Aldershot Town 3, FC Halifax Town 0

WHILE not quite as resounding a victory as the scoreline suggests, this was nonetheless another impressive display from a side finally finding its feet after a stuttering, stumbling start to the season.

Had FC Halifax taken one or more of several strong chances, the game could have at least been more of a contest, but The Shots still had a fifth home victory sewn up seconds after half-time.

“We played extremely well throughout the game, and we’ve been playing well for the last couple of weeks. I was very pleased with the way we controlled the game and we deserved the win,” explained manager Gary Waddock, who saw new loan signing Gabe Osho make a hugely impressive debut at centre-back just 36 hours after joining from Reading.

“We know we’ve got some good players in the camp and slowly but surely they’re showing that.”

Shorn of wingers Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong and Luke Wanadio through injury and, with Shamir Fenelon only fit enough for the bench after returning from his own lay-off, Waddock pushed midfielder Adam McDonnell out wide and the switch paid handsome dividends.

The game’s first chance, though, had fallen to the visitors, as Kyle Wootton headed over from a corner, and The Shaymen would soon be left to rue their profligacy. On eight minutes, McDonnell’s deft pass found Jake Gallagher breaking into the box and he pulled the ball back toward the onrushing Adam May, who swept his shot into the net.

Their strong start was confirmed on 20 minutes, as Scott Rendell found Matt McClure chasing down the left flank. The deep, driven cross was volleyed in by McDonnell from eight yards, and The Shots were apparently cruising.

Yet Nathan Clarke guided a free header wastefully wide of goal and Dayle Southwell’s own header drifted past the post, before two penalty area scrambles at the end of the half gave Halifax a degree of hope.

That optimism was crushed less than 100 seconds after the restart. Sam Johnson met Marvin McCoy’s cross with a weak punch and when McClure’s mishit shot bounced across the area, Gallagher’s improvised header looped over two defenders and in at the far post.

Southwell saw his shot superbly cleared shot off the line by Lewis Kinsella, after the striker’s clever run left him one-on-one against goalkeeper Jake Cole and, minutes later, his 20-yard drive flew inches too high. In the closing stages, Jordan Preston hit the crossbar with an acutely-angled shot, and then pulled the ball wide across goal, to reinforce FC Halifax Town’s lingering sense of injustice, as their winless run was extended to eight matches.

In reality, they were well beaten. For once, Aldershot Town had been the team to take their chances, to reinforce a solid home record which, given their abject away form, already looks like being essential in propelling them up the table.

Aldershot Town: Cole; McCoy, Fowler, Osho, Kinsella; Gallagher (Howell 76), Booty, May; McDonnell, Rendell (Holman 70), McClure (Fenelon 67). Subs (not used): Mannion, Lelan.

FC Halifax Town: Johnson; Hanson, Maher, Clarke, Sellers; Lenighan (King 53), Berrett; Preston (Staunton 90), Southwell, Odelusi; Wootton (Edwards 53). Subs (not used): Duckworth, Rowley.

Attendance: 1,625.

On Saturday, Aldershot Town take on 10th-placed Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium (kick-off 3pm).

*Legendary England centre back Terry Butcher will be the guest speaker at Aldershot Town’s annual sportsman’s dinner next month.

As well as being renowned for his glittering England career, which culminated in World Cup penalty shootout heartache at the hands of West Germany in the semi-finals of Italia 90, Butcher will forever be remembered for his dramatic bloodied picture after suffering a head wound against Sweden during a World Cup qualifier in 1989.

The dinner will be held at the Village Hotel in Farnborough on Friday, November 2. For tickets, priced £60 each, call Aldershot Town on 01252 320211 or e-mail [email protected].