Grant ends Aldershot’s long winless drought

Following a desperate run of 18 matches without a win stretching back to early November, Aldershot finally scraped a victory, beating rock-bottom Braintree 1-0 in the National League.

With the confidence of both sides clearly brittle given their woeful league positions and form, chances were understandably few and far between in the first half.

The caution finally subsided midway through the second period, with Reece Grant taking a long ball in his stride, and after beating his marker he then fired a superb strike past home keeper Ben Killip in the 64th minute.

Just as the Shots appeared to be hcoasting to the win, they endured a nervy ending when Scott Rendell was sent off five minutes from time following a verbal altercation with a linesman.

Despite being down to 10 men, boss Gary Waddock’s side held on to end their long winless drought.