OF ALDERSHOT'S four league games in a week, this was the one that looked hardest on paper, so it was little wonder that manager Gary Waddock was so delighted after his side’s 1-0 win at Crawley.

"I am more than happy," said Waddock, after Lewis Chalmers' early header had claimed the points. "It’s a really, really important three points for us.

"They threw everything at us, but with the way we defended, indeed our performance in general, I’m delighted.

"We know how difficult it is here but we defended well and stuck together. At this stage of the season it’s all about grinding out results and we’ve done that today."

Etching out 1-0 wins away from home, in the manner of this one, is the stuff of champions, and the three points helped the Shots go 14 points clear at the top of Blue Square Premier. Cambridge United’s push for the one automatic promotion place to the Football League has now surely died, after a 2-1 defeat at Ebbsfleet United, and only Torquay can conceivably catch the Shots. It would take a monumental collapse by the Shots for that to happen; even on the assumption that Torquay win their one game in hand, Waddock’s men are 11 points clear, with just nine games to play.

The way the fixtures have fallen means that when Torquay do eventually catch up on games played – scheduled for Thursday April 17 - the Shots may be out of sight.

Waddock, of course, will tolerate no such conjecture. "We don’t look any further ahead than the next game," he said after seeing off Crawley. "I know I sound like a broken record but it’s true. We just want to pick up the next three points as quickly as we can."

That means Droylsden away on Thursday night, swiftly followed by Stafford away on Saturday.

Crawley’s excellent home record – ten wins and just four defeats in 18 games, including 38 goals for, the fourth best in the division – was plenty for the Shots to concentrate on for this game. With captain Rhys Day carrying a knock, Waddock sprung a surprise by partnering Ricky Newman with Anthony Charles in the middle of defence and sticking with Louie Soares at right back, ahead of Rob Gier and Dean Smith.

With Waddock keen to play Ben Harding, Lewis Chalmers and Scott Davies in midfield whenever possible, Soares’ chances of a start further forward look limited and he took his chance well at right back. If Rob Gier is a solid defender but lacks subtlety going forward – and Dean Smith is, at best, the opposite – Soares can offer Waddock the best of both worlds. Only with the introduction of substitute Mustapha Carayol for the last half hour did Soares look troubled.

Then again, he was helped by a towering defensive display from Charles, ably supported by Newman, who makes up for what he lacks in height with a wealth of experience and intuitive positioning. Aldershot quite simply killed the game for much of the second half, when the slanting sleet and heavy hail were more dramatic than anything the players could offer.

"I wanted Louie Soares in there," said Waddock. "And I wanted Ricky Newman in there too, to talk to and help Soaresey.

"Anthony Charles was excellent today, as were Nikki Bull and Ricky. Before the game today we threw down the gauntlet to the players: we need a clean sheet. And we achieved that. I may have surprised a few people with my team selection but it worked.

"It really doesn’t matter who plays. The players we have – the squad – have all got quality."

This was just the second time all season that Crawley have failed to score in the league at home and the first time since September. Just last week they beat Cambridge 2-1 at the Broadfield Stadium. Make no mistake: keeping a clean sheet was a considerable achievement by the Shots.

As ever, they did have to rely on the excellence of Bull to see them home. Two saves in the first half were magnificent, first touching Keiran Murphy’s far post header onto a post and then standing tall when the same player blasted from point-blank range, after Bull had only parried Thomas Pinault’s free-kick. In the second half Bull also did well to block an effort from Carayol. Even when he was stranded, Jon-Paul Pittman, who has a good goal-scoring record against the Shots this season, headed inexplicably wide from close range.

The Shots and Crawley do indeed know each other well. Crawley won the other league game at the Rec, 1-0 in August, and since then the Shots have seen off Crawley after a replay in the FA Cup and extra-time in the Setanta Shield.

In many respects they are over familiar. Well, the Crawley management team and Martin Kuhl are, anyway. Steve Evans and his assistant, Paul Raynor, and Kuhl were sent to the stand in the first half after an all too predictable bout of verbal sparing. There is plenty of history between the trio and, to be fair to Kuhl, he at least steered clear of constantly haranguing the referee, which cannot be said of the Crawley pair. As is so often the case with Crawley, the best and often impressive efforts of their players were overshadowed by the comical touchline hysterics of Evans and Raynor.

Waddock steered clear of the histionics, happy in the dugout, rather than the playground. "I missed Kuhly," he said afterwards. "We have a fantastic relationship and he’s an excellent coach and assistant manager. We are always thinking and looking to improve things during the course of the game. When he’s not there, I do miss him."

By the time Raynor – the first to go, after 26 minutes – had been banished, Aldershot had already been long in the lead. Junior Mendes earned a free-kick and Harding’s inswinging delivery was perfect. Chalmers escaped the attention of Lee Blackburn and headed emphatically home at the near post for his first goal for six months. "It was excellent delivery and I’m delighted for Lewis," said Waddock. "He’s good in the air and it was a good header."

Despite surrendering plenty of possession to Crawley thereafter, Aldershot could and probably should have won by more. Mendes missed two excellent first half chances after good passes by Joel Grant and Davies respectively, on both occasions thwarted by Bayes.

And, with eight minutes to go Davies, missed the best chance of them all, hitting a meak penalty at Bayes, after substitute Rob Elvins had been hauled down in the area. Quite why Davies didn’t blast the ball with customary confidence was perhaps down to Bayes. the former Leyton Orient keeper, who won the battle of minds, first delaying the kick and then dancing along his line. It was harsh on Elvins, who deserved the plaudits of setting up a goal. Even harsher was an injury-time knock that threatens to sideline him, just when Danny Hylton is going off the boil. "Rob suffered two late challenge from behind. He’s in a bit of pain," said Waddock.

But Aldershot held on to win the game. "We’ll never play you again," sang the Aldershot hordes to the Crawley fans. Who knows whether that is true but, one thing is for sure: these three points are another step closer towards the Shots not having to face Evans and co in the league next season. Which is a pleasant prospect in every aspect.

Aldershot: Bull 9, Soares 7, Straker 7, Newman 8, Charles 9, Chalmers 8, Davies 7, Harding 7, Mendes 6, Hylton 5 (Elvins 76, 8), Joel Grant 6 (Hudson 67, 7). Subs not used: Winfield, Donnelly, Jaimez-Ruiz. Booked: Chalmers, Newman, Hylton.