John Coleman made a mistake in Saturday’s post-match interview by calling Aldershot ‘Rochdale.’

At the time, we were just hoping it was a slip of the tongue but instead it turned out to be a sign of things to come.

After all the glory years under Coleman and assistant Jimmy Bell, it’s a shame their 12-and-a-half-year reign ended with a home defeat to Barnet and then the away draw at the Recreation Ground.

Goalless draws weren’t really part of Coleman’s early philosophy so a 7-4 goalfest, as against Gillingham last season, would have been a more fitting end.

Part of the sheer entertainment of watching a Coleman and Bell side was that goals would flow either way until more recent times when they concentrated on shutting-up shop a bit more.

Whether it was Gary Williams, Paul Mullin, Lutel James, David Brown, Roscoe D’Sane or Terry Gornell you could usually be guaranteed that the Reds would be on target at least once in a game.

For the record, the scorer of the Reds’ last goal in the Coleman era was an own goal at Burton – it feels wrong that there wasn’t a spectacular effort or win to sign off their successful reign in style.

The last Stanley scorer was Kevin McIntyre with a deflected free kick in the Burton win and the last ‘real’ goal was Andy Procter’s in the 4-0 win over Macclesfield.

That would have perhaps been a better way to end a memorable era with both the long-serving Stanley captain and the management duo leaving in the same week.

But it wasn’t to be and Coleman came out of the Aldershot draw, praising the strength of his team and an unbeaten away record stretching back to seven league games – that is now something to build on.

It seems irrelevant to dwell on the match now at the Recreation Ground. Peter Vincenti hit the post for Shots in a strong first half for them.

Reds’ loanee Michael Smith, on loan from Charlton, had a couple of chances on his debut and looks like he will grow as he gets used to the team.

Stanley came out stronger in the second half but still couldn’t nick it while Guy¿Madjo was denied by Ian Dunbavin late on.

That was basically the story of the game but the after-match interview hinted at what was to come.

"A draw was a fair result, Rochdale pressed the game in the first half...." said Coleman.

He was stopped with a joke and the interview started again.

But, after the hiccup, what the Reds boss did express in his last after-match chat as the Stanley gaffer was the strength of his team and now what he has left to his successor.

"There is a decent squad here. Andy Procter went but the lads took it in their stride and didn’t let it affect them. Craig Lindfield has been a big part of where we are in the league and he didn’t even get on the pitch.

"Dean Winnard was our captain and he has a will to win.

"I worry sometimes that he will get upset if he loses the toss but he looks like he has been a captain all his life.

"Charlie Barnett is a superb player and he hasn’t started.

"And Michael Smith grew into the game and will get better the more used to the team he gets.

"There is strength in depth and we have got a decent away record now. We haven’t lost away since Shrewsbury and now we need to build on that."

Coleman won’t be around to continue the trend but hopefully the Reds will do it without him.