THE defence of the Hampshire Senior Cup is off to a comfortable start after Aldershot enjoyed a convincing win over Sydenhams Wessex Football League outfit Christchurch at the Rec on Tuesday evening.

With several first team players returning from injury and suspension, boss Gary Waddock took the opportunity to give a number of players a much needed run out.

"It was important that we had this game tonight because it gave a few lads the opportunity to prove their fitness," Waddock said.

"The first team lads’ attitude was fantastic and with the other boys coming in it was a good performance. They approached it in the right way and were thoroughly professional about it."

With Dean Smith back from a long injury lay-off and Ricky Newman and Louie Soares returning from two games out, plus Rob Elvins’ lack of match practice following his suspension, there was plenty of first team experience on show against the part-timers from Christchurch.

The Shots took just a minute to illustrate their superiority when Soares opened up the visitors’ defence with a perfect through ball to Miles Jones, but the flying dreadlocked winger’s shot was well saved by Christchurch ‘keeper Dan Loader.

After eight minutes Elvins headed over from a Smith cross, but two minutes later the home side opened their account. Fed by a neat through ball from Ricky Newman, Soares got to the byline and whipped a low cross to the far post where Jones was waiting to apply a simple finish.

There was nothing simple about the youngster’s celebration, however, as he treated the Recreation Ground to a spectacular somersault.

Just a minute later Christchurch provided a rare threat to the Aldershot goal when Colin Hand picked out Lloyd Jenvey with a deep free kick, but the skipper’s header flew wide of the goal when he really should have tested the Shots’ number two, Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz.

Causing all kinds of problems for the Christchurch full-backs, Soares was having fun down both flanks, and after 14 minutes a stinging 25-yard drive from the right was well tipped over by Loader.

Soon afterwards Soares again went close, this time firing across goal after cutting in from the left.

After plenty of pressure Aldershot finally got their second in the 31st minute. Soares received a short corner back from Scott Donnelly, lifted a cross in from the right and Elvins volleyed home.

Two minutes later Elvins put the game beyond any doubt when he grabbed his second. After a mazy run down the left, Danny Hylton picked out Smith on the right, who crossed in for Elvins to head home to make it 3-0.

A minute before half-time Christchurch almost got on the scoresheet but Marc Burrows’ powerful drive was pushed wide by Jaimez-Ruiz.

Perhaps with last week’s near-collapse against Grays still fresh in their minds, Aldershot continued to press in the second period.

In the first ten minutes of the second half Hylton fired into the side netting and young midfielder Scott Donnelly twice forced good saves from Loader. In the 56th minute it was 4-0, thanks to the best move of the night.

Soares and Jones exchanged passes on the left before Soares skipped inside and placed the ball neatly past Loader from 20 yards.

With a number of players keen to impress, there was no let up in the final quarter as Jones, Hylton and substitute Josh Huggins all had good efforts on goal.

Christchurch battled well to keep the score down, and Waddock can now look to the busy Christmas period with a fit squad to choose from, bar long-term absentees Ryan Williams and Ryan Scott.

"It’s good that we’re getting the whole group together again and will hopefully soon we’ll be able to pick from a full squad," said Waddock.

"We’re the holders of this cup and we want to win every game we play but we’ll have to see how things go, depending on how how the league games go."

For more Aldershot news and views see this Friday's Aldershot News.