ACCRINGTON Stanley's play-off dreams are over after being beaten by Stevenage in a tempestuous second leg at the Crown Ground.

The Reds were reduced to nine men following quickfire straight red cards to Joe Jacobson and Sean McConville within a minute of each other, midway through the second half.

And the misery was compounded for John Coleman's men, when Stevenage substitute Chris Beardsley slotted the only goal of the match in the final minute of normal time.

It meant that Graham Westley's side - who beat the Reds 3-0 on aggregate - will now face Torquay in the League Two play-off final at Old Trafford.

A low-key first-half saw few clear-cut chances for both sides, Stacy Long coming closest for the visitors with a volley that skimmed just wide of the upright.

Stanley upped the tempo after the break and, on 57 minutes, saw their best chance of the match, when Sean McConville's header from Jimmy Ryan's pinpoint cross was directed straight at goalkeeper Chris Day.

At the other end, Alex Cisak stopped a 25-yard shot from Darren Murphy.

However, Stanley's hopes went up in smoke when they were reduced to nine men in the space of 60 seconds.

Jacobson was dismissed by referee Russell Booth for a lunge on Laurie Wilson.

As Stanley players protested the decision by the official, McConville threw a hand into the face of Long, before also being shown a red card.

It was always an uphill task for the Reds from that point onwards, and Stevenage condemned Stanley to defeat when Beardsley latched onto a lofted pass and slid the winner past Cisak.