ALDERSHOT TN 3, TORQUAY UTD 2

ALREADY one of only two teams to boast a 100 per cent National League record just four days into the season, Aldershot Town could have won Tuesday’s thrilling encounter by a more convincing margin, but few people were complaining.

Although the Shots were ahead in just five minutes and controlled the game for lengthy periods, old rivals Torquay showed admirable spirit and dashes of quality to ensure the result remained in doubt until the final whistle.

Shamir Fenelon poached his second of the season, before another strong second-half display saw Bobby-Joe Taylor and Shaun Okojie both cap excellent home debuts by scoring in front of the East Bank.

Shots assistant manager James Rowe said: “It was a little bit nervy, but I want to give credit to Torquay, they have played their part in a good game. They set up to frustrate us, but we started well and I thought we were unlucky to go in at only one-one.”

Smart work by midfielder James Rowe led to the early breakthrough, Fenelon pouncing on the rebound after Ryan Clarke had parried Jake Gallagher’s shot.

Three minutes later, however, Ruairi Keating earned Torquay a free-kick and Luke Young lashed a curling shot round the defensive wall and beyond Jake Cole for a brilliant equaliser.

The game remained an enthralling spectacle, despite the best efforts of fussy, card-happy referee Alan Young – he showed six yellows in a match that was never more than competitive. A clever corner routine saw Nick Arnold’s 18-yard volley diverted onto the post by Fenelon.

Taylor flashed a half-volley inches wide as the Shots continued to press and Manny Oyeleke had a shot cleared off the line.

Matt McClure’s fierce drive was superbly tipped over the bar by Clarke as the half drew to a close.

Just three minutes into the second half, Fenelon punished hesitant defending, bursting down the right and crossing low for Taylor to sweep the ball into the net.

The Gulls thought they had equalised on 68 minutes when Jamie Reid angled a header across Cole, only for the goal to eventually be ruled out for offside and soon Jon-Paul Pittman and former Shots defender Sean McGinty also went close.

With five minutes left, Aldershot seemed to have sealed victory as the towering Okojie nodded in Rowe’s corner from virtually on the goal-line.

But a gutsy Torquay fashioned three half-chances before Pittman’s glancing header, from a corner of their own in the 90th minute, set up an unexpectedly tense finish.

Even so, this was a convincing display from Aldershot who are joined on six points by Dagenham & Redbridge. A favourable run of fixtures, including the visit of Guiseley AFC this weekend and a trip to Maidstone on Tuesday, could give Aldershot vital early momentum.

Aldershot: Cole; Alexander, de Havilland, Reynolds, Arnold; Fenelon, Oyeleke, Rowe, Gallagher (Kellermann 66), Taylor (Okojie 75); McClure (Rendell 75). Subs (not used): Smith, Lyons-Foster. Booked: Gallagher, Fenelon, Taylor, de Havilland

Torquay: Clarke, McGinty, Chaney (Fallon 82), Young, Keating (Pittman 62), Anderson, Lee (Gosling 64), Gray, Klukowski, Reid, Higgins. Subs (not used): Lathrope, Osborn. Booked: Young, Reid, McGinty,

Attendance: 2,662 (343 away).