ALDERSHOT TN 2, TRANMERE 1

BIRTHDAY boy Scott Rendell gave Aldershot the perfect late gift by sealing a comeback victory in the 95th minute on Saturday.

While it may not have exacted full revenge for May’s play-off semi-final defeat, it nonetheless signified something perhaps more important: Aldershot’s resurgent form and spirit as they earned a first come-from-behind win since March last year.

Predictably, it was a feisty affair, with referee Neil Hair showing nine yellow cards, including five for Aldershot.

On his 31st birthday, Rendell got the faintest of touches to Jim Kellermann’s cross to snatch the points from Tranmere who paid the ultimate price for time-wasting tactics by conceding deep into added time.

“What a fantastic comeback,” agreed Waddock. “We were on the front foot and I felt quite comfortable. I thought we dominated in the second half and I’m a big believer that you have to keep going right until the end. I could see us scoring and I could see us getting the second as well. We want winners here, and that’s what we showed today.”

By contrast, the first half was a tepid affair, lacking genuine quality and clear chances. Powerful centre-back Steve McNulty headed in Jeff Hughes’ deep corner on 17 minutes to put Rovers ahead, while Bernard Mensah should have equalised soon after with a shot into the side-netting.

In injury time, Scott Davies parried Fabien Robert’s swinging, swerving drive to preserve the Merseysiders’ lead, but the Shots were a much more potent threat after the break.

Tranmere’s only real opportunity of this half came from James Norwood’s downward header. At the other end, Aldershot forced a slew of corners in front of an expectant East Bank.

Kellermann’s fierce shot was well blocked and Rovers’ defence stood strong until the 80th minute.

James Rowe – also celebrating his birthday – created space down the right via a pass from Cheye Alexander. Rowe’s cross was misjudged by McNulty and Robert pounced to fire past Davies with the help of a deflection off a diving defender.

Pressure was maintained on the visitors’ goal, but when Davies got his fingertips to Kellermann’s 12-yard shot towards the bottom corner, home fans thought they would have to settle for a point.

Then, though, came the stunning denouement. Rowe and Robert launched a counter-attack and Adam McDonnell invited Kellermann to swing in a cross from deep. It was angled perfectly to drop just inside the far post, with veteran goal-poacher Rendell claiming his glancing header had provided the telling final touch.

Few inside the EBB Stadium cared who had scored amidst the tumult of such a joyously cathartic moment.

Aldershot: Cole; Alexander, Evans, Reynolds, McDonnell; Oyeleke, Kellermann; Fenelon (Rowe 59), Robert, Mensah (McClure 73); Rendell. Subs (not used): de Havilland, Smith, Pring. Booked: McDonnell, Oyeleke, Reynolds, Robert, Kellermann.

Tranmere: Davies; Duggan, Sutton, McNulty, Clarke; Mottley-Henry (McEveley 61), Norburn, Hughes, Jennings; Harris; Norwood (McDonagh 90). Subs (not used): Cook, Mangan, Pilling. Booked: Harris, McNulty, Duggan, Davies.

Referee: Neil Hair.

Attendance: 2,714.