Aldershot Town didn't have long to prepare for a season in the National League, following their reprieve from relegation during the summer due to Gateshead's financial meltdown, and it has been another struggle for the men from Hampshire so far.

Back when Barrow AFC travelled to Aldershot in September, it was Ian Evatt's side who were in the National League's bottom four, just behind their hosts.

While their victory at the Recreation Ground was the launchpad to bigger and better things, the Shots have been left to languish at the wrong end of the table, although they are still ahead of some so-called 'bigger names.'

Manager Danny Searle faced a tough job on his hands in rebuilding a squad that would be capable of competing in the fifth tier, rather than National League South, and given the circumstances the campaign so far has to be considered progress to what went before.

Aldershot made the long journey up to Holker Street tomorrow 19th in the table and four points clear of the relegation zone, although they missed out on the chance to put more daylight between that and themselves.

They welcomed fellow strugglers Chesterfield last Saturday and twice allowed a lead to slip away, the second occasion came four minutes into stoppage time, when targetman Tom Denton rescued a point for the Spireites.

Captain Dean Rance said after the game: "The boys were quiet afterwards. We obviously knew they would bring on Denton and he would be a threat. He’s their only out ball.

"With a minute to go, when you know the cross is coming in, you’ve got to try and rough him up because they are only going to be aiming for one person. It’s in the six-yard box and near enough a free header.”

There was a dramatic finish to Aldershot's previous visit to Barrow last March, when the visitors were arguably the better team only to lose 2-1 thanks to John Rooney's penalty, which was virtually the final kick of the game.