DAVID Brown couldn't have picked a better moment to open his account for Accrington Stanley.

But only time will tell as to whether the point earned from his 71st minute equaliser will be enough to keep the Reds' play-off hopes alive.

Good Friday's draw at Burton Albion was definitely a case of two points dropped after Stanley had got themselves into pole position but surrendered their two-goal lead.

Yesterday's draw at home to York City ultimately came as a relief after Stanley fought their way back from 2-0 down. But manager John Coleman was, nevertheless, bitterly disappointed that his players failed to punish a York City side that hadn't looked like scoring until a poorly defended corner - the third time they have conceded from a flag kick in two games.

"Of course it's a concern and it's something that we've got to address because it doesn't matter how well you defend, teams get corners in games and, if you concede from them, you're in trouble," he said.

"The sad thing is on the training ground you can put 500 corners in and no-one will score. We just seem to go to sleep in a match situation."

Before Jonathon Maloney pounced from the set piece early in the second half, it had been difficult to see where a York goal would come from.

Afterwards, a Stanley comeback seemed to be an even sterner test, especially when Andy Bishop doubled the visitors' advantage.

But, in recent weeks, Coleman's men have shown their steel when the chips are down and conjured a marvellous comeback through Paul Mullin and new boy Brown.

And while, before kick-off, anything less than a win would have been inconceivable, a point is certainly better than none at all.

Neither side gave much away in an opening period that made for painful viewing. Chances were sparse, but the Minstermen had made the most promising start, with Levant Yalcin hammering a shot into the ground and over the bar from David Merris' left wing cross.

As the half dragged out, Paul Howarth - starting at right back for the injured Peter Cavanagh - saw a shot bobble wide after linking with Brown. He then lifted a free kick over the bar after Craney was impeded by Maloney 25 yards out.

And Coleman was visibly frustrated when Brown was denied by a late offside flag four minutes before the break.

But it wasn't until they were staring at a 2-0 deficit that Stanley really sprung into life.

Brown was left to rue screwing a shot wide with only Porter to beat, early in the second half, when York struck three minutes later.

The defence had not been severely tested all afternoon, which perhaps accounts for their lack of concentration when captain Kevin Donovan fired in a corner. No-one was on hand to clear it, and Maloney stabbed the ball home from close range.

Bishop piled on the misery for Stanley after making space for himself on the right flank and, with the help of a deflection, wrong-footed Crichton on 65 minutes.

At that stage, few would have given Coleman's men a prayer.

Matt O'Neill had an immediate impact after replacing Steve Jagielka as he whipped in a cross from the right that Mullin rose to glance into the bottom corner.

They were back on level terms three minutes later through Brown.

Andy Procter made a powerful 50-yard run and slipped the ball to Mullin, who crossed for Brown to flick a header past Porter.

With 15 minutes to go, Coleman raised a smile. Ten minutes earlier, his face had been as white as a sheet. In the closing stages he might have been leaping for joy as Stanley almost clinched a win through Brown and substitute Gary Roberts' last-ditch efforts.

There maybe just five games remaining, but on this evidence, there will be plenty of twists and turns ahead in Stanley's mission for a top-five spot.