A second successive 4-1 home victory restored that winning smile to Aldershot faces, but this was never quite as comfortable as the scoreline suggests.
For 45 minutes, Morecambe – unbeaten in nine games but frustratingly prone to stalemate – were unlucky to find themselves a goal down, as both sides contributed fully to an open and entertaining game. Ultimately, though, the only blemish on The Shots’ day was another failure to keep a clean sheet.
Profligate finishing was compounded by a couple of key defensive errors that prevented The Shrimps from mounting a second-half comeback. Antonio German made his first start in a 4-3-3 formation and Aldershot took an early lead with a typically lethal counter-attack, but soon Morecambe were cursing a lack of end product.
Donnelly, breaking through a midfield he graced, fed Morgan in the inside-left channel to hit a low shot across Davies and in off the far-post. Paul Mullin should have brought Morecambe level, first with a glancing header and then a precise, low drive towards the bottom corner that Jaimez-Ruiz did superbly well to stop.
That chance came as Craney was allowed too much space, and The Shots’ creaky defence never quite got to grips with his fellow midfield runners. Donnelly was at the heart of everything good for Aldershot, but neither side could convert several decent chances.
However, just 55 seconds after the break, Morgan’s hopeful cross from the right was sliced over Davies into the net by Craig Stanley and Aldershot had barely-warranted breathing space. Mullin had again spurned two opportunities before another defensive lapse gifted a goal to Kirk Hudson. Chasing back to clear Morgan’s aerial flick, Wilson headed the ball past his advancing goalkeeper and Hudson won the race to allow him a simple tap in.
Finally Morecambe’s threat was quelled and with ten minutes left Aldershot seemed set for their largest win back in the Football League: Hylton’s angled pass found Soares streaking through a wide open Morecambe back-four and, quickly transferring the ball from right foot to left, he stabbed the ball under Davies.
Unfortunately, a clean sheet again proved beyond them, as, in injury time, Mullin hooked a long leg around Craney’s cross to bundle it past Jaimez-Ruiz and over the line, but Aldershot’s move up to fifth place in the table was confirmed.
Unbeaten at Fortress Rec in eight games, this was another sign of a good side continuing to pick up points despite not playing to its full potential.