Aldershot Town earned their first Football League Trophy victory in 20 years with a thoroughly entertaining defeat of Oxford United.

With renewed pace and vigour, The Shots made five changes from Saturday's draw against Stevenage and, in a lively, well-contested encounter, took their chances as Oxford were left to reflect on two shots that hit the crossbar.

An excellent finish from Danny Hylton, on the end of a flowing cross-field move, put Aldershot ahead in the 17th minute, and the win was confirmed in the 58th minute when the rejuvenated Damian Spencer pounced on a loose ball inside the six yard box.

Both goalkeepers were in fine form, and Jamie Young's clean sheet would have pleased Kevin Dillon as much as the fluent attacking play, and with several fringe members of his squad acquitting themselves well, it gives Dillon some welcome problems ahead ofthe visit of Northampton on Saturday.

Damien Spencer's equaliser was a deserved reward for his own galvanising and rambunctious display, but ultimately Aldershot Town were left frustrated at a missed opportunity.

For the second home game in succession, a switch to 4-4-2 proved the catalyst for a Shots revival, but after dominating for much of the first half, and then seeing Marvin Morgan miss an 86th minute penalty, this felt like two points dropped.

Pre-season brought excited predictions of flowing football and goals aplenty at The EBB Stadium, but thus far it has been more about the team’s strength, spirit and appetite for the battle that has seen them make a promising start in League Two.

Eventually Marvin Morgan’s scrambled winner, after good work from substitutes Wade Small and Damien Spencer, shaded a tight encounter, but, despite dominating possession, The Shots could easily have fallen to a Southend sucker punch. A switch to 4-4-2 galvanised the home side’s late resurgence amidst pouring rain and rumbling thunder, but the win owed much to Aldershot’s defensive solidity against a fluid Southend attack.

Aldershot Town renew their rivalry with Oxford United in the first round of the 2010-11 Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

The tie, expected to be played at The EBB Stadium  on Tuesday 31 August, will be the clubs' first meeting since January 2008, in The Shots' Blue Square Premier-winning season. Chris Wilder's side followed Aldershot Town into the Football League this summer, after four seasons in non-League, by beating York City in the Play-Off Final.

Oxford's squad includes former Shots' captain Rhys Day, as well as several familiar opponents in Mitchell Cole and James Constable.