ALDERSHOT is a place midfielder Andy Procter seems to like.

Last season, in the opening match of the campaign, he opened his and Stanley's account with the first Conference goal.

And this time, the 21-year-old made his return from injury and put in an impressive performance in the goalless encounter.

It was a good result for the Reds against their promotion rivals in a lively game which was only spoilt by the persistent whistle of the referee.

But Procter was just glad to be out there after damaging his knee ligaments in pre-season and having to watch from the stands and wait for his return.

"I loved it," admitted the Blackburn-born player, who had just half a reserve game under his belt. "I didn't know I was starting until Coley told us just before the start and I was really surprised.

"I was just happy to be back and be involved, travel down and get involved in the banter - never mind starting!

"I did think I wouldn't play the full 90 minutes but John (Coleman) and Jimmy (Bell) asked me how I felt at half time and they just told me to go out and give as much as I could. I kept seeing the board go up for subs and thinking it would be me but then it was Craney and Jaggers. It was just great to be back."

Coleman hailed Procter's performance as "magnificent" and the midfielder admitted he did wonder at one stage if he would get back in the side.

"It was hard watching. When things are going well you wonder if you will ever play again and when things are going badly you just want to get out there.

"I was working in the gym and getting fit while all the lads were having days off. And when they were training I had to be there two hours before them all so I was the first there and last to leave.

"I missed all the banter and being involved as, especially when we were losing, I just felt like a spare part. But now I feel fine and I have got to work at keeping my place in the midfield."

Team-mate Jonathan Smith, who impressed with the way he kept the lively Aaron Mclean underwraps, was pleased to see Procter back.

"He was like a breath of fresh air. He did so well to last the 90 minutes after three months out and he worked hard - he closed people down and kept going even though he tired at the end."

While Smith was singing his team-mates praises, Coleman was once more delighted with his revitalised defender.

"I thought Jonathan Smith had his best game for two years. He was good defensively and on the floor and made soom really important challenges. We limited them to one long range chance and a little bit of a scramble at the far post. We defended superbly."

Both Procter and Smith will hope they can keep their places for Saturday's trip to Scarborough where the Reds will hope to keep it as tight at the back as they did against the Shots - and then hopefully nick a chance at the other end.

The Reds weren't able to do it at the Recreation Ground and in fact had the woodwork to thank three minutes from time for keeping it all square - but they weren't helped by a fussy referee who booked four Stanley players.

Boss John Coleman was outraged especially as one of the players booked, Paul Mullin, hardly ever picks up a caution and is usually more fouled against.

"They said it was persistent fouling," said Coleman. "He is not a dirty player. The ref didn't give a foul against Paul in the second half. It should swing both ways and at the moment everything is swinging at us decision-wise but hopefully our luck will change."

Peter Cavanagh, Mike Flynn and Lee McEvilly were the other names to enter the ref's notebook in a game that wasn't particulary dirty or niggly with brave rather than harsh challenges.

Coleman was furious after the match.

"We got four players booked and there wasn't a bad foul. Some of the decisions defied belief. Andy Procter was clean through, he gets hauled down and the lad doesn't get a card.

"Paul Mullin ducks under the lad, he's clean through, the lad handles it and Paul gets booked. It doesn't make sense and it is ruining the game of football for me.

"If I wasn't full-time I would have to think long and hard about whether I would want to carry on with it.

"It is out of your hands, there is nothing you can do. There is no one to complain to. It is happening week in week out and no one on either side has made a bad challenge. We have worked out socks off to improve our discipline but what can you do if they want to book you?

"It doesn't make sense. Some of the decisions mystified me but I don't want to get myself into trouble.

"In the end, we battled well and it is a good point. We have missed a couple of chances but they have hit the post so it is probably a fair result.

"We didn't set our stall out for a point - we play to win - but they didn't allow us to get forward as much as we can."

Coleman started with new loan signing Carl Ikeme in goal, at the Interlink for a month from Wolves.

It was a blow to Danny Alcock who had played well on his debut against Hereford and Coleman admitted: "Danny was disappointed and I expected that. The situation is that when you being players in from clubs like that, you are obliged to play them otherwise they don't give you them."

Robbie Williams was recalled and came into the right back slot and both defences held tight in the opening stages with the first shot on target going to the Shots. Dangerous McLean had a go from 20 yards on eight minutes but it was easy for Ikeme.

But it wasn't so easy for his counterpart Nikki Bull who had to pull off a double save on 22 minutes. He spilled Lee McEvilly's 12 yard drive into the path of Paul Mullin who tried to chip it into the net but the keeper recovered to deny him.

The game was spoilt as it went stop-start for seemingly needless things with 34 fouls throughout what was a competitive game which never spilt over.

But it seemed Steve Jagielka had broken the deadlock after the break. Craney, with his back to goal, set up the midfielder but it was agony for Jagielka as his 20 yard shot whisked past the far post.

Williams then had to be alert to do enough to put sub Nick Crittenden off as he tried to head home at the far post.

Smith later made a tremendous tackle on the tricky Adam Miller to stop him running clear and Williams stopped Watson in his tracks while Smith also kept out a diving McLean header.

Darren Barnard's free kick bounced on the top of the net and both sides had chances to grab it in a lively last ten minutes.

Mullin headed a Jagielka corner just wide and, three minutes from time, Miller was allowed time and space to have a go from 20 yards but, with Ikeme beaten, the ball hit the post much to the Reds' relief.