ALDERSHOT TOWN 0, TRANMERE ROVERS 0

IT seems like yesterday that John Aldridge was leading Tranmere Rovers out at a League Cup Final, yet here they were slogging it out with Aldershot in the fifth tier of English football.

It was the eve of Valentine’s Day, but the Wirral side were hardly in lovey-dovey mood as they bullied their way to a share of the points with the Shots who were going for a fourth straight win.

A draw against the uncompromising Rovers continued Aldershot’s revival, while Tranmere could be satisfied with a point from their long trip south, keeping them in the play-off places and on track for an immediate return to the Football League.

Apart from the 2000 League Cup Final, when they lost 2-1 to Martin O’Neill’s Leicester City, Tranmere have a proud FA Cup record, reaching the quarter-finals in 2000, 2001 and 2004, while three times they have failed to reach the Premier League via the play-offs.

Their decline has been rapid and last season’s relegation ended a 94-year presence in the league. Their fans will demand nothing less than a brief sojourn in the National League, but the realistic target for the squad assembled by Gary Brabin is the minefield of the promotion play-offs.

Tranmere had good chances to win at the EBB Stadium, but then so did Aldershot. Indeed, it was an absorbing contest between the streetwise visitors and Barry Smith’s youthful charges.

On a raw afternoon, with rain falling throughout, Aldershot struggled to find a way past Tranmere’s rugged defence.

Greying skipper Steve McNulty might have resembled a pub footballer, with his baggy shorts and chunky build, but the former Luton defender read the game shrewdly and was invariably there to intercept and usually shovel the ball back to keeper Scott Davies.

Michael Higdon brought similar experience up front, while Aldershot knew all about the extra pace of Jack Mackreth, formerly of Macclesfield and Grimsby.

Mackreth showed the route to goal during a bright start by Tranmere and two of his crosses almost brought results. Lee Vaughan’s shot was deflected over for corner and then Sean McGinty made a vital headed clearance away from the goalmouth.

Half-an-hour passed before Charlie Walker forced a save from Davies. But it sparked Aldershot into more positive action and Charlie Walker, latching onto an excellent cross from namesake Dan, chipped narrowly over the crossbar.

Alfie Pavey then homed in on the far post to meet Damon Lathrope’s free-kick, but, running full-pelt, couldn’t quite get his header on target.

Dan Walker and Cheye Alexander were linking up nicely on the right to give Charlie Walker a much better service as half-time approached.

Aldershot, though, were caught cold at the start of the second half and Lois Maynard, breaking clear on the left, shot straight at Phil Smith when he should have done better.

On the hour-mark, it was Tranmere’s turn for a narrow escape as Alfie Pavey converted McGinty’s cross with a lovely glancing header, only to have the goal ruled out for offside.

Manager Smith immediately introduced young winger Nathan Ralph, just signed from Newport County, while Rovers called up striker Gary Taylor-Fletcher, another gnarled veteran who has played in each of the top five divisions (Premier League with Leicester).

Most of Tranmere’s tackles were adjudged just the right side of legal by referee Nigel Lugg, although Aldershot’s bench joined in angry, fruitless appeals for a penalty after keeper Davies’ challenge on Rhys Browne.

A battered Charlie Walker was finally withdrawn and, in added time, a dazed Browne had to be helped off the pitch after a crunching tackle.

Tranmere had probably the best chance of the game when Higdon’s beautifully weighted pass slipped Hughes in on the right. With only Smith to beat, he lifted his shot a foot over the bar.

Rovers were mouthy and physical, but their percentage football steered them towards a point. Perversely, the game opened up in injury time and another clear opening fell to Tranmere, Vaughan’s cross picking out Taylor-Fletcher who headed powerfully the wrong side of the post.

But Aldershot were good value for a third consecutive clean sheet, something recognised by the sponsors who, yet again, made central defender Omar Beckles the man of the match.

It might have been the end of Aldershot’s winning streak, but Barry Smith was more than happy with the result. “A great point at home against a vastly experienced team who are fourth in the league for a reason," he said.

“So to get a clean sheet and come away with a point, we’ll take that. And in the second half I thought we played some good football as well. In the first half, we looked a bit nervous, which isn’t like us.

“We seemed to have eliminated the mistakes and the boys work so hard, the whole team. We’ve worked hard in training to get things right.”

Aldershot: Smith; Alexander, Beckles, Oastler, McGinty; D Walker (Ralph 60), Gallagher, Lathrope, Browne; C Walker (Lafayette 74), Pavey (Stevenson 78). Subs (not used): Thomas, Saville.?Booked: Alexander, Lafayette.

Tranmere: Davies, Vaughan, McNulty, Ihiekwe, Ridehalgh, Maynard, Harris, Mackreth (Taylor-Fletcher 70), Hughes, Norwood, Higdon. Subs (not used): Turner, Mekki, Kirby, Sutton. Booked: Harris, McNulty.

Referee: Nigel Lugg.

Attendance: 1,882 (298 away).

Before kick-off, Aldershot held a heartfelt minute’s applause in memory of Frank Burt, the club’s oldest and most loyal supporter, who died on February 5 at the age of 102. He had watched the Shots for a remarkable 90 years.