The game started at a high tempo and Bracknell started the better in the early stages. The Shots, playing their first competitive game of the new season, slowly got to grips of the pace of the game. In defence, Amber Marsh, Hannah Grover, Tara Coles and Laura Funnell snuffed out the early advances of the Robins, and when they were breached the ever-reliable Lesley Hubbard [pictured] was on hand.
Tracy Marlow nearly broke the deadlock against her old team, when the ball was played over the Bracknell defence, Marlow raced on but the ball wouldn't come down in time to get a shot on target and the Bracknell keeper dealt was able to deal with the threat.
Two minutes into stoppage time and the hosts broke the deadlock. From a corner, The Shots failed to clear the ball and the Bracknell player snuck in at the far post to score the opener.
Half Time: Bracknell Town 1 Aldershot Town 0
After the break, The Shots took the game to Bracknell. The midfield of Sian Houghton and Stacey Ireland became more dominant and their range of passing started to bring wide players such as Holly Gayler and Nikki Moore into the game.
On 53 minutes, The Shots were back in the match as Bracknell pressed The Shots defence, captain Tara Coles broke up play and cleared downfield.
Marlow gave chase, putting the Bracknell defender under pressure. As she tried to turn Marlow, she mis-hit the ball, giving Marlow time to pass her marker and fire a left-footed shot into the top-left-hand corner of the net.
After this Laura Wallman, who had done an outstanding job as a lone striker, was replaced by Jade Ferguson. On 65 minutes, having only been on the pitch three minutes, she was on the score sheet.
From a Shots throw-in, Bracknell cleared the ball, but only as far as Houghton, who won the header. From there, Marlow flicked the ball onto Ferguson, who skipped past her marker and fired a left-footed shot across the goalkeeper into the far corner.
The Shots hadn't finished yet, and they increased their lead on 72 minutes, when Hubbard launched a long ball downfield. The impressive Ferguson won the ball with two defenders around her, laid the ball back to Moore who fired low and hard from outside the box to deceive the goalkeeper, who saw it late, to give the visitors a 3-1 lead.
After this Ferguson created even more havoc when she raced onto the ball from deep inside the midfield and outpaced her marker to slot the ball home - only for the assistant on the far side to give a rather contentious offside decision.
As the clock ticked down, Caz Shephard (recently returned from holiday) came on for the impressive Gayler.
Six minutes of injury time was indicated by the referee - who had an excellent game, causing a few worried look on The Shots bench, more so when the Robins got a second goal, again from a corner, with 90 seconds of play left.
However the final whistle was blown to the delight of The Shots team, meaning the Ladies have had their best start in four years and more importantly, beaten one of the title favourites away from home - an impressive feat.
Full time: Bracknell Town 2 Aldershot Town 3
Speaking after the match, stand-in club captain Tara Coles said: "Well what can I say? I'm so proud of us all.
"We battled as a team and won as a team - united throughout. Let's hope this continues all season. The football was fantastic and our fitness clearly showed in the second half. Remember girls it shows that a united front is a strong one.
"One game, one win - fantastic football and smiles all round!"
Andy's Analysis:
"Wow! What a game to start with. Both sides should be congratulated for the high standard of football played tonight. It took us a little time to get into the game, but for once all the hard work the girls have done over the summer started to pay off. The goals we scored were great strikes. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't defend our corners better, but we can work on that.
"The pleasing thing for Jamie and I, is how everyone has gelled together, and we still have another four players to come back into the squad over the next two weeks.
"It's a long way to go and we've started to plan for our home game against Henley on Sunday already. It was the first time we've ever beaten Bracknell and I'm very proud of my team tonight."
Bracknell Town: Emily Cross, Tash Boyle, Holly Callard-Brooks, Emily Campbell, Emma Constable, Tracy Corkett, Lis Easton, Jen Friar, Caz Gardner, Kim Lockyer and Alison Pankhurst.
Subs: Siobhan Rideout, Kirsty Robertson, Laura Slater and Shelley Strange.
The Shots: Lesley Hubbard, Holly Gayler (Caz Shepherd), Tara Coles (c), Sian Houghton, Stacey Ireland, Laura Wallman (Jade Ferguson), Tracy Marlow, Hannah Grover, Nikki Moore, Laura Funnell and Amber Marsh.
Subs: Aimee Budd and Nicky Holdyn
Aldershot Town Ladies take on Henley Town next when they return to Farnborough Gate on Sunday 30 August, kick off at 2pm.
All supporters are invited to come along and support the team and then join them afterwards for a drink in the Ship Inn pub.
The match will be preceded by a minutes silence in memory of John McGinty.
All photographs provided with thanks to David Child