IT was first round to Aldershot Town on Boxing Day, in the opening festive derby against Woking, but the euphoria of a narrow 1-0 victory was immediately halted by the tragic news of the death of Paul Muddell, an Aldershot director.

Muddell, chairman of the Aldershot Town Supporters’ Club and one of the most helpful and hardworking volunteers the club has ever seen, collapsed in the Woking boardroom straight after the match, having watched his beloved Shots cement their place at the top of the Blue Square Premier, thanks to substitute Kirk Hudson’s late winner.

Despite the best efforts of the Woking doctor, directors from both clubs and the emergency services, Muddell could not be revived. The second derby, at the Recreation Ground on New Year’s Day, will no doubt see moving tributes to a great man.

Before the day’s desperately sad turn, it had been a very happy one for Aldershot and their magnificent support. Official figures gave the number of Shots fans in Kingfield at 1,499 – remarkable in itself – but the number was probably not far off 2,000 around the whole ground. An attendance of 4,356 will have certainly put a smile on the face of Woking’s financial director, despite the result.

Shots boss Gary Waddock paid tribute to his side’s support immediately after the game. “I’d just like to say thank you to our fans,” said Waddock. “They were absolutely magnificent and played a major part in our win.”

Joel Grant terrorised Woking’s stand-in right back Paul Lorraine throughout the second half, spurred on by the Shots fans, who hugged the whole length of the far touchline, right next to Grant. If his finishing had been as impressive as his approach play then the Shots would have won more comfortably, as three times he shot wide when well-placed in the area.

Instead, the victory came from a double-H-ed sword from the bench. Danny Hylton raced into the inside-left channel in the 78th minute, pulled the ball back, and Hudson, his fellow substitute, swept the ball home for his second winner in four days, after the 1-0 win over Oxford United in the Setanta Shield.

It was a deserved victory on the back of Aldershot’s second half dominance, although Woking did enough to show that they will be dangerous and dogged opponents on New Year’s Day. “I don’t think either side would have complained if it had finished 0-0,” said Woking manager Frank Gray. “We are not too far behind the top teams, but were just a bit sloppy for one moment.”

The Shots have now won seven league matches in a row in the league and Torquay United’s 4-3 loss in their away derby, at Exeter City, means that the Shots are now seven points clear at the top of the table, heading in to Saturday’s away trip to Grays Athletic. Torquay, who travel to Kingfield on Saturday, do, however, have a game in hand on Aldershot.

Woking had enjoyed the better of the opening stages and Shots ‘keeper Nikki Bull, fit after an achilles problem, had to dive bravely at the feet of gangling striker Marvin Morgan as early as the fourth minute. Morgan also headed weakly at Bull in the ninth minute and hit the bar with a deflected shot ten minutes later. Three minutes after that Morgan turned Rhys Day and Rob Gier made a superb defensive header in front of Bull.

That was probably the only error Day made all game, in what was a magnificent performance from the skipper at the heart of the Shots’ defence. A stunning block from Giuseppe Sole’s second half shot was probably the highlight of Day’s display but all game he blunted Woking’s best efforts with skill and controlled bravery. Anthony Charles did well alongside Day too but Ben Harding was Aldershot’s other outstanding performer, controlling the midfield and working space beautifully with a sublime first touch and balance, with Lewis Chalmers doing the dirty work alongside him.

Aldershot had needed their key men to play well, given that leading scorer John Grant and influential winger Louie Soares were both ruled out with minor knocks. Rob Elvins came in alongside Jonny Dixon up front, with Joel Grant starting on the left and Scott Davies on the right.

Davies forced Woking ‘keeper Nick Gindre into a fine save in the 15th minute but Aldershot’s best first half chance fell to left-back Anthony Straker. He and Dixon shared a one-two but Straker, clean through, delayed his shot and Gindre smothered the effort.

Elvins was, yet again, sadly ineffective, but at least he and Dixon worked hard and the Woking defence was beginning to tire when Waddock surprised a few by hauling off Davies and Dixon and bringing on Hylton and Hudson. Hylton was particularly impressive and Waddock was delighted that his squad increasingly has such strength in depth.

“It’s all about the squad,” said Waddock. “Making a few changes or substitutions does not make us weaker. Danny did extremely well and Kirk is a really good footballer. I was especially pleased with our patience today. We had to take our time and keep probing away. A win in a derby away from home is obviously great news for us.”

But Waddock, speaking before news broke of Muddell’s passing, was at pains to keep his squad’s feet firmly on the ground. “The lads are very, very happy. But we have achieved nothing yet. We’ll just keep worrying about ourselves and hope the results keep coming.”

The Shots have now won 18 of their 23 league games and, with half the season gone, have 55 points. “As a group we know what we want to achieve,” said Waddock. “We set ourselves targets at the beginning of the season and let’s see what our points total is at the end.”

Waddock was also delighted with a clean sheet. Woking had a few early chances in the second half, with Kevin James’ header saved by Bull and a Sole free-kick drifting just wide, but it was a pretty comfortable half for Bull, who had the last laugh on the Woking fans behind him, who subjected him to puerile abuse all half. “A clean sheet away from home will always make you happy. Woking were extremely difficult to break down, but we have players who can score goals,” said Waddock. “We are always capable of scoring, whoever is on the pitch.

“We are very happy but now we must turn to the Grays game and prepare for that match. We know that that will not be an easy game either.” Kick-off at Grays is at 3pm on Saturday (December 29). A match report will be posted on this website the next day.

Woking: Gindre, Lorraine, Bunce, Hutchinson, Gasson, Gray (Quamina 77), Morgan, Pattison (Lambu 85), James, Green, Sole (Marum 68).

Aldershot: Bull 7, Gier 7, Straker 7, DAY 9, Charles 7, Chalmers 7, Davies 6 (Hudson 62, 7), Harding 8, Joel Grant 7, Dixon 7 (Hylton 73, 8), Elvins 6. Subs not used: Jaimez-Ruiz, Newman, Winfield.

Shots on: Woking 4; Aldershot 6
Shots off: Woking 5; Aldershot 6
Corners: Woking 5, Aldershot 5
Offside: Woking 6, Aldershot 3
Fouls: Woking 12; Aldershot 15
Booked: Woking 2 (Lorraine, Hutchinson); Aldershot 1 (Gier)

Attendance: 4,356