Shots Have Learned From Last Season's Play-Off Nightmare

Gary Waddock’s side face Ebbsfleet United in the first of the Vanarama National League eliminators tonight as the curtain is raised.

They kick things off at 7pm - a game you can watch live on BT Sport.

Waiting in the wings should they get past the Fleet is Tranmere Rovers, who taught the Shots a lesson last season in the semi-finals.

Earning a 3-0 first leg advantage, a 2-2 draw in the second match was enough for Rovers to ease to Wembley 12 months ago.

Defender Reynolds thinks the Aldershot squad is stronger than this time last year but knows they will be in for a tough time against Daryl McMahon’s in-form side.

“We will soon see if we are better prepared that this time last season,” the centre back told us.

“But we had a harsh experience last year about how the play-offs work so taking that into this year should only help prepare us for the game.

“Yes, I think this squad and whatever team is picked is better than what we had available last May but the play-offs are about how you perform on the day.”

Ebbsfleet’s late season surge has seen them squeeze into the top seven but Reynolds knows all too well results beforehand count for little once the one-off games get going.

“The mood is the camp is good, the boys are looking forward to the game,” he said.

“Whoever we play it would have been a tough game but we had great form coming into the play-offs last year but it didn’t work out for us.

“Ebbsfleet have quality all over from back to front so we have to be wary of them for sure.

“With our supporters it can definitely have an advantage and our pitch is one of the best in the league as well so hopefully these things can help us.”