These are certainly frustrating times or the loyal band of Shots supporters travelling to watch their inconsistent side, but let's face it, this whole season has been rather forgettable.
Tuesday night gave boss Terry Brown the chance to run the rule over his young brigade, and with the visit of Cambridge United on Saturday (ko 3pm), he could take heart from an otherwise spirited performance.
He said: “It's always difficult after a defeat to look at the game rationally because I hate losing with a vengeance.
“It meant more to them than it did to us but I'm still hurting inside because I hate losing,” said a frustrated Brown.
Indeed it does mean more to the Lambs — this result, their first in ten matches, lifted them out of and away from the drop zone.
The hosts were clearly in determined mood, and they took full advantage of two uncharacteristic mistakes from goalkeeper Nikki Bull to score twice, having rarely otherwise threatened the goal.
“The manner in which we conceded the goals was poor, the first goal I thought was a foul so I was disappointed the referee didn't give it,” Brown added.
“I can't remember them looking like scoring at any other time but from throw-ins and corners, but that's irrelevant as they deserved the win on the day more they were better in both boxes than we were.”
Not for the first time the boss was only able to name four substitutes, and with injuries claiming Gary Holloway (ankle) and Leroy Griffiths (knee), it again meant a reshuffling of the pack.
“I wanted to stick with two up front and the rest of the team picked itself. I was very pleased with my young boys up front up against a quality defence.
“I thought we absolutely terrorised them in the first half, I really did feel that we were going to get some goals. It meant the world to them today, I've been in their position before, it was always going to be a nervy game but I thought we controlled it for most periods,” added Brown.
Right from the off it was clear Karl Heggs would be at the forefront of Aldershot's problems, as he won his battle with marker Ian Simpemba only for Bull to pick the ball up smartly from the feet of the striker — this after just 30 seconds.
The Shots responded, Kirk Hudson firing on the volley as he tried to chip the keeper from Matthews' lay-off but Sean Bowles in goal was equal to the test.
Heggs again pushed for a goal, but his effort took a deflection wide, and from the resulting corner, man-mountain Matt Redmile headed wide.
Then on ten minutes the hosts deservedly took the lead — albeit in controversial circumstances. From Kyle Storer's ball in, veteran Bob Taylor collided with Bull who came out to collect, and Heggs prodded the loose ball home, despite the claims of a foul from the Shots players.
The visitors almost levelled instantly but Hudson's curling shot went just inches wide of the upright.
Bowles was in action again parrying away from Hudson's shot before Lewis Hamilton hit a fierce drive from distance that was wide.
With the Shots in ascendancy Ryan Scott hit another low drive but that too was just off target.
The Lambs really should have increased their lead but Heggs scuffed his shot when in a good position, and Bull was called upon to collect from Graham Ward just before the break.
Lambs' player/boss Mark Cooper, out suspended, took off the largely ineffective Nathan Jackson, replacing him with former Celtic and Aston Villa Tommy Johnson.
And the change proved key as just three minutes into the second half, he doubled the Lambs' lead.
Bull came out yet again for Storer's free kick but the keeper failed to collect and the ball fell to Johnson, who slotted home.
Seconds later, however, the Shots hit back.
Ryan Williams fed Matthews who unleashed a shot on the edge of the area past the keeper — a cool finish from the Watford youngster for his first Aldershot goal.
A stop-start remainder to the half followed as whistle-happy referee Roger Vaughan proceeded to blow at every opportunity.
A Williams free-kick 10 yards outside the area drifted wide, and with the Shots piling forward, defender Dave Winfield, put on as a makeshift striker, went close to levelling but headed just wide.
Matthews too went close, but Bowles parried away on the edge of the area before Adie Smith cleared from Winfield ready to pounce on the loose ball.
Johnson fired just wide of the post in injury time but the Lambs had done enough to earn the points and bring Aldershot's three-game winning run on the road to an end.
At the same time, they become the latest unlikely team to complete the double over the Shots.
With thanks to the Aldershot News.