Stafford Rangers 1 Aldershot 2

Table-toppers Aldershot were given the fight of their lives from Steve Bull's ever-improving side.

Bull's relegation strugglers took the game right to the wire and also gave the Marston Road fans something to cheer about – a goal.

That came from one of Bully's new boys, Nick Wellecomme, who made his debut only last week, having stepped up from the minor leagues.

He nodded in Nathan Smith's 61st-minute cross to level the scores.

Unfortunately, the euphoria lasted barely three minutes before the Shots went back in front with what would prove a controversial matchwinner.

Yet Wellecomme ought to have been celebrating a double goal, because he headed wide a second equalising opportunity from almost on the goal-line.

But it wasn't only that miss which cost Rangers at least a share of the spoils – it was also down to Bull.

Not the Rangers boss, but Nikki Bull in the Aldershot goal, who pulled off two

fantastic first-half saves from Sami Mawene and Ishmale Reid.

Rangers had the first-half benefit of a near-gale at their backs and but for the other Bull would have make it count.

But, as is so often with teams down on their luck, the Shots caught them on the break and took the lead five minutes before the

interval, thanks to a top-corner curler from Rob Elvins. The champions-elect were expected to run rampant after the break, with the wind at their backs, but Rangers had other ideas and put up a brave fight.

Their tenacity was rewarded when Wellecomme scored.

And Rangers keeper Danny Alcock was bitterly upset about John Grant's 64th-minute winner. Alcock claimed he had been impeded at the corner kick which Grant headed home.

Rangers should still have gone on to salvage a point, although nobody will be pointing a finger of blame at Wellecomme – he took his first chance superbly and he was there again, on the end of Mawene's cross, with another bullet header. Most times it would have hit the target.

This was Steve Bull's fourth home game in charge and, as he slowly rings the changes, there has been step-by-step improvement.

Apart from Wellecomme, new signing Jonathan Loukes made his debut, although it was not a memorable one – the teenager was booked for a first-half foul.

Missing through injury were Kevin Street, Neil Grayson and Marco Adaggio, which meant a rather patched-up Rangers starting line-up, who nonetheless gave it their best shot.

Rangers: Alcock, Sutton, Daniel, Gibson, Flynn, Loukes, Mawene, Draper, Reid, Smith (Jarrett 77), Wellecomme. Subs not used: Allen, Dodd, Arnolin, Hopkinson.

Aldershot: Bull, Gier, Day, Winfield, Charles, Soares, Chalmers, Davies (Donnelly 46), Harding, John Grant (Hylton 90), Elvins. Subs not used: Jaimez-Ruiz, Hudson, Mendes.

Referee: M Matadar (Blackburn).

Attendance: 981.