A look back over the month of March...........

As I crossed the Second Severn Crossing, and headed south in search of Bournemouth, I found it hard to believe that March 3rd 2009 was the anniversary of Aldershot Town winning 2v1 at Torquay United, in the Blue Square Premier.

I guess for many supporters the Scott Davies winner in the 94th minute at Torquay was the deciding moment in our promotion winning season…..but for me a mood of optimism developed following victory at the Kassam Stadium, in September 2007.

Oxford, the pre-season favourites to win the league……..Aldershot just a bunch of kids. A day when the innocence of youth overcame the arrogance of experience.

But as I approached Newbury, in a storm that threatened to wash out the evening encounter with relegation threatened Bournemouth, my thoughts returned to Plainmoor, and the ‘title decider’.

The game was tense and frenetic. The crowd passionate but totally consumed by the public emotion.

Aldershot scored early on…..Torquay equalised in the second half. Then Scott Davies hit a superb volley in the last minute of injury time, to win the game.

The explosion of feelings in the ‘away’ end, powerful and beyond control.

The silence on three sides of the ground, no more than a shroud for the pain felt by 3500 Torquay supporters.

By the M27 my thoughts returned to the exuberance that pervaded the Club around Christmas……but then as the New Forest disappeared under an all-consuming blanket of cloud, the feeling of optimism was replaced by the desolation that had resulted from such a devastating form inversion in 2009.

The eight games in March would certainly determine whether Aldershot’s first season back in the League was to be one of consolidation or simply misjudged expectation.

Bournemouth was wet, cold and thoroughly miserable. The two nil defeat a fair result on the night. And then spirits weren’t exactly lifted by the heavy defeat at Bradford City.

The Shots did manage to secure a home draw with Shrewsbury Town on March 10th, in a pretty lacklustre game….and with all of my optimism thoroughly shattered, the end of the season couldn’t come soon enough. Yes, it was definitely a good time to take a long walk with Wini, our Welsh Sheepdog.

High above our house a stream flows, strong and quiet. There are eddies and little disturbing whirlpools near the big stones. And as I sat and listened to the murmur of the water, watching its quiet strength, the season's worries were gently soothed away......

The sun was out when Luton Town came down to the Recreation Ground on March 14th. And at last we had a game to savour. Energy and passion replaced timidity and tiredness. From the depth of our players memory came pace and confidence. The well deserved home win was followed by another victory at the ‘atmospheric’ Don Valley Stadium, against Rotherham United.

The stream, never resting, was once again carrying me to the play offs. But then after the long trip north to Darlington, and yet another away defeat, I was once again in need of the healing waters.

Even the ‘locals’ said it was cold when the teams came out to face the Arctic wind that swept across Blundell Park, Grimsby. The 90 minutes became no more than a test of keeping the ball in play, with each side taking its turn at going head to head with nature.

Aldershot won the ‘passing battle’ but lost the ‘war’, thanks to an assistant referee who felt the need to wave his flag frantically for a penalty, perhaps he was just trying to keep warm.

Chesterfield visited the Rec on the last day of the month and left with a point…..their play off hopes dented, and for Aldershot, the ‘green shoots of recovery’ deferred for another day.