ACCRINGTON Stanley got back to the drawing board for the third time in as many games.

But while ambitious manager John Coleman is never one to settle for a draw before the game, the majority of Stanley fans would have been happy to take a point from the Shay.

Stanley, again operating the 4-5-1 formation which quickly turned to 4-4-3 when the Reds were attacking, with Lutel James and Rory Prendergast providing support to lone striker Paul Mullin, answered Coleman's call to bolster their defence. And they needed to in the face of Halifax's pacy front man Andy Farrell.

Stanley made a promising start as James burst into the box inside the first 10 seconds, but his shot across the face of goal rolled wide of the left hand post.

After that, however, action in the Stanley goalmouth was limited for a spell as Halifax took control.

Former Blackburn Rovers trainee Darren Hockenhull swung a free kick over to the far post and James Dudgeon's header was deflected for a corner, which Paul Cook thumped away. Kevin Sandwith fired in a dangerous centre but, fortunately, Christian Lee mis-hit it, the ball bobbled between his feet and Stanley cleared.

The Shaymen retrieved possession and found Sandwith in space, but his second touch let him down and a combination of Peter Cavanagh and Robbie Williams got the ball away.

But Stanley's rearguard soon had strikers Andy Farrell and Lee breathing down their necks once more as Steve Bushell made a break down the right. The captain's cross found the head of Lee Elam but it bounced wide of the left hand post.

Stanley finally made inroads into the Halifax defence and a Prendergast corner was flicked on by James, but no-one was on hand to threaten goalkeeper Mark Cartwright.

Halifax's pressure paid dividends for them on 23 minutes. Elam crossed the ball from the left, where Lee was unmarked at the far post to slot the ball home. Steve Halford had left the striker in acres of space and Lee had the simple task of beating Jon Kennedy from close range.

But Stanley were back on level terms within minutes after Cook's 25-yard speculative drive took a deflection for a corner.

Prendergast whipped the ball into the centre, the ball was half cleared but only as far as Andy Gouck, who caught it with his left boot on the edge of the box. The ball rolled through a sea of bodies before evading Cartwright's outstretched right hand and nestling in the bottom corner.

It was enough to warm the cockles of the Rochdale fans who had travelled to become honorary Stanley supporters for the evening as they saw their former midfielder score his second in as many games.

Elam had a chance to put Halifax back in front on the half-hour but couldn't get the ball under control from Ryan Mallon's delivery when he had a clear sight of goal.

Stanley ended the first half strongly but missed out on grabbing a second as the keeper raced off his line and used both feet to block James' shot in a one-on-one. Cavanagh picked up the loose ball but as he tried to find an empty net, James Dudgeon headed the ball clear.

Halifax's momentum hadn't subsided in the half-time break and central defender Mark Monington went close four minutes into the second half. Williams conceded a free kick on the right flank, Sandwith conjured another dangerous set-piece and the former Burnley player rose at the far post but clipped the top of the angle with his backwards header.

Prendergast was then provided with a great throughball from Paul Mullin but, running shoulder to shoulder with Sandwith, went down too easily to convince the referee to award a penalty.

The Shaymen broke, Williams couldn't clear the ball, it dropped for Mallon on the right but his shot was always rising.

Three corners in quick succession looked certain to inspire the Reds, attacking towards a large and vocal away following. After James was denied by a quality Cartwright save - although how much the keeper knew about it is debatable as the Stanley striker cracked the ball on the turn - Cook's header then took a nick wide for a second corner before Prendergast's third set-piece found Andy Procter at the far side. The midfielder was followed by Monington to the right flank, he twisted and turned before losing his marker and dinked the ball back into the area but James was unlucky to nod wide.

Halifax thought they had won a penalty on 77 minutes when Farrell went down under a challenge from Williams. Stanley's centre half had kept pace with the front man and marshalled his run into the area well.

It would have been harsh had the referee awarded a spot kick but Halifax felt particularly hard done to when Mr Pollock showed Farrell a yellow card for diving.

Substitute Jonathan Smith might have snatched a winner with the last touch of the game, thumping a header just wide from Prendergast's teasing cross. But, in the end, it was fitting that the points were shared.

HALIFAX TOWN 1

Lee 23

STANLEY 1

Gouck 29

The Shay Att: 2116