ALDERSHOT TN 2, WREXHAM 0

ALDERSHOT were superb in the first half and disciplined in the second as they outclassed Wrexham, the National League leaders, at the EBB Stadium on Saturday.

The Dragons, rather than breathing fire, were insipid and disjointed and failed to bring a serious save from Lewis Ward in the entire game.

Wrexham slip to second, while Aldershot again showed they have what it takes to at the very least make the promotion play-offs, if they can maintain the consistency that has put them on a winning sequence.

Significantly, Gary Waddock has been able to field an unchanged side and the re-shaped defence, with skipper Callum Reynolds filling in at left-back and George Fowler partnering Will Evans in the centre, has looked particularly solid.

Reynolds accidentally poleaxed a linesman (he required treatment) with an early clearance and, thereafter, took the same no-nonsense approach to every situation.

Wrexham appeared taken aback by the pace, cohesion and sheer brio of Aldershot’s attacks and, after a couple of narrow escapes, fell behind in the 15th minute.

The excellent Adam McDonnell did the spadework and enabled Shamir Fenelon, now first-choice to lead the line, to hit a cross-shot from the right and Bernard Mensah reacted instinctively to prod the ball home.

Another angled effort from the predatory Fenelon went right across the face of goal, while Wrexham should have equalised from their best, only indeed, chance of the game.

A long punt upfield by Manny Smith sent Alex Reid through in a one-on-one with Ward. The number 11 dinked skilfully past the advancing keeper, but saw the ball roll inches wide of a yawning goal.

A spectacular piece of action resulted in Aldershot’s second goal on 33 minutes. Starting with a Fabien Robert volley that was well blocked by Chris Dunn, Wrexham failed to clear their lines. James Rowe played the ball back in from the right and McDonnell’s thunderbolt shot from the edge of the box struck the underside of the bar and bounced down on or over the line.

It deserved to be a goal, probably was, but Fenelon made sure anyway by forcing the loose ball under Dunn and into the net.

A two-nil lead can be dangerous for the Shots, but they defended their advantage with aplomb in the second half – their task made easier by a lacklustre Wrexham side who only showed real urgency in the last quarter.

Robert went close to extending the lead with a clever header that brought a sprawling save from Dunn.

Aldershot’s play lacked the panache of the first half, but they always had the measure of their opponents and played out very comfortably for the three points.

“First half, we were very, very good,” said Gary Waddock. “Our passing, our movement, our energy to go and close them down was of a real good quality.

“Second half, and I’m being over-critical here, we didn’t pass the ball so well, but we were solid and restricted them, and the energy levels were high again.

“The first half was our best performance of the season – we showed everything in possession and caused them a lot of problems. Second goal, the build-up play was fantastic.”

Aldershot: Ward, Alexander (Gallagher 64), Evans, Fowler, Reynolds, McDonnell, Kellermann, Rowe, Robert (Rendell 69), Mensah, Fenelon (McClure 85). Subs (not used): Skinner, Lyons-Foster.

Wrexham: Dunn, Roberts, M Smith, Pearson, Carrington, Rutherford, Wright (Mackreth 61), Wedgbury, Kelly (Boden 90), Holroyd, Reid (Massanka 61). Subs (not used): Dibble, Hurst. Booked: Carrington, Kelly.

Referee: Adam Bromley.

Attendance: 2,377 (267 away).

Away: 267.