HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE 2, ALDERSHOT TN 1

FOR the second time in five days, two set-pieces proved the undoing of Aldershot Town as failure to convert chances of their own saw them drop into the bottom four.

Scott Rendell’s injury-time header was too little too late at West Leigh Park on Wednesday night, despite Aldershot dominating for lengthy periods of the game, but as with Saturday’s defeat at Wrexham it was their inability to defend free-kicks which condemned them to a sixth loss of a faltering season.

“We’re not getting the rub of the green. Things are not going our way,” protested Waddock. “They scored (their first goal) against the run of play, and then in the second half I’m not sure how many times they entered our penalty box. The players have given their all and we’ve come away with nothing.

“It’s very tough times for us at the moment, but tough times don’t last. Tough people do, and you have to dust yourself down and go again.”

The visitors had steadily put themselves into a commanding position in the opening quarter of the game – without really creating a chance of any great quality – only to fall behind on 27 minutes. A well-worked free-kick was tapped to Theo Lewis and his low drive through a fragmented defensive wall hit an unsighted Jake Cole on the foot and spun backwards into the net.

Despite losing two midfielders to injury before half-time, Havant & Waterlooville settled into the game in its middle third and Alfie Pavey headed wide after a fine cross from the impressive Rory Williams.

Shamir Fenelon also departed with a hamstring injury, but Waddock’s switch to a back three didn’t achieve its aim of reinvigorating his attack.

Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong three times wasted promising opportunities, Dan Holman skewed a shot wide, and Rendell was incorrectly flagged offside seconds before being brought down by goalkeeper Ryan Young.

Defender Paul Robinson emerged as the unlikely match-winner as promoted Havant secured a first home victory in the National League. Spurning two initial chances, with a flashing volley over the bar and header wide of goal, on 83 minutes Robinson nodded the ball in from virtually on the line after Lewis headed Williams’ deep cross back into the goalmouth.

Belatedly, Aldershot roused themselves. Josh Lelan and Luke Wanadio fired wide from distance and Young parried James Rowe’s swinging drive in the final minute of normal time.

Rendell opportunistically headed home in stoppage time, pouncing on Holman’s bouncing volley after Rowe’s cross was only half-cleared, but the goal was largely immaterial

The lowest scorers in the division had again been made to pay for mistakes in both penalty areas.

Havant: Young; Strugnell, P Robinson, Harris; Stock (A Robinson 20), Woodford, Fogden (Sekajja 38), Lewis, Williams; Pavey (Cosgrave 70), Kabamba. Subs (not used): Tarbuck, Rutherford.

Aldershot: Cole; Bernard (Wanadio 53), Fowler, Lelan, Kinsella; McDonnell, Gallagher; Fenelon (Holman 53), Rowe, Berkeley-Agyepong; Rendell. Subs (not used): Howell, Booty, Smith.

Attendance: 1,989.