Scott Donnelly scored the only goal of the game to give Aldershot a 1-0 victory at Accrington.

New-boys off to a winning start

Scott Donnelly scored Aldershot's first goal in the Football League following a 16-year absence to give his side a 1-0 victory at Accrington. The midfielder curled a 20-yard free-kick into the top corner in 42nd minute to give last season's Blue Square Premier champions all three points. Shots had keeper Nikki Bull to thank for keeping the home side out as he dived low to claw out an Andy Procter close-range header before thwarting striker Paul Mullin one-on-one. But it was Donnelly's free-kick which separated the sides at half-time after he had been fouled by Ian Craney on the edge of the area before dusting himself down and clipping home a flighted set-piece. Shots' striker Marvin Morgan should have increased their lead seconds after the break but he fired across the goal and wide after penetrating Stanley's offside trap. And at the death, birthday boy John Grant hit the post after breaking through unmarked.