ACCRINGTON Stanley reserves were runners up in the Lancashire League Cup Final against Morecambe Reserves at Christie Park last night, despite a brave performance that saw them come back from being two goals down in the first 20 minutes.

The home side started the strongest and took the lead in the fourth minute when a deep Gary Thompson cross from the right was headed back into the area by Danny Byrne for Leon Gierke to nod home from close range.

Stanley began to create chances, with Jonathan Smith going the closest when he headed onto the bar from Chris Lynch's free kick on 15 minutes.

But Morecambe doubled their lead two minutes later after Thompson was allowed to run through the defence and slot the ball past Alistair Marland in the Stanley goal.

Accrington pulled a goal back on 25 minutes, this time Jay Dalton finding himself with only the keeper to beat and fired his shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net from the edge of the box.

Dalton and Damien Hindle worked well together up front and almost created an equaliser on the half-hour, but goalkeeper Matthew Gregoire gathered Hindle's shot at the second attempt.

Stanley did draw level eight minutes after the break when the Shrimps defence lost possession in their own half and Paul Nelson ran onto the loose ball before hitting a left foot shot past the advancing keeper.

But Leon Gierke hit an unstoppable shot from outside the area six minutes later to put Morecambe back in the driving seat.

Although Stanley fought bravely to get back into the game, the equaliser never came.

Stanley Reserves now have two league games remaining, the first at home to Lancaster City at Great Harwood's Showground tomorrow (kick-off 7.30pm) then away to Guiseley on Sunday afternoon.

Two wins would hand them the league title, should Morecambe only manage to take a point in their final league game of the season at Bradford Park Avenue on Monday night.

MORECAMBE RESERVES ...3

ACCRINGTON STANLEY RESERVES ...2