Aldershot Town 1, Hartlepool United 1

Aldershot Town’s abject, dysfunctional season was sealed with relegation back to regional football for the first time in 16 years.

This draw, coupled with Dover Athletic’s comeback win against Barrow, left The Shots 12 points from safety with just three games remaining.

They now become only the second National League team to go from play-off qualification to relegation in consecutive seasons in the 17 years since play-offs were introduced to the fifth tier of English football.

“I’m sad and angry but can’t put into words how I actually feel. It’s a very sad day for this club,” admitted manager Gary Waddock at the culmination of a horrible 14 months for a side who were top of the National League in February 2018 but have since won just 13 of 58 matches.

“There are a number of factors but it’s a results-based business and I take responsibility for that.”

Waddock admitted that even though he has had several meetings with chairman Shahid Azeem in recent weeks, his future remains undecided.

But he stressed: “It needs to be sorted out for the good of the club and some big decisions need to be made very soon. The club needs to move forward and have some real leadership and direction to get it back to where it should be.”

Perhaps appropriately, this game captured the previous 42 in painful microcosm.

“If you don’t take your chances the game changes, and it was only a matter of time before Hartlepool scored,” related Waddock with depressing familiarity.

“In many ways that’s what’s happened throughout the season. We haven’t scored enough goals and we’ve conceded far too many.”

Yet once Alex Finney had blocked Gavan Holohan’s shot at the end of a strong run, The Shots made the perfect start. In just the tenth minute, Regan Booty advanced down the left, and when his low, teasing cross inadvertently ricocheted off a sliding defender, Reece Grant pounced to give the hosts the lead.

It should have been more, too. Adam McDonnell’s cross-shot was tipped over, John Goddard wasted two good opportunities with wayward finishing, and Grant slashed a shot wildly over the bar from the corner of the six-yard box.

Pools’ best opportunity of the first half saw Nicke Kabamba head wide from a great position in front of goal, but an offside flag spared his blushes and let a shoddy Shots defence off the hook.

Grant allowed Scott Loach to make a point-blank save after Bernard Mensah’s shot deflected into his path, and their profligacy was again punished. Will Mannion blocked Luke Molyneux’s shot with his legs, and soon, on 81 minutes, Molyneux turned provider.

Holohan started and ended a flowing move through midfield, and when The Shots failed to clear their lines, Molyneux’s clipped cross to the far post invited the former Hull City midfielder to head past current Tigers goalkeeper Mannion.

Rendell was denied a late winner, judged offside as he stabbed the ball in from James Rowe’s superb cross, but it would have all been immaterial as Dover’s own victory confirmed Aldershot Town’s ignominious fall from grace.

Three games remain but next season starts now for The Shots, with the club in dire need of leadership on and off the pitch.

Aldershot Town: Mannion; Bernard, Menayese, Finney, Booty; McDonnell (Rowe 85), Howell; Mensah, Grant (McDonagh 78), Goddard (Berkeley-Agyepong 85); Rendell. Subs (not used): Cole, Gallagher

Attendance: 1,589.

*Tomorrow (Good Friday), Aldershot travel to face Dover Athletic at the Crabble Athletic Ground before returning to Hampshire for a county derby against fellow relegated side Havant & Waterlooville at EBB Stadium. Both games kick off at 3pm.