STANLEY keeper Jamie Speare was controversially sent off after just 29 minutes as the Reds battled for a point.

Speare was dismissed when a poor back pass by Robbie Williams forced the keeper to come out of his goal and face the on-coming David Berry.

His challenge was deemed to be a foul and referee Mr Miller awarded a penalty and then stunned the Stanley fans by showing the keeper a red card.

Right-back Steve Caswell went in goal and made a brilliant diving save to his right to stop the penalty kick from Tony Burgess.

Three minutes later Caswell was beaten as Whitley Bay took the lead with only their second goal in eight games.

Cristen Priest played a ball into the penalty area and Steve Cuddy turned smartly to volley the ball into the net giving Caswell no chance.

Stanley almost hit back before the interval when player-boss John Coleman brought a smart save out of Whitley Bay keeper Richard Christopher.

After the break central defender Karl Bell took over in the Stanley goal from Caswell - but he was rarely troubled as the Reds went in search of the equaliser.

On 62 minutes a Mark Shirley corner was headed against the crossbar by Coleman, Mark Ceraolo's follow-up shot was brilliantly saved by Christopher but Russell Payne fired in the rebound from close range.

As Stanley pressed for a winner they made several good chances but they were thwarted by the Whitley Bay keeper.

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