Aldershot suffered a 2-0 defeat on their travels to Hartlepool United as Mani Dieseruvwe scored a brace for the home side.
Despite the Shots settling into the game well and enjoying a long spell of possession from kick-off, Hartlepool took an early lead as Mani Dieseruvwe continued his streak of scoring against Aldershot with a powerful half-volley past Marcus Dewhurst in the fifth minute after pouncing on some defensive hesitation.
Josh Barrett has habit of producing magical moments and a chipped effort from the edge of the box that has become a trademark of his was close to getting the Shots an equaliser in the 12th minute as it was just over the bar.
The Shots continued to enjoy decent spells of possession but apart from a Cam Hargreaves shot from outside the box that trickled wide, were unable to turn their possession into efforts at Brad Young’s goal.
Dieseruvwe was continuing to threaten the Shots up the other end, however, forcing Marcus Dewhurst into three impressive saves to deny the Pools striker his second of the afternoon in a six minute spell around the half-hour mark.
HALF-TIME
Similar to the first-half, the Shots came out after the break looking comfortable in possession and with Josh Barrett firing wide from distance in the 50th minute, had had a sight of goal, but the hosts found themselves further in front in the 54th minute as Dieseruvwe scored his second.
Lachie Byrd had tackled a Pools player close to the touchline that had bounced back off the player – but the officials gave Hartlepool a corner and Dieseruvwe rose highest in the middle to head past Marcus Dewhurst.
As the Pools were happy to sit on their two-goal lead, chances become harder to come by and usually from distance. Marcus Dewhurst saved a David Ferguson free-kick well in the 65th minute and as the Shots broke forward on the counter, Josh Barrett’s curling shot from the edge of the box was just wide.
The Shots attack was gradually freshened up throughout the second-half and one of those changes, Ryan Jones came close in the 75th minute to getting a goal back for his side after charging down a Hartlepool clearance and breaking forward; but cutting in on his right-foot, he fired over the bar.
Jack Barham also fired over as the game entered five minutes of stoppage time and the Shots were unable to find a route back into the game, falling to defeat at the Prestige Group Stadium.
Attendance: 3356 (97 Away).
Shots lineup: 28. Marcus Dewhurst, 2. Lachlan Byrd (35′ Dan Ellison, 58′), 7. Cameron Hargreaves, 8. Tyler Frost (22. Jack Barham, 55′), 10. Josh Barrett (9. Kai Corbett, 90′), 17. Aaron Jones (C), 18. Olly Scott, 21. Ashley Akpan, 23. Hady Ghandour (11. Ryan Jones, 74′), 25. Rollin Menayese, 27. James Henry (32. Emmanuel Maja, 58′).
Subs not used: 1. Jordi van Stappershoef, 24. Maxwell Mullins.
Hartlepool lineup: 31. Brad Young, 2. Dan Dodds, 3. David Ferguson, 4. Tom Parkes (C), 10. Adam Campbell (8. Anthony Mancini, 70′), 12. Joe Grey (18. Roshaun Mathurin, 87′), 14. Nathan Sheron, 16. Nicky Featherstone, 17. Billy Sass-Davies, 19. Nathan Asiimwe (11. Luke Charman, 70′), 20. Mani Dieseruvwe.
Subs not used: 40. Adam Smith, 15. Greg Sloggett, 21. Louis Stephenson, 23. Manny Onariase.