STAFFORD’S Marston’s pedigree lost out to Aldershot’s maturing vino on Saturday.

Stafford, surely heading for the Conference North, drank the bitter taste of defeat at Marston Road, while Aldershot, surely heading for the Football League, supped the sweet taste of victory, inspired by a classic first half finish by the much-maligned Rob Elvins. El Vino did flow, as David Brent would say — and Elvins was certainly more corking than corked.

"That was definitely Rob’s best game in an Aldershot shirt," said Gary Waddock, his manager, after the game. "It’s good news for his confidence."

Elvins also had a hand in John Grant’s second half winner and could easily have had a hat-trick on the day that, once he had been buoyed by his goal, he finally became a constant goal-threat.

The 21-year-old striker has struggled for goals since arriving from West Bromwich Albion and at times this season has fallen behind Jonny Dixon, Danny Hylton and Junior Mendes as Waddock’s favoured partner for Grant.

A lack of pace and goals have not enthused Elvins to certain sections of the Aldershot faithful but he is a very popular within the squad, as the exuberant celebrations at his goal showed. "I’m delighted for Rob," said Waddock. "His hard work often goes unnoticed. It was a great move for his goal and a quality finish."

But it was Grant — in his first start for five weeks after injury — who secured another three points towards promotion to the Football League, with a header from impressive substitute Scott Donnelly’s corner in the 65th minute.

This was a typical Aldershot victory: a narrow one, in which they always offered the opposition a chance of a goal but, in the end, had enough desire and creativity to score when it mattered most, just before half-time through Elvins and straight after Nick Wellecomme had headed Stafford level on 62 minutes.

With Torquay held at Altincham, Aldershot now lead the Blue Square Premier by 17 points. Even if Torquay were to win their two games in hand — they have won just two of their last seven league games — they would still be 11 points adrift of the Shots.

To be sure of promotion to the Football League, the Shots need just 11 points from their remaining seven games. And, for the more pessimistic fans, Aldershot are now definitely in the play-offs.

This was Aldershot’s fourth league game in a week and return of ten points is a fine achievement, especially as three of the games were away from the Recreation Ground. Thursday evening’s draw at bottom of the table Droylsden, after twice trailing, was indeed a point gained, as Waddock said at the time.

"I’m delighted with ten points," said Waddock. "With three of the games away from home, it’s a pleasing return. It’s taken a massive effort from the players and staff."

The three wins — over Altrincham, Crawley and Stafford — have all been narrow, but that is typical of this side. When they win games, the opposition often troop off the pitch believing that they had deserved something from the game.

Stafford might argue that was the case in this match — Wellecomme headed inexplicably wide from a few yards out at 2-1 — but Aldershot created the better chances in a game played in almost impossibly windy conditions, on a boggy pitch.

After three games in five days, Waddock unsurprisingly rotated his squad and reverted, in terms of midfield and attack, to his first-choice team from the first couple of months of the season.

Grant and Elvins, who had shaken off an ankle injury, came in up front for Junior Mendes and Danny Hylton. In midfield Ben Harding was moved to the left and Louie Soares came up from right back to right midfield, allowing Lewis Chalmers and Scott Davies to patrol the middle. Davies was available after the club appealed over his sending-off at Droylsden.

At the back Waddock went for his most uncompromising quartet: Rhys Day and Dave Winfield in the middle and Rob Gier and Anthony Charles as full backs.

Joel Grant and Anthony Straker, both key members of the squad, didn’t even make the bench. "We are all about the squad," said Waddock. "After so many games we needed to keep things fresh. Every member of the squad has played a part in recent games and Martin Kuhl has been massive alongside me."

Stafford won the toss and played with the fierce wind. As expected, just like Droylsden on Thursday, Steve Bull’s side played with a freedom and determination with which doomed sides can play against league leaders. Nikki Bull had to make one very good save from Samy Mawene’s wind-assisted effort and then an even better one at his near post from Ishmale Reid. Rhys Day also made an outstanding defensive header as the Shots, especially Gier, struggled to adapt to the conditions.

But as the half wore on Aldershot began to create. Chalmers blasted just over, John Grant should have buried Harding’s cross but headed wide from four yards out and then Danny Alcock saved well from Harding, who had been put through by Davies.

Four minutes before the break the Shots were ahead. Soares broke superbly and slipped the ball wide to Elvins, who opened up his body and curled a right-foot shot around Alcock and into the far corner. It was a measured, composed finish of which more vaunted players who, like Elvins, lack a little pace and rely on stealth, skill and trickery — like Teddy Sheringham and Eidur Gudjohnsen — would have been proud.

Donnelly replaced the injured Davies at the break but the Shots initially struggled with the wind advantage, sending too many long, straight balls that were buffeted in no time to Alcock.

That man Elvins did force Alcock into a flying save from a dipping 25-yard volley but Stafford were the side working the ball nicely, under the wind. Aldershot sat back too deep and were punished, as Wellcomme, unmarked, headed home a driven cross.

That shock awoke Aldershot from their slumber and their passing immediately improved. Elvins fed Grant and his shot was deflected inches wide. It mattered little: from Donnelly’s corner, Grant headed powerfully into the roof of the net at the near post.

"We seem to be able to find that something extra just when we need to," said Waddock. "We know we can score goals and we have the confidence and belief to go and do it."

Four minutes later Wellecomme missed a very easy header but, by now, Aldershot looked like they might score every time they attacked, which was testament to their fitness after such a busy week.

Charles shot just over, Grant and Elvins got in each other’s way after a lovely move culminated in Donnelly’s cross and Grant shot just wide, set up by Elvins’ clever flick.

There was the odd alarm at the other end but Bull’s safe hands and Day’s head kept things tight while, going forward, the Shots were content to play to the corner flags, waste time and kill the game. It was hardly the style that has got them to the brink of the Football League but, at this stage of the season, points are more important than prettiness.

In injury-time Elvins took too long and missed an easy chance after substitute Hylton’s fine run. If that was more typical of Elvins’ season than his first half goal, no one from Aldershot cared.

After all, El Vino’s earlier vintage finish means that the champagne is on ice.

Aldershot: Bull 8, Gier 6, Charles 7, Winfield 6, Day 8, Chalmers 7, Soares 7, Davies 7 (Donnelly 46 7), John Grant 8 (Hylton 90), Elvins 8, Harding 7. Not used: Jaimez-Ruiz, Hudson, Mendes.

First printed in: Aldershot News and Mail