ALDERSHOT TOWN 0, YORK CITY 0

ALDERSHOT Town failed to beat the National League’s bottom side in a helter-skelter encounter at the EBB Stadium on Saturday.

But York City’s basement position proved highly misleading and, on this evidence, they should be well capable of climbing out of trouble, as Gary Waddock acknowledged afterwards.

“We made everyone aware what a good side York are – and they showed that today,” said the Shots manager. “They won’t be bottom at the end of the season. What Gary (Mills) has done, assembling that group of players. All in all, it’s a point gained.”

Aldershot beat York 1-0 back in October, but Gary Mills, the former Nottingham Forest and Leicester player, has built a side in his own tough image, with no little flair in midfield and attack.

The goalless draw stretched the Shots’ unbeaten run to five matches and there was no lack of goalmouth action for the 2,230 spectators, including 230 who had made the long trip from North Yorkshire.

The Minstermen have now won only five times in 30 matches this season, but a point was the least they deserved for this spirited performance.

The visitors, in fact, came closest to breaking the deadlock in the second half when Vadaine Oliver, their impressive striker, hit the upright with a superb header.

Oliver could have scored twice in the first ten minutes, foiled both times by brilliant blocks from keeper Jake Cole who was named man of the match for a series of fine saves.

Aldershot saw plenty of the ball, but again lacked the cutting-edge that had accounted for Woking (twice) and Southport in the three games after Christmas.

Both goalkeepers made vital saves midway through the first half. Kyle Letheren blocked Shamir Fenelon’s shot at point-blank range, while Cole, always alert, got a hand to a scorching volley from York skipper Simon Heslop.

York were always ready to have a pot from distance and, as half-time approached, Sean Newton, their scheming midfielder, almost put his side in front with another thumping volley, just wide of the upright.

Both sides had goals rightly disallowed early in the second half. Fenelon bundled in a cross from Idris Kanu, but fouled Letheren in the process, while veteran Jon Parkin, beautifully set up by Newton, beat Cole with a precise shot, only to find the linesman’s flag up for offside.

Just past the hour mark, Aldershot had their best chance of the game, Fenelon laying the ball into the path of Jake Gallagher who shot high into the East Stand from just inside the area.

Two minutes later, York were desperately unlucky not to score. Heslop hung a cross in the air and Oliver’s towering header this time beat Cole, only to rebound off the far post before being hacked clear.

Oliver and Alex Whittle also went close as York put in the stronger finish, but the stalemate continued. Unusually, Aldershot made only one substitution, while York used none of their replacements,

The hulking Parkin, belying his 35 years, gave Aldershot centre-backs Callum Reynolds and Will Evans a difficult afternoon with his strength on the ball and crunching aerial challenges.

The former Hull City and Stoke forward also emerged as a pantomime villain with his histrionics and there was much glee amongst the home fans in the final moments when Parkin, who had already been booked, pre-empted the referee’s red card and effectively sent himself off after a scything challenge on substitute Jim Kellermann.

Aldershot: Cole, Alexander, Evans, Reynolds, Straker, Kanu, Benyu, Gallagher, Mensah, Rendell, Fenelon (Kellermann 84). Subs (not used): NcClure, Giles, Buckley, Smith. Booked: Alexander, Kanu, Benyu.

York City: Letheren, Bencherif, Klukowski, Parslow, Whittle, Newton, Lappin, Lappin, Heslop, Parkin, Oliver. Subs (not used): Connolly, Fenwick, Moke, Holmes, Ter Horst. Sent off: Parkin.

Referee: Carl Brook.

Attendance: 2,230 (230 away).

* Tony Calvert, a key midfielder for Aldershot from 1992-95, was a special guest of the club on Saturday and received a warm welcome at half-time. He was joined in the EBB Lounge by some of his closest friends, including other ex-Shots players Joe Jopling, Jack Howarth, Stuart Udal and Andy Russell.

* Dion Conroy, after an impressive loan spell at Aldershot, during which he made 17 appearances in midfield and defence, has been recalled by Chelsea with a move to Swindon in the offing.