ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman fears a hectic season may be taking its toll on his leg weary troops after they picked up only a point at lowly Farnborough.

The Reds chief knew his players were capable of a better performance than the one they produced at Cherrywood Road on Saturday but said: "We looked quite tired. The season may be catching up with us, although we applied ourselves defensively.

"To be honest a draw is not really any good for either side. You can look at the positives and say we haven't lost in three games now. But we know we can play better than that."

A goal either side of half-time at Cherrywood Road meant the teams had to settle for just a point, although with Stanley stronger than the home side they could have perhaps snatched the win.

In a fast-paced first half, goalkeeper Jon Kennedy was put to the test early on, saving a shot from Howard Forinton.

The Reds broke and had a shot themselves but Rory Prendergast's header was comfortably saved by Boro stopper Mark Osborn.

Both goalkeepers were the busiest players in the first 45 minutes, with Kennedy called upon to save a Richard Hodgson free-kick, while Osborn denied Andy Procter's header from Prendergast's cross.

Boro then had the best chance of the half when Dennis Oli fired just wide.

But Stanley continued to press and, from Prendergast's corner, Andy Gouck forced Osborn into a save before the Farnborough goalkeeper was again called into action to keep out lively winger Prendergast.

But an in-form Kennedy was beaten five minutes before the break. The former Sunderland stopper had done well to parry a shot from Forinton but there was nothing he could do to prevent Paul Harkness from firing Farnborough in front.

Fiston Manuella whipped a cross in from the right and Harkness was on hand to tap the ball in on 40 minutes.

The home side looked to capitalise on their lead and would have made it 2-0 seconds before the interval had it not been for Kennedy, who punched out a Hodgson corner then collected well from a goalmouth scramble after a second set-piece.

Thankfully, Stanley, who had been boosted by the return of full back and captain Peter Cavanagh following suspension, were back on level terms three minutes into the second half.

Paul Mullin released substitute Lee McEvilly, who had replaced midfielder Andy Gouck at half-time, and the striker - on a second month's loan from Rochdale - placed his shot neatly past Osborn.

The Reds went on to mount regular attacks, with Mullin and Lutel James both testing the keeper while, at the other end, Kennedy denied another Forinton attempt.

Stanley looked for the winner on 64 minutes when a Prendergast free kick around 30 yards out was cleared by Fiston Manuella. The ball was only half-cleared from the resulting corner, Paul Cook retrieved possession and sent the ball into the area only for central defender Steve Halford to head agonisingly wide.

Farnborough resisted sustained Stanley pressure. First Osborn smothered two cross-come-shots from James then Cook, then gave the home side a scare as a number of set pieces ensued.

Prendergast had a free-kick and corner well saved while Mullin was also was denied by the keeper.

Despite continued efforts, good goalkeeping and hard-working defence at both ends of the pitch meant the sides had to settle for a share of the spoils - a disappointing result for all concerned.

FARNBOROUGH TOWN 1

Harkness 40

ACCRINGTON STANLEY 1

McEvilly 48

Cherrywood Road Att: 571