ACCRINGTON threw away a two-goal half time lead and then missed a penalty in this FA Umbro Trophy second round tie against Dr Marten's Eastern Division side Spalding United.

Spalding substitute Glenn Beech was the villain of the piece, equalising with just seconds to go to force Stanley to make the long journey to Lincolnshire for the replay tomorrow (kick-off 7.45pm) .

The Reds had all the early pressure, with Gary Williams heading over from close range on three minutes, and then firing over the crossbar ten minutes later.

So it was no surprise when Stanley's pressure paid off with an opening goal on 16 minutes. Brett Baxter hit a superb crossfield pass to Russell Payne, who cut in from the left and saw his shot parried for a corner by Spalding goalkeeper Kevin Cross.

Baxter's corner was then met by Jonathan Smith whose header was half saved by Cross, but as the ball was played back into the penalty area Jay Flannery scored with a spectacular overhead kick.

A darting run by Payne down the left wing nearly served up a second for Mark Ceraolo but his left-foot shot flew just over the bar. Stanley continued to dominate the tie as Williams struck a fierce shot from 15 yards which Cross did well to claw to safety.

And Ceraolo then thought he had made it 2-0 after a Williams shot had been parried but his effort was ruled offside. Stanley deservedly increased their lead, however, four minutes before half time. Mark Brennan fed the ball to Williams, just inside the penalty area, and the Reds' leading scorer netted his 18th goal of the season with a scorching shot that gave Cross no chance.

But just as Stanley looked to be cruising Spalding were suddenly gifted a goal on 54 minutes when indecision in the Reds' defence allowed Craig Wilson to whip the ball round the stranded Jamie Speare and into the empty net. Speare then had to turn away a Gavin Dolby header and a shot from substitute Beech was deflected agonisingly wide.

Stanley should have restored their two-goal advantage 10 minutes from time, but Flannery's penalty kick clipped the top of the crossbar and went over for a goal kick.

Spalding almost equalised on 82 minutes when a long range shot by Dave Gilbert deflected off Smith and struck the upright. Three minutes from time Spalding's Beech had a header cleared off the Stanley goal-line but the reprieve didn't last long as Beech then pounced to snatch a last-gasp equaliser, when his header came back off the post and he was the quickest to react and score from the rebound.

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