ACCRINGTON Stanley failed to end the season on a winning note despite twice coming from behind against Exeter City at St James's Park.

Andy Procter and Steve Flitcroft both struck to claw their side back into the match, but they were eventually sunk with just seven minutes remaining after Steve Flack headed the winner.

Nevertheless Stanley can hold their heads up high after a season of consolidation in the Conference which, at one stage, looked to have promised something even more.

Their push for the play-offs may have come off the rails in recent weeks, but with the players going full-time next term coupled with the experience gained from this season's exploits, there is added fuel for optimism.

The story of the season has been too many dropped points on their travels. With just two victories on the road - only basement side Northwich can equal that miserly return - their away form stands in stark contrast to a sensational home record which has yielded 13 wins from their 21 fixtures.

They started this encounter brightly enough, intent on spoiling the party for the play-off chasing Grecians.

Lively striker Lutel James looked a constant early threat and his advances had to be well marshalled on countless occasions by the towering presence of Exeter's Brazilian defender Santos Gaia.

But Stanley fell behind in the 11th minute when Peter Cavanagh brought down Les Afful just outside the box with a rash challenge.

James Coppinger settled the home side's early nerves, rifling home the subsequent free-kick which bent around the wall and nestled into the corner.

The home side should have stretched their advantage, but Gaia flashed a free header straight at Jon Kennedy, while at the other end Paul Cook lashed a fine 25-yard strike narrowly over the bar.

Then on the stroke of half-time, Cavanagh launched a long ball up field that Paul Mullin pounced upon. The striker fed James, who in turn rolled the ball into the path of Procter and the midfield man made no mistake, drilling a first time shot into the bottom corner.

In a rollercoaster encounter, Stanley found themselves behind again during the early stages of the second-half as Sean Canham exploited a defensive lapse to plant a fierce header past Kennedy.

The goal only served to sharpen the determination of the visitors, who were crying out for some end-of-season reward.

The impressive Paul Cook picked out Flitcroft, who smashed a low shot past James Bittner to restore parity once again.

But they were dealt a savage blow as the match looked to have been petering out into a draw when Flack rose imperiously to plant a pinpoint header past Kennedy and shatter Stanley hearts.

The celebrations among the home fans were swiftly cut short when it emerged that results elsewhere had gone against them and they had narrowly missed out on a play-off spot.

EXETER CITY 3

ACCRINGTON STANLEY 2

Exeter City: James Bittner, Scott Hiley, Santos Gaia, Alex Jeannin, Dean Moxey, James Coppinger, Glenn Cronin, Kwame Ampadu, Gareth Sheldon, Les Afful, Sean Canham. Subs: Chris Todd (for Jeannin 46), Sean Devine (for Afful 59), Steve Flack (for Todd 77)

Stanley: Jon Kennedy, Peter Cavanagh, Steve Halford, Jonathan Smith, Jerome Fitzgerald, Andy Procter, Steve Flitcroft, Ged Brannan, Paul Cook, Lutel James, Paul Mullin. Subs: Paul Howarth (for Fitzgerald 66), Darran Kempson (for Smith 83), John Durnin (for Flitcroft 88)