WITH Aldershot Town languishing in the relegation zone of the National League after a desperate winless run of 15 games, there may be light at the end of the tunnel for the bealeagured Shots.

And that light may be provided by a familiar face – Bernard Mensah.

Mensah made an immediate impact on his return to Aldershot, scoring the equaliser in a gutsy 1-1 draw away at Dagenham & Redbridge before the Shots had a blank weekend after being knocked out of the FA Trophy last month.

And under pressure Town manager Gary Waddock was delighted with the dramatic impact Mensah has had on his second ‘debut’ with the club.

Mensah, who previously played for The Shots under Waddock between 2016 and 2018 and has returned on loan from League One side Bristol Rovers for the remainder of the season, earned a point on the first start of his second stint against the Daggers at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.

“We all know what a good player Bernard is,” said Waddock. “He’s a bubbly character and personality who is always positive. It can’t have gone much better for him than to score the equaliser.”

The precious point still leaves the Shots moored perilously in the bottom four of the ultra-competitive National League but just one win from safety, and Waddock hopes Mensah may just provide the spark his side desperately needs as the season enters its final few months.

Alongside Mensah, John Goddard also joined The Shots in January, on a six-month deal from League Two side Stevenage.

“John is a good player who is talented,” said Waddock. “Getting the two new players in has helped us, and hopefully we can get one more in.”

Aldershot were without a game last weekend, as Saturday’s scheduled opponents Solihull Moors were involved in FA Trophy action, and Waddock is hoping the team can build on the point at Dagenham when they return to action with a home game against fellow Hampshire side Eastleigh on Saturday.

“It was a good point away at Dagenham against a team in good form,” said the Aldershot boss. “It was a good team performance that has lifted everyone, and training has been very good.

“We had no game last weekend, but it is what it is and it has given us more time to prepare for Eastleigh. We know a few of their players and they know a few of our players. I know their manager (Ben Strevens) very well and he’s done a good job. We will be up for it and we want to win the game. We’re also hopeful that we might be able to get one or two players back from injury.”

Aldershot remain in the National League relegation zone, three points from safety, and have 16 games left to seal their survival, but Waddock is not looking too far ahead.

He said: “It is no different to any other point of the season. We are looking to get a win and the next game (Eastleigh) is the most important game.”

As well as playing personnel changes, there have been some changes off the pitch at Aldershot recently, with chief executive Laura Smith and assistant manager James Rowe leaving the club and Chris Chapman and Simon Paget-Brown joining Aldershot’s board of directors, but Waddock insists his focus is solely on matters on the pitch.

He added: “My concern is the football side of the club. The football side is my responsibility.”

nShots skipper Karleigh Osborne has left after a “mutual termination” of his contract, a club spokesman said.