JEREL Ifil's 83rd minute volleyed equaliser forced a penalty shoot out as Town were taken all the way by League Two Aldershot.

Craig Easton should then have blasted Town into the second round draw of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy but put the ball wide from 12 yards with goalkeeper Nikki Bull beaten.

Simon Cox had earlier given Town the lead on 32 minutes but goals on 45 and 48 from Rob Elvens and Scott Davies gave the hosts a deserved 2-1 lead.

Cox should actually have fired Town ahead in the opening seconds after the hosts' Junior Osbourne had been caught napping in his own area.

The defender was shrugged off the ball by Town's talisman but his low shot was blocked by the legs of goalkeeper Nikki Bull.

The lower league side hit back and for the opening exchanges gave as good as they got, with Danny Hylton striking the inside of the post on two minutes from a tight angle on the right.

Jerel Ifil and Pat Kanyuka had to be at their most alert as a number of deep searching cross were sent into their area, with the defensive duo holding firm.

Former Town man Chris Blackburn was bossing things in Aldershot's back four and one crunching challenge on Cox showed he was a man with a point to prove.

While Town's midfield duo of JP McGovern and Michael Timlin were struggling to get hold of the ball, Aldershot were producing some impressive stuff of their own and threatening a cup upset.

Michael Timlin headed harmlessly wide for Town on 25 from Craig Easton's cross in a rare attack but it was the home fans who enjoyed the majority of the opening half an hour.

It was Town though who were celebrating on 32 when McNamee's right wing corner was headed down at the far post by Ifil and Cox was on hand to swivel and turn the ball home from yards out - undeserved to say the least.

Phil Smith was forced into a stunning double save eight minutes from the box, blocking Hylton's initial strike before turning his rebound effort over the bar while still on the floor.

In the dying seconds though Lewis Chalmers' long throw from the right was headed down by Charles and Elvens poked the equaliser home.

Any hopes of stamping their class on the game after the game were quickly jolted when Ifil was penalised for a tackle on Hylton inside the area - to give Aldershot a harsh penalty on 48.

Scott Davies rifled the ball home from 12 yards and give the hosts the lead they probably deserved after a dominant first half.

Malpas tried to shake things up, bringing on Mark Marshall and Chris Allen for Timlin and McGovern on 59, and they were nearly level a minute later.

Charles' poor back header sent Cox clear on goal but, after he unselfishly squared, Lee Peacock was denied when he tried to round Bull.

Marshall's direct running down the right then created another chance for Peacock, after Blackburn had missed his cross, but the striker lifted the ball well over the bar from 10 yards.

Peacock then suffered a bloody head on 73 after a heavy challenge from former pal Blackburn and emerged a few minutes later bandaged up.

Marshall almost grabbed his first ever league goal two minutes later but, with Simon Cox unmarked across goal, shooting may have been the wrong option.

The former Eastleigh man easily skinned Blackburn but his near post strike was easy for Bull to palm wide, with Cox better placed for the shot.

The equaliser finally came on 83 when Ifil powerfully volleyed Chris Allen's corner into the roof of the net.