MARINE 1 ACCRINGTON STANLEY 1 ACCRINGTON were denied a well earned three points by an equalising goal three minutes into second half stoppage time. With a strong wind making good football difficult, Stanley had the better of the scoring chances in a goalless first half.
On 21 minutes assistant manager Jimmy Bell took a shot on the turn that was saved by Marine goalkeeper Chris Clarke. Three minutes later a header by Bell created an opening for Gary Williams but he fired his shot straight at Clarke.
The home goalkeeper made two superb saves in the space of a minute, on 37 minutes Simon Carden crossed from the right to Williams and Clarke blocked his effort from point blank range. Clarke then made a breathtaking save a minute later as Russell Payne crossed for Mark Ceraolo and his goalbound header was saved at full stretch to his left by Clarke.
A minute before the break Reds keeper Jamie Speare was called into action to make a good save from Anton Lally. Three minutes into the second half Stanley won a free kick on the edge of the penalty area when Mark Schofield fouled Williams. Bell's free kick deflected off the Marine wall and was saved by Clarke despite him going the wrong way.
Former Stanley striker Ged Courtney broke away on 76 minutes, he chipped the ball over Speare but left back Steve Carragher raced back to clear the ball off the goal line.
Accrington took a well deserved 83rd minute lead when Carden sent over a low free kick into the penalty area and Bell got a deft touch on the ball to finally beat Clarke.
Marine almost equalised on 89 minutes when Rick Bainbridge struck a piledriver that crashed against the Stanley upright. It was in the third minute of stoppage time that the home side equalised, a corner by David Gamble was met by Jon Gautrey his header was pushed onto the crossbar by Speare and substitute Neil Black forced the rebound into the net.
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