Match Report

A Louis Soares rocket proved enough to get Aldershot back to winning ways with their first league victory in over a month.

After two abject defeats away from home in their last two league games, Aldershot quickly showed their strong home form had not been affected.

On five minutes, Scott Davies worked some space from a throw on from Junior Osborne and, in typical fashion, he smashed a powerful 25 yard drive only to see his effort cannon off the bar.

Port Vale struggled to come to terms with the intensity of Aldershot's offensive and fell behind to Soares' third goal of the season.

Osborne was again instrumental, releasing Soares down the right wing. The Barbadian international cut inside the Vale defense, drilling low into the right bottom corner with a left footed drive from 25 yards.

Vale rallied late in the first half through a Luke Rodgers strike but failed to trouble Nikki Bull with his 20 yard effort.

Moments later Davies was forced to clear the ball from his own goal line after Aldershot failed to deal with Louis Dodds' corner.

In the second half Aldershot again made the running. The influential Ben Harding crossed to Danny Hylton but he could not keep his header from eight yards under the bar.

On the hour mark, Hylton had another good chance to extend the home side's lead. The striker freed himself from the attentions of Luke Prosser, and drilled a 15 yards shot wide of the left upright.

On 75 minutes, Dodds again provided a spark of creativity on a night when Davies and Harding controlled the midfield. The winger crossed from the left and found Rodgers ready to pull the trigger, before a timely intervention from Anthony Charles ended the danger.

Port Vale continued to press, and nearly grabbed a share of the points on 85 minutes.

Substitute Ross Davidson was on the end of a well worked Vale move, shooting from close range and forcing Nikki Bull to produce a great reaction save that secured Aldershot all three points.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides