MILLWALL 3:0 Aldershot TownTwo goals from Gary Alexander coupled with a late effort from substitute Ashley Grimes sent Millwall through to the FA Cup third round with victory against Aldershot Town.
Kenny Jackett's Lions were made to battle all the way by a dogged Aldershot outfit who made up in effort what they may have lacked in quality.
But ultimately it was Millwall's decisive touch in front of goal that proved the difference between the two teams.
It wasn't plain sailing for Jackett's men by a long way though, and despite twice going close in the opening five minutes through David Martin's drive and Marc Laird's header that flashed wide, The Lions struggled to really get going.
It proved to be fairly uncomfortable viewing for the home fans as Aldershot, backed by 1,591 travelling supporters, matched The Lions stride for stride and tackle for tackle, but without managing to register a solitary shot on target throughout the opening half.
Despite having less of the possession in the first 45 minutes, it was Millwall who looked the more potent as an attacking force.
Ashley GrimesLewis Grabban was sent clean through by a great Neil Harris pass, but was thwarted by a superbly timed Anthony Charles tackle as he was about to pull the trigger.
Harris turned provider again on 24 minutes, finding Alexander with a dinked delivery that the latter headed straight at Shots keeper Nikki Bull.
But the breakthough finally came on the half-hour mark. Laird slid the ball through to Martin on the left, he in turn took advantage of an untimely slip by Chris Blackburn and picked out Alexander, who sent a firm header into the back of the net.
Martin then saw his 41st-minute left-foot thunderbolt tipped over for a corner and Harris' header was held by keeper Bull seconds later as The Lions finished the half in the ascendency.
Alexander squandered a great chance within seconds of the restart, seeing his shot from Grabban's perfect delivery squirm agonisingly wide of the post.
Aldershot responded and managed their first shot of the game on target after 52 minutes, but Scott Davies' low grubber barely tickled the palms of David Forde in the Millwall goal.
A deep Marvin Morgan delivery from the right was a foot too far for John Grant to connect with as the Shots briefly threatened, but Jackett's men should have doubled their tally on 55 minutes. A huge clearance by Forde caught the visiting defence square, the ball bounced twice and fell for Grabban around 10 yards out, but he swung wildly at the ball and the chance was gone.
Aldershot thought they had levelled after 58 minutes, but Tony Craig somehow managed to clear from virtually behind the goal-line following a Blackburn flick from a corner.
Lions boss Jackett made a tactical switch just past the hour mark, introducing Alan Dunne at right-back, thus freeing Chris Hackett to a operate in a more attacking role, with Jimmy Abdou then replacing Laird 18 minutes from time.
Millwall have acquired a handy habit of scoring late goals in recent matches, and this was no different with a brace in the final 13 minutes perhaps giving the final scoreline a slightly flattering look about it.
Alexander grabbed his second of the game after 77 minutes with a smart close-range header from Hackett's cross to effectively kill off brave Shots' challenge.
But it was Millwall's third goal that was probably the pick of the bunch - a textbook header from substitute Grimes from a delicious left-foot Hackett delivery.
Young striker Grimes is proving something of Millwall's talisman in the FA Cup, having scored his first senior goal in the first round win at Chester City and adding his second for the club just seven minutes after entering the fray on Saturday.
The Lions could have added a fourth deep in injury-time when Charles' backpass was intercepted by Alexander. But with time and space to bury his shot for his hat-trick, Alexander contrived to smash the ball high and wide of the target from eight yards.
Millwall: Forde, Hackett, Frampton, Laird (Abdou, 72mins), Robinson, Craig, Martin, Bolder, Harris (Grimes, 79mins), Alexander, Grabban (Dunne, 61mins). Subs not used: Edwards, Barron, Fuseini, Moore.
Bookings: Hackett (35mins), Craig (62mins), Laird (69mins)
Scorers: Alexander (29, 77mins), Grimes (88mins)
Aldershot Town: Bull, Straker, Blackburn, Charles, Grant (Soares, 72mins), Morgan, Hylton, Hudson, Harding, Newman, Davies.
Subs not used*: Chalmers, Elvins, Donnelly, Mendes, Jaimez-Ruiz.
Booking: Davies (77mins)
* Six subs only named
Ref: Graham Horwood
Att: 6,159 (away 1,591)