Consistent only in their inconsistency, Aldershot Town produced the archetypal away performance to deservedly defeat an in-form Chesterfield side going for their seventh consecutive win.
Danny Hylton’s deft 64th minute header capped a resurgent and hugely impressive display and earned the three points which were just reward for the team’s stoicism. It was typified by the returning Dave Winfield and retained Stephen Henderson, both of whom enjoyed superb games. The Spireites showed little of the class which had taken them on a six-game winning streak, but that was at least partly due to Aldershot’s quality in every area of the field. Lee’s diving save to keep out Straker’s 25-yard shot illustrated a fine start from the visitors, and Hudson saw a point-blank shot blocked by Goodall; yet Henderson still had to maintain parity with good saves from Conlon’s header and Whaley’s shot which deflected off Sandell. Chesterfield were briefly galvanised after the break but produced little of notable threat, and they were hit with a classic sucker-punch. Henderson fell on Page’s header, from a corner, and mere seconds later released substitute Jackson on a marauding run down the right. His strength allowed the ball to break to Donnelly, whose floated cross found Hylton pulling behind his marker to direct a header in at Lee’s near-post. John Sheridan changed formation twice in the closing stages, as Chesterfield finished the game playing 4-3-3, but still fashioned little more than set-pieces and half-chances. Boden saw his cross-shot skid through the six-yard box, and Goodall placed the ball wide in a final few seconds of pressure, but Aldershot, with debutant Damien Spencer making a telling cameo appearance up front, held strong to the last. The rollercoaster returns to home turf on Tuesday night, against Bradford City, but it will probably be a lot longer before anybody can truly pin down the ‘real’ Aldershot Town.