Stanley count the cost of missed chances after conceding late equaliser at home

ACCRINGTON were left to count the cost of a host of missed chances as visitors Gainsborough grabbed a late equaliser to leave Stanley without a league victory for two months.

The Reds got off to a great start taking the lead on 17 minutes when a long ball out of defence by Robbie Williams was headed on by Paul Mullin to Steve Carragher, who cut inside and struck a fierce shot that deflected off defender Nicky Limber and sent goalkeeper Steve Curry the wrong way.

After 29 minutes a goalmouth scramble saw Simon Carden lay the ball off to Russell Payne whose shot was well saved by Curry. Five minutes later an in-swinging Mark Patterson corner was met by Carragher and his glancing header was cleared off the Trinity goal line by Simon Drayton.

Gainsborough began the second half well and veteran striker Steve Charles had a 20-yard shot parried by Reds goalkeeper Jamie Speare. Soon after, Speare was called into action again to save another fierce effort from Charles.

Stanley thought they had increased their lead on 58 minutes when Mullin played a good ball to Mark Ceraolo, whose goal-bound shot brought a superb reflex save from Curry. Four minutes later Trinity's Neil Allison fouled Carragher 20 yards out and Steve Hollis launched a curling free kick around the visitor's wall but it crashed against the upright and the danger was cleared. Gainsborough came back into the game and equalised on 81 minutes, skipper John Reed crossed to Charles, who was unmarked and his powerful header gave Speare no chance of saving.

Trinity then went looking for a winner and twice in the last five minutes Speare had to be at his best to save from firstly substitute Darren Holmes and then Paul Watts. Two minutes into stoppage time Watts was sent off in an off-the-ball incident when he struck Hollis.

A FROZEN pitch at the Anchor Ground on Saturday caused the postponement of Padiham's local derby fixture with Darwen in Division Two of the North West Counties Football League.

Also falling foul of the weather was Chorley's Unibond First Division game against Stocksbridge, Ramsbottom's NWCFL Division One trip to Atherton and Nelson's Divisionn Two game at Ashton. The local derby between Great Harwood and Rossendale in NWCFL Division One was also off as was Colne's game at home to Oldham Town in Division Two. Bacup's Division Two game at Alsager was also off.