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Shots rise from ashes to secure return to Football League

16/04/2008

Aldershot Town have won the Conference title and secured promotion into the Football League, 16 years after the original Aldershot FC went bust.

The Shots earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw at playoff contenders Exeter City in front of an estimated 800 travelling fans at St James Park.

Adam Stansfield had looked to spoil the visitors' party with a toe-poked finish in the 39th minute to give the Grecians the lead.

But an error from their goalkeeper Andy Marriott, when he fumbled Scott Donnelly's shot from the edge of the box into his own net, put Aldershot back on level terms.

Exeter mounted a spirited assault on the away side's goal towards the end of the game as they searched for the winning goal that would have boosted their playoff ambitions.

However, Gary Waddock's side - now unbeaten in 15 games - held on comfortably in the end, and the single point was enough to ensure they cannot be caught by second-placed Torquay United.

Waddock, 46, is in his first season in full-time football management - having served as caretaker-manager of Queen's Park Rangers for three months in 2006.

"I've given him his first job, his big break, and he's repaid me ten-fold," club chairman John McGinty told Setanta at the end of the game.

"He's a lovely lad, he's like a son to me."

The original incarnation of the team, which is officially unrelated to Aldershot Town, was forced to close in 1992 and withdraw from the league after wracking up significant debts.

It was the first time a professional football club in England had been forced out of business for financial reasons.

Following the 1-1 draw, Exeter City dropped out of the playoff places – denting their bid to join Aldershot in the Football League next season.

In addition to Devonshire sides Torquay and Exeter, three other clubs are still competing for the two other playoff places - Cambridge United, Stevenage Borough and Burton Albion.