Opportunities for lower league fans to watch their side at Wembley are rare; the same goes for lower league professionals and the chance to play there.

So, Aldershot’s fans and players are in the same boat. There is no hiding from the fact that losing to Ebbsfleet over two legs was an opportunity missed; perhaps, even, a chance in a lifetime spurned.

But, while the FA Trophy final in May would have been one of the greatest days out that the town — not just the club — had ever seen, it would have been a one-off event all the same; promotion to the Football League is of far greater importance for the long-term future of the club.

So now, perversely, the job is to ensure the fans and players do not have to make a different trip to Wembley this season — for the play-off final.

The Shots, ten points clear at the top of the Blue Square Premier, with a game in hand over Cambridge United, are in pole position to clinch the one automatic promotion.

It was a point Aldershot manager Gary Waddock was quick to make at the final whistle on Saturday, after Ebbsfleet had taken the semi-final 4-2 on aggregate, securing a 1-1 draw at the Rec in the second leg.

While Junior Mendes gave a half hour of hope, putting the Shots 1-0 up, they seldom looked like breaking down Ebbsfleet’s resolute defence after that, and hopes of forcing extra-time were already dying when Michael Bostwick smashed in the injury-time equaliser that killed off Aldershot.

"Because you’re in a semi-final of a cup, obviously you want to win it," said Waddock. "But from day one we’ve mentioned one thing and one thing only." And, by that, he means the league.

"This [The Trophy] would have been a fantastic bonus but it didn’t happen. I’ve said to the players in the dressing room: ‘Let’s just make sure that we don’t feel like this come the end of April.’

"We can use this defeat to bounce back, as a motivational tool, so that we don’t feel like this come the end of the league campaign."

Some of the Aldershot players were close to tears at the final whistle but perhaps Louie Soares felt the worst, after a glaring miss in the 25th minute that, in a match of few chances, was to prove critical.

Soares, fed by Danny Hylton, was clean through on goal, with plenty of time to decide how to beat Ebbsfleet keeper, Lance Cronin. Many of the Rec crowd expected a goal and the start of a great comeback.

But anyone who saw Soares miss as many as five chances from similar positions in the Hampshire Cup exit to Basingstoke last month should have known what was coming: a weak shot and a fairly comfortable save. When it comes to shooting, Soares’ confidence is shot.

With Scott Davies ill, Waddock had surprisingly favoured Soares to Joel Grant and moved Kirk Hudson to wide left. In fairness to Soares, he had enjoyed a bright opening, putting in two excellent crosses and forcing a tidy save from Cronin.

But after the crucial miss his confidence ebbed away and he was easily contained by Ebbsfleet’s excellent left back, Sacha Opinel.

Waddock was quick to defend Soares. "Yes, it was an important chance, an opportunity to get us right back in the game. But we move on, it’s history.

"You can’t blame one individual. You could look at the two penalties we gave away last week or the poor defending for their third goal. It wasn’t down to Louie Soares at all. He’s a very good footballer."

Waddock is right: this tie was carried away from the Shots on the wintry wind of the Thames marshes the week before, where their first half effort and concentration were poor.

"Because of our performance in the first half of the first leg, the final result was a fair reflection," said Waddock. "That’s what has caused us the problems today.

"The players gave everything today but it wasn’t to be. The effort was great. While I am disappointed with their goal, we were chasing the game. I really can’t fault the players."

Ebbsfleet defended magnificently and Waddock was quick to praise Liam Daish and his side. "Ebbsfleet made it hard for us," said Waddock. "They know we can open up teams with the way we play, so they sat deeper and deeper and made it harder and harder for us to break them down.

"All credit to them. They are an extremely good side and have an excellent manager. Wembley will be a fantastic experience for their football club. It’s just a shame that we won’t experience it."

On the day, too many Aldershot players’ could not match up their quality with their quantity of effort. Ben Harding, so important to Aldershot’s fluency, was quiet again and Aldershot never gained control of the midfield, despite the best intentions and fearsome determination of Lewis Chalmers.

Kirk Hudson’s pace was well contained by Ebbsfleet too and perhaps, with Soares picked ahead of Grant, the Shots would have been better served with Soares on the left and Hudson on the right, which had proved effective in the second half at Ebbsfleet the week before. And Hylton struggled against Ebbsfleet’s rugged and canny centre halves, Paul McCarthy and Peter Hawkins.

Not that Ebbsfleet were content with all-out defence. They were always looking to break forward, with left wing Stacy Long too good for Dean Smith, who once again failed to offer any evidence that he is a better player than Rob Gier.

"Dean gives us more attacking options," insisted Waddock afterwards. "Rob Gier is a good defender but we had to take the game to them."

At least Mendes gave Ebbsfleet food for thought throughout, in an energetic display rewarded with a fine goal just after the hour. It was by far Aldershot’s best move of the game and it was no surprise that Harding was at last involved. But Anthony Straker and substitutes Grant and Scott Donnelly played key roles too, with Donnelly slipping in Mendes, who finished emphatically.

Donnelly did especially well in his half hour stint and must surely be pressing hard for a starting role in the league. "Junior and Scott are both good players," said Waddock. "Junior took his goal really well. Scott came on and you can see that he has a fantastic range of passing and will fit in nicely."

After the goal the Shots dominated possession but the closest they came to a goal was a cross from Grant, belatedly introduced, that just eluded Hudson. Daish had responded well to the Shots’ onslaught, introducing Mark Ricketts as an extra defender and fresh legs up front, in George Purcell and Raphael Nade.

As the Shots grew more desperate even Nikki Bull came up for a corner but, in injury-time, Ebbsfleet broke with pace. Bull saved superbly from Purcell but Bostwick lashed the ball home.

Ebbsfleet celebrated in style, on and off the pitch. They were Gene Kelly, singing in the rain, while the Shots were the Everly Brothers, crying in the rain.

But, all being well, the Shots will still have plenty to sing about this season.

Aldershot: Bull, Smith (Donnelly 60), Straker, Winfield, Day, Chalmers, Soares, Harding, Mendes, Hylton (Joel Grant 55), Hudson. Not used: Jaimez-Ruiz, Newman, Elvins.

First printed in: Aldershot News and Mail