Aldershot Town enjoyed a dream start to life under Scott Davies, running out 1-0 winners against Boston United at the Jakemans Community Stadium.

John Gilbert’s second-half strike at the end of a flowing team move proved decisive as the Shots got their season off to a winning start.

The hosts were the stronger of the two sides early on, but the Shots soon began to find their feet and won a number of set pieces, although Michael Stickland’s header was their only effort on target to show for it.

Aldershot nearly went ahead when Marcus Dinanga turned before spraying the ball to Hakeem Sandah, who drove forward before unleashing a powerful strike from the edge of the box which went over the bar.

The Shots went close again when Sandah’s delivery found Stickland, whose volley forced a fine reaction save from Boston keeper Louis Chadwick.

Aldershot had another opportunity just before half-time when Gilbert’s free kick found Michee Efete, whose header beat Chadwick but dribbled just wide of the left-hand post.

The Shots took the lead in the 59th minute when a flowing team move ended with Basil Tuma playing in Dinanga, who unselfishly squared the ball across the six-yard box for Gilbert to blast the ball home at the back post.

Aldershot pushed for a second and went close when Sandah found the overlapping Nino Adom-Malaki, whose powerful effort went wide of the mark.

The Shots went close again when Adom-Malaki laid the ball back to Conor Lawless, whose looping effort went just wide of the top right-hand corner.

The Pilgrims nearly equalised in the 90th minute when Lennell John-Lewis’ effort was saved by Shots keeper Nick Hayes.

The hosts were reduced to ten men in stoppage time when Jake Rooney received a second yellow card for dissent.

By Luke Maunder