Aldershot 1, Grays Athletic 0

GRAYS' search for a Conference win, which goes back to October 21's 6-0 away triumph at St Albans goes on.

On a bitterly cold evening at the Rec it was the home fans who were warmed by a scrappy goal in the dying minutes to secure the three points from a game that rarely looked likely to end in anything other than goalless deadlock.

However, the script was torn up in the 88th minute when striker Jonny Dixon, whose move to Aldershot last month from Wycombe Wanderers was partly financed by Shots' fans, repaid that faith when he scrambled the ball home from close range.

The goal moves Aldershot to within four points of the play off zone but leaves Grays, who managed just one shot on target all night, perilously just a point above the relegation slots.

Grays keeper Ashley Bayes returned to the starting line-up after injury and was called into action early on, making a good save from Rhys Day's header and then keeping out the same player's close-range shot.

The closest Grays were to come to a goal was when Chukki Eribenne smashed a left-footed shot against the bar and Nikki Bull saved from Glenn Poole.

Grays were the dominant side in the closing stages of the game, without much by way of end product, but they were caught cold when Dixon popped up late on.

Aldershot: Bull, Smith, Day, Newman, Barnard, Soares, Scott, Molesley, Williams (Hudson 84), Beckford (Pritchard 76), Dixon. Subs Not Used: Wells, Anderson, Hylton.

Booked: Smith, Day.

Grays Athletic: Bayes, Sambrook, Stuart, Cowan, Harding, Martin, Poole, Nicholls, Eribenne, Mawer (Howell 68),Grant (Molango 57). Subs Not Used: Knowles, O'Connor, Williamson.

Booked: Stuart, Mawer.

Att: 1,924