John Coleman made wholesale changes with one eye on the play offs for the trip to Burton Albion, but one of his stalwarts was the hero as the Reds drew 1-1 to extend their unbeaten run to 13 matches.

Dean Winnard had missed just three league games in his two seasons at the Crown Ground so far but had only scored one goal in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

But it was the 21-year-old who netted the equaliser at the Pirelli Stadium as Coleman’s men ensured they’d head to Stevenage in the first leg of their play-off semi final having not tasted defeat since mid March.

A glance at the Stanley team sheet brought some raised eyebrows from the visiting contingent, with only Winnard and Charlie Barnett keeping their places from the previous weekend’s win over Barnet.

Alan Burton came in for his Football League debut, with the likes of Peter Murphy and Tom Smyth also handed starts.

It was hardly vintage stuff in the early stages between a Brewers side with only minor places to play for and a Stanley team guaranteed fifth spot.

The home team’s Greg Pearson looked lively though as he lashed over before shooting straight at Reds’ keeper Ian Dunbavin in the first 10 minutes.

It took 24 minutes for the first presentable chance to arrive and it was almost a special moment for Stanley’s Burton.

The ball dropped nicely for the midfielder on the edge of the box and he struck a sweet shot that was pushed away by Albion keeper Adam Legzdins.

Seconds later the Brewers had a great opening of their own. A long ball forward set Calvin Zola away and the striker went low with his effort, forcing a save from Dunbavin.

Stanley’s keeper, in for Alex Cisak, made another decent stop eleven minutes from the break after a fine Burton move released Scott Malone down the left and the winger tried his luck.

Burton were finishing the half strongly and in stoppage time had one more good opportunity when defender Tom Parkes headed Jack Dyer’s corner over the bar.

Stanley’s first half performance had been a long way from their best, and better was expected after the break once Coleman had given his players a talking to.

He brought Jimmy Ryan on for Kevin Long at the break, but the new man had barely set foot on the field when his team went behind.

Just a minute of the second period had elapsed when Aaron Webster got forward from left back to float in a cross from the edge of the area and found Russell Penn, who headed emphatically beyond Dunbavin to make it 1-0.

And it could have been two moments later as Pearson forced another decent save from Dunbavin from a tight angle on the left, though the home fans had implored him to square to better placed team-mates.

But from there on in Stanley began to find their rhythm. Ray Putterill had a sighter which keeper Legzdins had to deal with before Smyth guided Murphy’s free kick just the wrong side of the right hand post on 58 minutes.

Before kick off Legzdins had been handed Burton’s player of the season award and showed his credentials with three saves in quick succession across the hour mark.

First the keeper parried a rasping drive from substitute Andy Procter before twice denying Ryan, once from an improvised low free kick and once from a deflected shot.

This was more like the form that had seen the Reds go a dozen games without losing and it was another sub who proved to be the catalyst for their comeback.

Within seconds of coming on Chris Turner had galloped down the left and shot just over before taking charge of a free kick on the same side six minutes from the end.

The winger whipped the ball in to the near post area where Winnard got the telling touch to knock in his first Football League goal and level the scores.

Stanley’s fans congregated behind Legzdins’ goal celebrated and soon their cheers made way to chants about potential play-off glory and going to League One as the clock ticked down.

It hadn’t been their best display of the campaign by a long chalk, but Coleman’s decision to rest a number of his key performers paid off as they continued their good run with another solid away point.

Stanley: Ian Dunbavin, Dean Winnard, Tom Smyth, Kevin Long (Jimmy Ryan 46), Leam Richardson, Alan Burton, Peter Murphy, Craig Lindfield, Ray Putterill, Charlie Barnett (Andy Procter 56), Rory Boulding (Chris Turner 76). Subs not used: Alex Cisak, Zak Riley, Andy Owens, Andy Parkinson.

Burton: Adam Legzdins, Andrew Corbett, Tony James, Tom Parkes, Aaron Webster, Adam Bolder, Russell Penn, Jack Dyer (John McGrath 72), Scott Malone, Greg Pearson (Jimmy Phillips 77), Calvin Zola (Sam Winnall 26). Subs not used: Kevin Poole, Darren Moore, Lewis Young, Richard Walker.

Referee: Mark Haywood.

Attendance: 3,491.