THE Bank Holiday Monday journey home from the east coast wasn't a happy one for many drivers.

But for Accrington Stanley supporters stuck in traffic on the A64 after watching their side throw yet more points away on their travels, it was particularly unpleasant.

And discovering that an overturned McCain's lorry was responsible for one of several hold-ups was an added kick in the teeth as, ironically, it should have been Scarborough who were toppled at the chip manufacturer-sponsored stadium.

Stanley had their fair share of chances and should have had the game sewn up well before half-time.

But they were frustratingly wasteful.

Paul Mullin's second-half gaffe, when he side-footed over from around five yards, is one missed opportunity that sticks in the memory.

No doubt the Reds leading scorer is still replaying the incident in his mind, and if he was given the same chance 10 times over he would surely not miss again.

But there were more culprits. Many more. However, that does not excuse the fact that Scarborough were twice allowed to have Jamie Speare picking the ball out of his net.

The Seadogs ploughed forward in numbers at regular intervals, but they lacked the bite to hurt a new-look Stanley defence.

Paul Howarth, Jonathan Smith and Jerome Fitzgerald started in the rearguard as other legs were rested at the end of a gruelling run of five games in 10 days.

But the attention was largely focused on the attackers in the first half.

Ged Brannan was prominent, first having a close range header turned away before curling the ball goalwards with the outside of his right boot and forcing goalkeeper Leigh Walker into a diving save.

In between, a couple of mistakes by Howarth had put the Reds defence under pressure. Fortunately, his blushes were spared as Tony Hackworth was flagged offside, while the full back conceded a foul to stop Mark Quayle getting away from him after losing possession midway inside his own half.

But Stanley were well in control at the time of Andy Gouck's 26th minute opener.

Jerome Fitzgerald worked hard to win a corner and Rory Prendergast pumped the ball into the centre, where Gouck had sprinted in from the edge of the box to send a bullet header into the top right hand corner.

Lutel James had a shot deflected for a corner from which Steve Halford flicked a header over the bar.

Yet even when Scarborough pressed before the break, the Reds still looked comfortable.

Mullin was forced into a spot of defending to turn Kevin Nicholson's corner behind, then another Howarth slip-up caused unnecessary worry at the back as Quayle burst forward.

The throng of Stanley fans behind the goal, who sang their hearts out, breathed a sigh of relief when Hackworth received the ball from him in an offisde position. But it was still reassuring to see Speare make a great block with his right leg to deny the striker from point blank range.

Stanley looked certain to get a deserved second on 50 minutes when Prendergast pulled the ball back from the byline for an unmarked Mullin. But the striker somehow lobbed the ball over the bar.

Prendergast had a couple of chances and Howarth had a shot charged down, and the Reds were left wondering what might have been when Hackworth equalised on 61 minutes with a sweet strike from Clint Marcelle's square ball.

Coleman rung the changes with three substitutions in six minutes, but Scarborough were allowed to gain the upper hand.

And it was their own super sub who sent Stanley crashing to their seventh away league defeat.

Marcelle turned provider again, this time setting up Keith Gilroy to thump a superb strike past Speare.

Coleman has some tough decisions to make about which players will become full-time professionals for the Reds next season.

But another display like this will make that process much easier.

SCARBOROUGH 2

Hackworth 61, Gilroy 90

STANLEY 1

Gouck 25

At McCain Stadium Att: 1,525

PLAYER RATINGS

JAMIE SPEARE: Couldn't do anything about goals. Handling and blocks were a highlight on a disappointing day 8

PAUL HOWARTH Looked unusually nervy. An off day for the full back who was so impressive in mid-season 5

STEVE HALFORD Defended doggedly but wasn't always backed up when Reds went off the boil 7

JONATHAN SMITH Won most headers but might have done more to clear ball in build-up to equaliser 6

JEROME FITZGERALD Solid in first half but perhaps lacked a bit of concentration after break 6

ANDY PROCTER Worked hard in unfamiliar role on right flank and used pace well 7

ANDY GOUCK Superb bullet header had Leigh Walker well beaten but got quieter as game went on 6

GED BRANNAN Looked hungry up front and went close with a couple of chances 7

RORY PRENDERGAST Created enough chances and had a couple of shots himself. Set up goal and should have been provider for more 8

PAUL MULLIN Covered a lot of ground but performance will be remembered for second half miss 6

LUTEL JAMES Had a shot charged down but only really had half chances 6

SUBS:

PETER CAVANAGH (for Howarth 65) 6,

KEMPSON (for Gouck 65) 7,

DEAN CALCUTT (for Smith 71) 6.

SUBS NOT USED: Jon Kennedy, John Durnin