IN the week that Lennox Lewis announced his retirement from professional boxing, Accrington Stanley were floored by a very different knock-out punch.

Chairman Eric Whalley had urged his side to 'keep it clean' after accumulating 10 red cards and a host of yellow cards so far this season.

But Stanley were again forced to end the match with 10 men after Robbie Williams was sent off for a high tackle on Mark Janney.

Nevertheless, winning 2-1 with 10 minutes to go, they were expected to hang on to claim three points from a Conference clash which manager John Coleman billed in his programme notes as their "biggest game of the season".

But while Ged Brannan filled the void which Williams left at the back, no-one in the back line could match the 24-year-old's solid challenges in the closing stages and Stanley somehow threw the game away in the three minutes of additional time.

The whole scenario left manager John Coleman fearing the Reds' play-off ambitions were out for the count.

"We weren't good enough - all over the park - and I feel we've undone probably five months good work in the space of three minutes," he said.

"Unfortunately now that could be the end of our play-off chances.

"A whole season's work's really gone down the pan in three minutes by people who didn't want to stand up for themselves. That was the whole team.

"At the end of the day they didn't want to win the game enough."

Ironically, the mood at the Interlink Express Stadium was optimistic prior to kick-off, with star striker Lutel James patching up his differences with Coleman and withdrawing his transfer request, and the arrival of Preston's young gun Darran Kempson to shore up a defence depleted by suspensions.

Kempson looked to do some early damage with a couple of long throws into the penalty area but Stanley leaked a goal after just 12 minutes.

Paul Howarth made a superb block from Jimmy Jackson but the Reds couldn't clear the danger altogether and Chris Piper was allowed to ghost into the area and fire a low left foot shot past Jon Kennedy.

Stanley proceeded to give the ball away cheaply, and their profligacy didn't help them recover from their untimely deficit either.

James had a header cleared off the line before hitting the base of the post from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Tony Roberts was judged to have fouled Paul Mullin.

Howarth dragged a shot wide while Brannan forced Roberts into two expert saves. But while Stanley attacked regularly, they were still unconvincing defensively at times, and Kennedy had to be at his best to make a smart save from Moore's shot on the turn.

Another chance went begging when Mullin took his eye off the ball at the wrong time and scuffed his shot with an open goal at his mercy.

But Stanley were at last back on level terms when James' pass for Mullin rolled to Rory Prendergast and the winger rammed the ball down the middle.

It was the perfect time to score, and things started to look up even more after the break as Stanley worked the ball better and took the lead eight minutes into the second period.

James made amends for his earlier spot-kick miss as he latched on to Lee McEvilly's drive, spun and sent the ball in off central defender Tim Cole.

Stanley couldn't seize the initiative, but, while the Daggers weren't short of opportunities, Coleman's men didn't look like conceding either.

That was until he was left to once more ponder the state of his side's disciplinary record.

Williams fouled Janney on the right flank after the winger had succeeded in flicking the ball past him. Everyone expected referee Jonathan Moss to brandish a yellow card, which would have been sufficient considering that's exactly what Chris Piper got after going through the back of Prendergast long after the ball had gone earlier in the half.

But Stanley were left to defend their 2-1 lead without Williams with 10 minutes remaining.

Brannan dropped back into defence and they looked to be home and dry, even affording missed chances for Mullin and Prendergast - or so they thought.

A minute into stoppage time, the Daggers broke and Moore levelled from a tight angle after Stanley failed to clear properly.

Then the unthinkable happened when Moore squared the ball for Kirk Jackson to beat Kennedy.

STANLEY 2

Prendergast 42, James 53

DAGENHAM & REDBRDIGE 3

Piper 12, Moore 90, K Jackson 90

Interlink Express Stadium Att 1,601