The Shots finally cleared their ten point deduction, with a hard fought 1-0 win over Macclesfield at The Rec on Saturday afternoon.
In truth it was a largely uninspiring performance from the home side, and the visitors will probably count themselves unfortunate not to have taken a point home to Cheshire.
The winning goal came from Mark Molesley’s long range effort in the 66th minute.
The Shots were able to name an unchanged line-up going into the game, but Andy Scott’s side started in a lethargic manner.
Macclesfield were slightly better, but neither side managed to create a worthwhile chance in the opening fifteen minutes.
In the 16th minute, Molesley’s volley was well blocked by a defender.
Shortly after Winn had Macc’s first effort at goal, but his shot flew over the bar.
The Shots won their first corner in the 24th minute, but it came to nothing. However from another flag kick two minutes later, Joe Oastler came close when he headed just wide.
On 33 minutes a nasty looking clash of heads between Brett Williams and Efe Sodje resulted in both players needing treatment. It didn’t deter the Shots forward though, as he had two attempts at goal in quick succession.
Firstly his on target effort was well blocked by a defender and then his curling shot went just wide.
The visitors could have taken the lead on the stroke of half time. Scott Boden, who looked at least two yards offside, ran on to a through ball and lobbed the advancing Morris, but fortunately for the Shots and the linesman it went well wide.
HALF TIME: ALDERSHOT TOWN 0 MACCLESFIELD TOWN 0
Obviously Scott’s half-time team talk didn’t have the desired effect, as the Shots began the second half as they did the opening one – slowly.
It was left to the visitors to take the initiative and a flicked header from Whitaker went just wide of the far post.
In the 58th minute an effort from John-Paul Kissock just cleared the bar.
On the hour mark Jordan Roberts replaced the under par Rowlands. This substitution definitely ignited The Shots into action.
Oastler saw his header from a corner, in the 62nd minute, well tipped over by Taylor in the Macc goal.
The defining moment of the game came four minutes later.
After a neat Shots move involving Roberts, the ball came to Paterson who laid it back into the path of Molesley 25 yards out. The ex-Bournemouth man’s first time effort, looped over the keeper and went in, off the underside of the bar.
The Shots almost caught out the visitors on the counter-attack soon after. Following a decent run, Williams found Molesley wide on the Shots right – his cross into the danger area was cleared by a Macc defender, just as Roberts was ready to pounce.
At the other end, substitute Jack Mackreth was through on goal, but Morris did superbly well to come out and, at full stretch, dispossess him.
Macc were at this point throwing the kitchen sink at the Shots, and in the 78th minute Danny Andrews’ long range effort went just over.
The visitors came agonisingly close to restoring parity in the 87th minute, but Winn’s thunderbolt from 20 yards crashed back off the bar.
In the last minute, only another excellent block from Morris again denied Mackreth getting an equaliser, which the visitors will claim would have been deserved.
FULL TIME: ALDERSHOT TOWN 1 MACCLESFIELD TOWN 0
TS RATINGS: Morris 7, Oastler 6.5, Barker 6, Stanley 7, Goodman 7, Webster 6.5, Molesley 7, Rowlands 5 (Roberts 6), Williams 6 (Wickham), Paterson 6 AND Oyeleke 5.