When Aldershot romped to the Blue Square Premier title last season, they did so with an attacking and at times breath-taking style that wowed their loyal supporters.

With the Shots pouring forward at every opportunity, it was a good time to be playing up front for Gary Waddock’s men, and on their way to breaking the magical 100-point barrier they bagged 82 goals to boot.

A potent front-line was led  by top scorer John Grant, who found the net 20 times in the league in 32 starts.

He was well supported by Rob Elvins, who scored seven league goals, youngster Danny Hylton who netted five times, and latterly the experienced Junior Mendes as well, who chipped in with a goal against Droylsden. Kirk Hudson spent most of his time on the wings, but he, like Elvins, netted seven league goals.

But League Two will be a step up in class, and the importance of an in-form goalscorer in league football cannot be underestimated.

Shots fans need look no further than last year’s League Two champions Peterborough United for proof of that, as they were propelled to the title by the 29 goals of ex-Shot Aaron Mclean.

With that in mind Waddock moved quickly at the start of the summer to bolster his attacking options. In came Marvin Morgan from local rivals Woking after some excellent displays against Aldershot in last season’s derbies. He’s a tricky, pacy, awkward customer with an eye for a spectacular goal.

He was labelled the ‘non league Paolo Wanchope’, but he now has the chance to emulate the infamous Costa Rican in the Football League for the first time in his career, and the 25-year-old admitted he was raring to go.

“I’m excited about what I can achieve this year,” he said. “I’m at a good footballing club and that gives me hope of scoring a lot of goals.

“As a team we had a good pre-season and I’m happy with how I played. When I arrived I wanted to impress the manager, the team and the supporters and I did have a good start scoring a few goals early on.

“But they don’t really count for anything in pre-season. You have to do it when it really matters in the league.”

Last season Morgan scored ten goals for the Cards in a struggling team, but he has no doubts that he has what it takes to cut it in League Two.

“It’s my first time in league football, but I don’t think the manager would have brought me in if he didn’t think I could do it at that level,” he said. “That gives you a lot of confidence.

“It is a step up and I think the big difference is that you have to be more consistent than in the Conference.

“You may only get a few chances in a game at this level of football and you have to take them.”

Morgan certainly made a good impression in pre-season, scoring four times in his first four games.

Should he get the nod from Waddock against Accrington Stanley in the season opener, his partner in crime is likely to be Grant, who is expecting to shake off a troublesome ankle injury to lead the line for the Shots.

“Pre-season was slightly disappointing for me with my ankle injury coming back from last season,” Grant said. “Hopefully I can avoid that this year as I missed a fair bit of last season.

“At the moment the ankle is a bit tight but I don’t think it will stop me playing against Accrington.

“I have worked hard in training and scored against Crystal Palace and last week [against a Charlton Athletic XI] so I will hopefully start the game.”

Grant is one of a number of players who do have Football League experience after stints with Crewe Alexandra, Hereford United and Shrewsbury Town, but his career never quite took off at that level.

Now he is back there with the Shots, and the 26-year-old Mancunian is confident that this time round, league football for him will be goal-packed, starting with a birthday trip to Accrington on Saturday.

“I was never really given long enough to prove myself in the Football League,” he explained. “But I believe that I will do well this season with the coaching staff all believing in me.

“I know I can score goals at this level and I will show that this season.

“You want to get into double figures, but my goal is to score every game I play, so I don’t really set a target. I have scored goals regularly for the last two seasons, and I intend to carry that on.”

So, what about a potential partnership between the Shots’ top marksman for the past two seasons and Waddock’s latest attacking recruit?

Both strikers said they are confident they can link up well together, but the duo are well aware that competition for a place is fierce, with Hylton in particular enjoying an impressive pre-season.

“I was brought to the club for a fee but I don’t think that guarantees you a place in the side,” Morgan said. “So I have just been getting my head down in training and working hard.

“There’s a lot of competition up front with John, Rob Elvins, Danny Hylton and me. Then you have Junior Mendes as well who has good experience in the Football League.

“Everyone has their different qualities, but me and John have worked on a few things together in training this week and that went well so I’m hopeful we can strike a good partnership.”

Grant agreed that all of the Shots’ frontmen bring something different to the table, and hailed the impact Morgan has had since his summer arrival.

“I have worked well with all the strikers in pre-season, and we do all offer something different,” he said. “That’s why Marvin is a good signing, because he is different to the rest of us and he has had a really positive impact.

“We played together a couple of times in pre-season and it worked well, but I think all five of us play well whoever we play with.”

So the big kick off is now just 48 hours away and the frontmen revealed it is not just Shots fans that are licking their lips in anticipation of a return to league football.

“All of us are just desperate for the kick off to be honest,” Morgan said. “Everyone’s raring to go and I can’t wait for the season to start.

“I have settled in well, and enjoyed the banter in the squad. Everyone is buzzing in training each day and we all feel that we have what it takes to do well in the league.”

Grant added: “Everyone’s really up for it and there’s a great atmosphere in training. We all want to impress the manager and get a starting place for Saturday’s game.

“It’s a massive day for the club and the fans, and we all want to play a part in that.”