STANLEY boss John Coleman blasted the referee after Dave Robinson was dismissed - but was pleased the ten men fought back for a UniBond Premier Division point.

Midfielder Robinson saw red for a second bookable offence in the first half after a scuffle in the centre circle.

"I was disappointed with the referee to be honest," said the Reds manager. "I thought he spoilt it. The Blyth player went in with a two-footed challenge on Simon Carden - it was a bad challenge - a melee followed and Robbo was sent off.

"Their lad was only shown a yellow card and it was an horrendous challenge.

"Up until then there had been five or six decisions I wasn't happy with but saying that, the ten men showed a great deal of character and spirit to come back and almost win it.

"We were lacklustre at the start. We were slow out of the blocks and I don't know why but in the second half we really took the game to them.

"Steve Halford was magnificent as he hasn't played in the centre of defence with Jonathan Smith before."

Coleman was forced to make changes, using Paul Burns and Paul Howarth as full backs in the absence of the suspended Barrie Hart and Peter Cavanagh.

He did have to change it around again when Robinson saw red, reshuffling the pack to go three at the back and bringing Robbie Williams, back from injury, into the midfield.

But it paid dividends as Stanley got back on level pegging - and almost grabbed a late winner.

The home side took the lead on 39 minutes through dangerman Glen Robson who lobbed keeper Jamie Speare on Blyth's first real attack.

Robinson was then sent for an early bath but Stanley did not lie down. And it was a stunning free kick from Steve Flitcroft which brought the scores level, curling the ball round the Blyth wall from 20 yards out on the hour.

"It shows he has spent time at a professional club, developing things like this. It was a good free kick," Coleman said of the former Blackburn Rovers trainee.

Stanley pressed but without reward although Paul Mullin and Lutel James ran themselves ragged and for the last five minutes Blyth fought back.

The Reds had a few hair-raising moments with a couple of goalline clearances but then Russell Payne could have won it in the dying minutes.

The tricky midfielder had a shot on goal which the keeper did well to save but the Reds camp were reasonably happy with a point.

BLYTH SPARTANS...1 ACCRINGTON STANLEY...1