Barnet 2, Aldershot Town 0

ALDERSHOT Town’s lack of predatory instinct again proved their undoing in a game in which they once more flattered to deceive.

They could and perhaps should have been ahead in an impressive first half but still ended up, albeit rather unjustly, setting a new club record of 20 goalless games in a single season.

“It’s getting tougher, of course it is,” conceded manager Gary Waddock after a defeat which, coupled with positive results for Dover Athletic and Maidenhead United, put The Shots a daunting ten points from safety with just 18 left to win.

“We’ve just got to get as many points as we can from our remaining games. We can’t rely on anybody else.

“There is fight in this team, but in the past four or five games we haven’t got the points that we deserved.”

Making just one change from Saturday, in restoring Adam McDonnell after suspension, The Shots again displayed confidence and composure in the opening stages. The first chance fell to Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong, whose slip at the most inopportune second sent a 22-yard shot wide following neat build-up play, but the early exchanges were more cagey than expansive.

Regan Booty sliced his own shot wide as The Shots enjoyed a spell of pressure, and Barnet’s first effort on target didn’t arrive until the 30th minute. Even then, Shaq Coulthirst’s effort was easy for Will Mannion as the Bees struggled to find a way through the visitors’ solid defence.

Almost immediately, Berkeley-Agyepong missed a virtual open goal after a deft flick from Goddard left Mark Cousins exposed, and the goalkeeper then parried McDonnell’s angled drive.

While Barnet laboured, The Shots continued to demonstrate greater guile. Cousins dived to tip Goddard’s shot around the post yet it remained goalless at the break.

However, just 58 seconds after the restart, Elliott Johnson broke down the left and Ephron Mason-Clark found a rare yard of space to glance a strong header into the top corner.

“It was like a knockout blow when Barnet scored. We took our foot off the pedal toward the end of the first half and I warned the players about that. These moments change games,” admitted Waddock, but The Shots initially responded well.

On 54 minutes, Rendell tapped in from virtually on the line, sneaking in at the far post to meet Booty’s inswinging free-kick, but his celebrations were curtailed by what video footage proved to be an incorrect offside flag.

Luke Howell, again a dominant presence in midfield, sliced a volley over the bar and then brought a low save from Cousins, but even with the introduction of Matt McClure and Reece Grant, Aldershot Town’s attacking verve steadily evaporated.

Mensah missed the target with an opportunist header and with five minutes left Coulthirst picked up the rebound of his own blocked shot to turn inside and curl a delicious 20-yard drive beyond Mannion’s fingertips to put the result beyond doubt.

Rollin Menayese prevented a third, sliding in to block Mason-Clark’s shot on the line, but Barnet’s second-half resurgence and two moments of clinical finishing were still more than enough to claim victory.

Aldershot Town: Mannion, Bernard (Gallagher 86), Menayese, Elokobi, Booty, Howell, McDonnell (McClure 60), Goddard, Mensah, Berkeley-Agyepong (Grant 59), Rendell. Subs (not used): McCoy, Finney.

Attendance: 1,064.