Ultimately, Scott Donnelly’s deflected free-kick and a superb first goal of the season from Kirk Hudson achieved what Crewe failed to with over 20 excellent chances. The Shots rode their luck from the kick-off, allowing Crewe ample time and space on the ball, and seemed not to learn even when Billy Jones sent in two dangerous crosses from the left in the first five minutes.
The finishing, though, was not so accurate. Headers from Elding and Zola were weak and Joel Grant pulled a shot wide, but they were deservedly ahead on 16 minutes. Grant slid a perfect pass through to Miller, making an angled run into the box to place the ball across Jaimez-Ruiz and into the net.
Hudson and impressive debutant Dean Parrett mustered scant half-chances in response, and, inexplicably, the visitors were level on 33 minutes. Worley was booked for a foul on Donnelly, 25 yards out, and was made to pay when the resulting free-kick took a deflection off the wall and wrong-footed goalkeeper Button.
Still Crewe pushed, and still Zola failed to hit the target, glancing a free header wide with The Shots’ defence rooted to the spot, and then blazing over an open goal after Jaimez-Ruiz flapped at a cross. Grant’s mazy run ended with a deft chip over the advancing goalkeeper, only for Charles to nonchalantly flick the ball over the bar, and Aldershot were thankful for the refuge of half-time.
They belatedly restored some bite to their tackles, but the second half pattern remained familiar: Crewe dominant yet so wasteful that the home crowd’s frustration turned to boos. A combination of heroic defending and poor finishing prevented Gudjon Thordarson’s side from earning their reward, and the injustice was complete on 66 minutes.
Halls found Donnelly on the right, and, meeting his angled pass to the edge of the box, Kirk Hudson produced a wonderful, almost Berkgamp-esque turn and smashed a shot beyond Button.
Zola again failed with far easier opportunities – including a complete mis-kick with just the goalkeeper to beat – and found the Aldershot defence a slightly ramshackle but nonetheless impenetrable barrier. Jaimez-Ruiz even resorted to sitting on the ball, as he saved one effort with his legs, and Blackburn cleared another header off the line.
The siege continued through five minutes of added time, but eventually the points were won. This was The Alamo, Custer’s Last Stand and The Great Train Robbery all crammed into 90 heart-stopping minutes; a typically nerve-wracking testament to Aldershot’s new-found resolve in enemy territory.