Maidenhead United 1 (Newman 74)
Aldershot Town 5 (Morgan 11, Hudson 50, 83, Mendes 52, Donnelly 61)

GRANTED, Maidenhead United fall way short of the standard of a League Two team — but the stylish manner of Aldershot’s victory here bodes well for the season ahead.

For periods, especially after the break, the Shots were irresistible, with Kirk Hudson particularly impressive, as the team combined pace and power with clinical finishing, to see off the Magpies.

“Whatever level of opposition you play, you’ve got to go out and perform and I was more than happy with the performance,” said Waddock. “Maidenhead have played the likes of Wycombe already in pre-season and they said afterwards that they were impressed by what we produced. It was a good workout, another fantastic fitness exercise.”

Maidenhead showed promise going forward throughout but, while Chris Blackburn and Anthony Charles were in central defence, Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz was rarely called into action.

Only the second half introduction of Lee Newman gave Maidenhead a cutting edge and he did indeed score a neat volley and gave trialist Lee Canonville a tough time.

But by then the Shots were out of sight. Marvin Morgan had kept up his fine pre-season form with a dipping right-footed volley early in the first half and John Grant, Ben Harding and Rob Elvins all came close to extending the lead.

And, within seven minutes of the restart it was already 3-0. First Scott Donnelly, who had an impressive game, and Lewis Chalmers worked a free-kick and Hudson curled a right-footed shot into the far top corner.

Then Dean Howell galloped down the left, lofted over a cross to the back post and Junior Mendes thumped a volley back across the keeper.

Within ten minutes Donnelly, set up by Hudson, had made it four but the best was saved until last, when Hudson ran onto Danny Hylton pass in the 83rd minute and cooly lofted the ball over substitute keeper Sam Worrall, in similar fashion to the sublime goal Hudson scored last season away to Northwich Victoria.

“Some of Kirk’s finishing is a joke it’s so good,” said Chalmers after the game. “And I thought Junior took his goal really well too.”

Chalmers took a slight knock on his ankle during the game but said he would be available for Saturday's friendly with Leyton Orient. More worrying was the injury sustained by Rob Elvins, who was stretchered off early in the second half after a crude challenge by Jermaine Hinds.  Elvins had enjoyed a lively game, starting wide on the left and drifting inside behind the front two.

“We got a lot of joy from Rob in the game,” said Waddock. “It was an unusual position for him but it made it hard for the opposition to pick him up. The good news is that he has nothing worse than bad bruising and a slight strain — but ankle injuries can prove awkward.”

Overall, Waddock was delighted with the progress his team is making and especially with the passing, movement and finishing of his side. “We showed real quality tonight,” said Waddock. “The players gained confidence from what they achieved last season and they have a lot of belief. If they can maintain that standard we’ll be more than OK going into the league campaign.”

On Saturday the Shots will be the lower league team, with League One Leyton Orient visiting. “Saturday’s game will be a real good test for us. They will have their first team out and it will be a difficult game. But it should give us a good guide to where we are.”

Waddock was expecting keeper Nikki Bull to return to training today (Thursday). Rhys Day faces another couple of weeks out, while Dave Winfield continues to struggle with an ankle knock and was due to see a specialist this week. Kick-off at the EBB Stadium is at 3pm.

Aldershot v Maidenhead: Jaimez-Ruiz, Canoville, Straker (Howell 46), Blackburn (Newman 46), Charles (Murphy 46), Harding (Chalmers 46), Soares (Hudson 46), Donnelly, Grant (Mendes 46), Morgan (Hylton 46), Elvins (Soares re-introduced 50).