a few people.

Even so, a top-half finish, and a home crowd buoyed by attacking, entertaining football and a few goals, would represent progress for Waddock’s new team.

Aldershot: Cole (Smith 72); Alexander, Evans, Saville (Reynolds 46), Straker; Mensah (Allen 46), Bellamy, Gallagher (Kellermann 65), Fenelon (Arnold 65); Rendell, McClure.

Aldershot have signed goalkeeper Mark Smith following his release from Brentford. The 20-year-old from Isleworth was a member of the Bees’ first-team squad in 2015-16, but spent most of the season out on loan and played a major role for Hampton who won the Ryman Premier Division championship.