Accrington Stanley 0 Chorley 0

ACCRINGTON Stanley slipped down to fourth place in the UniBond First Division after their second successive goalless draw in a tense Lancashire derby with Chorley.

Stanley aim to rewrite the history books by bouncing straight back into the Premier Division but need to start finding the back of the net soon.

Against a Magpies side who defended in numbers, the Reds created the first chance on five minutes when Jay Flannery unleashed a 25 yard shot.

This was deflected off Chorley's Tony Gaffey, but goalkepeer Simon Marsh made the first of several fine saves as he repeatedly thwarted Stanley.

Seven minutes later Gaffey pulled back Mark Shirley and from the resulting John Coleman free kick, Marsh punched the ball away for a corner.

Shirley's flag kick was cleared as far as Mark Brennan, who struck a long range shot just over the Chorley crossbar.

On 20 minutes, the Reds player/manager had another free kick which was cleared back to him and he then fired in a fierce 30 yard volley that Marsh did well to turn over the bar.

Chorley's best effort of the half came on 34 minutes when Neil Mitchell crossed from the left and Paul Allan fired wide from only eight yards. Three minutes into first half stoppage time, Coleman had another chance, a long range free kick which man of the match Marsh again did well to save.

And Marsh was there again on 62 minutes when Shirley played a good ball to the far post, where the unmarked Carragher had his effort blocked by the Chorley keeper.

The rebound fell to Coleman but he was unable to score.

Chorley had to replace danger man Mitchell on 70 minutes after he suffered a shoulder injury but it was Stanley who kept pressing.

Home skipper Flannery came close to breaking the deadlock after 78 minutes but his well struck 25 yard shot was brilliantly saved by Marsh.

Nine minutes from time and the Reds fans in Stanley's highest crowd of the season -- 758 -- thought they had finally grabbed the winner when Coleman's 35 yard curling free kick appeared to be going into the top corner, but Marsh leapt to make another superb save.

And, on 88 minutes, Coleman again almost snatched a goal but his header from a Shirley corner was just over.

Stanley never gave up and had one last chance deep into stoppage time when substitute Russell Payne crossed for Coleman but once more his header was saved by the inspired Marsh.

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