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Merton kept up their promotion challenge with a workmanlike victory over lowly Aldershot in Beddington Park. In the end it was a comfortable enough scoreline, but it could have easily been double figures with better finishing. The first ten minutes were totally uneventful, and then Nicholas Holley opened Merton's account with a crisp shot from 12 yards. This was quickly followed by Julian Osei-Gyimah squandering a one-on-one with the keeper. Next, the visiting keeper turned Nicholas Holley's powerful free kick round the post for a corner. This led to Julian Osei-Gyimah lashing a shot against the bar from close range. It was now all one-way traffic, but Merton just could not score as Nicholas Holley, George King and Craig Stanley all lost out in one-on-one's with the keeper. Merton should have had a penalty when Jamie Streat appeared to be brought down on 18 minutes. Two minutes later the Shots nearly scored in their first attack when a forward hit a right-wing cross wide of the post from six yards out. Merton continued to create chances against a weak defence with Nicholas Holley sending two shots narrowly wide. Then, Craig Stanley failed to connect with the ball on the edge of the goal area after more good work from Nicholas Holley. The half closed with the visitor's forcing Warren McCourt to make a very good save.

The second half started dourly with neither side playing decent football. After 10 minutes Merton began to string some passes together, and within two minutes they increased their lead when Louis Barron-Pell dispossessed a defender with a great tackle, and then combined with Tshepho Sawdon to set up Craig Stanley for his record-breaking 32nd goal of the season. Jamie Streat then played a good wide ball to Tshepho Sawdon who accelerated clear but delayed his shot long enough for a defender to make a great saving tackle. Any hopes of a Shots comeback were dispelled on 47 minutes when Julian Osei-Gyimah swept the ball home after Jamie Streat headed on a left-wing corner. A minute later Warren McCourt failed to field a harmless ball into the box, and Lewis West made a tremendous saving tackle to prevent a forward from pulling a goal back. The result was a corner from which the visitors skimmed the bar with a shot from the edge of the penalty area. Eight minutes from time George King made it four with a very cool finish after sprinting onto a great through ball from Adam Marie. In a frantic last five minutes, Julian Osei-Gyimah, Tshepho Sawdon and Daniel Johnson all missed one-on-ones with the keeper, and in return the Shots missed two good chances, one involving a great save from Warren McCourt at the feet of a forward. Three points and very good performances from Nicholas Holley and Lewis West, but sub-standard finishing against poor opposition.

Reporters man of the match: Nicholas Holley.

Team: Warren McCourt; Billy Kelly, Adam Marie, Lewis West, Spud Bradley; Nicholas Holley, Jamie Streat, Daniel Johnson, George King; Julian Osei-Gyimah, Louis Barron-Pell. Sub: Craig Stanley, Tshepho Sawdon.