FURIOUS Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman claimed his side were controversially robbed of a point during a dramatic finale to last night's 2-1 defeat at the hands of Carlisle United.

Coleman blew his top after a linesman deemed that Jonathon Smith's late header had not crossed the line before United keeper Matty Glendon had chance to scoop it to safety.

The decision to rule that 'goal' out summed up a disappointing night for Coleman, who had seen his side give everything during a rousing second half fight-back only to fall short at the final hurdle.

"All the lads are really disappointed in there," said the Stanley manager, whose side lost for the second time in four days.

"We've had two strong appeals for the ball being over the line and for the second one, from where I was standing it looked as though the keeper actually had his fingers in the net.

"All the lads who were on the line are adamant it went in, the people behind the goal are adamant it went in, and the lad who took the corner is adamant it went in, too.

"So I'm disappointed because I think the linesman was very, very keen to give Carlisle decisions and he didn't seem to want to give us one."

Stanley had enough chances on the night to have taken something from a game that was watched by a bumper crowd of 3,024 but they failed to convert them when the chips were down.

"I don't think there's any justice in the world at the moment. We just can't seem to win a game," said Coleman.

On a night of high drama at the Interlink Stadium, Coleman was also incensed by two late challenges that resulted in injuries to two of his defenders - but only bookings for the perpertrators.

In the first half, former Burnley striker Kevin Henderson caught Mike Flynn with a late challenge and the Stanley defender was eventually substituted with a suspected broken rib.

Then in the second half, Carlisle's two-goal hero Andy Preece clattered into Paul Howarth, which resulted in the Stanley player being subbed seven minutes later.

"The other downside is we've had two cynical fouls which has taken two of my defenders out of the game but the referee has only given yellow cards," blasted Coleman.

"I thought the first one was an absolute disgrace. He (Henderson) went in with one intention, which was to injure our player, that player has then had to go off injured and their guy gets a yellow card - job done - and in effect, that wins them the game.

"If the referee is booking him, what's he booking him for? Dangerous play?

"That type of challenge is a sending off and there's no place for it in football."

Asked if there was any way he could lodge some kind of formal complaint, Coleman added: "It's like being in Colditz and complaining to the commandant that you're getting poorly treated by the guards. There's no point."